walkingman

I love the water. I also love to vacation near the water. I have had many wonderful vacations along the Gulf Coast of the United States. My first visit to Pensacola and its white pristine beaches was awesome. The water was so refreshing and then to step on sand which was not hot was so amazing. It became one of my favorite vacation destinations in Florida. Plus it caters to a younger clientele not concerned about blue plate specials, mouse ears, or other amusement parks. As one moves west and crosses into Alabama one hits Mobile. Great beaches and better prices for hotel rooms and fresh seafood. Moving further west one hits the great state of Mississippi. I avoid the casino resorts that have popped up along the coast as they are not for me. Still there are many nice small towns where great beaches and bargains can be found. I love to visit out of the way places and Mississippi offers these by the bushel. Then one hits Louisiana and the Big Easy. New Orleans is different post-Katrina. One of my pre-Katrina favorite stops was the aquarium on the riverfront. Go there and show your support for this great institution. While in New Orleans go to the French Quarter and listen to some great jazz. If you need to do the Bourbon Street bead thing do it but remember this great city has much more to offer. Then travel west and south along the coast to Texas and explore some more great beaches and coastal cities. BP through its reckless drilling and subsequent well leak has wreaked havoc on this once beautiful and pristine coastland. If you have never visited this area you missed out on a great area. If you did visit then you know what a beautiful area it was. I hope in either case that you will visit this area again. If you find it less than perfect call BP and the federal government and ask them why not. If you find it perfect then call BP and the federal government and congratulate them for a job well done. I think that we will find that the job was not done or that it was done sloppy and haphazard. It breaks my heart to think that in order to feed our gluttony for cheap oil we have to rape the earth. We have only one small planet to call home and if we destroy it there is nowhere else in this galaxy to go to. I would encourage you to visit this area if you get the chance. And if you are outraged by what has been done to the environment, to the sea turtles, to the wetlands, to the water birds, to the fisheries, and to the livelihoods of your fellow citizens then put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, or digits to keypad, and reach out and communicate your concerns to the oil companies, to your elected officials, and to anyone else who will listen and can do something.