- Days Like This

.Days Like This -

When everyone is up front and theyre not playing tricks

When you dont have no freeloaders out to get their kicks

When its nobodys business the way you want to live
i just have to remember therell be days like this

When noone steps on my dreams therell be days like this
When people understand what I mean therell be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well Mama told me therell be days like this

- Van Morrison (song lyrics)

When I read in the news about the strikes in Athens yesterday, the death of the three employees of Marfin bank and the 7,000-8,000 protesters gathering tonight outside of the parliament square, I thought to myself; I am not going to talk about this crowd but I am going to speak about another crowd of people among whom I was on Sunday May 2nd in New Orleans at the Jazz Festival.

A crowd of people who, despite the heavy storm, was still under their umbrellas listening to Van Morrison singing the song Days Like This. Young couples, groups of friends from ages 15-75 or even older, families, even small kids, they were all there not only to enjoy the great music of some of the best performers but also to Support New Orleans.

The people of New Orleans suffered a horrible hurricane with the name Katrina few years ago but they managed to partially slowly recover from it in a very nice way. They all remained United continuing what they knew to do well, keep playing the blues -

The reason I share this with you is because I feel that my country is suffering these days from another type of a horrible hurricane and many consecutive storms and I do hope my compatriots find a better way from the one they have chosen to recover from this one.

I will post more photos and stories the following weeks from my trip to New Orleans and if anyone of you happens to make it there next year, see you all during the second weekend of Jazz Fest at the Blues Tent! Enjoy the below photostream with some of the trip photos...

- Maria Garozi