In a tour of the city, we first visited the expansive Lake Pontchartrain, where you can go sailing. We then toured the Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas during Katrina. Seeing some of the redevelopment and empty lots of homes that were washed away was a surreal experience. As was visiting the Bayou Bienvenue Wetland Triangle, a former swamp with cypress trees that has been overtaken by salt water, killing all the cypress trees and leading the way to more damage as the sea level in New Orleans rises. What’s disturbing in both cases is that you see lush growth of trees and grass in the lots and beautiful still water in the Bayou, both visually serene and beautiful but the results of tragic destruction.