DAY TWELVE: BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

We are the Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.  We arrived early enough to do a little tour of the city.  I had many surprises.  First of all, Biloxi is much smaller than I had envisioned.  And I believe it was much larger before Katrina.  Many folks just left.  But it is a charming little town, and I think it is a Phoenix and that it will rise from the ashes.

First of all, it was a lovely sunrise back in Florida where we started out our day. 

Our travels took us through Mobile, Alabama where we saw this battle ship off to the left of the highway.

We also saw this fancy new bridge off to the right.

At the Mississippi state line we were greeted by this beautiful visitor center.

This is an area inside the visitor center!  Isn't it beautiful?  We were offered a cup of coffee along with our free maps and other information.

We took a tour of the city of Biloxi.  In the old grave yard, this crypt was ruined by Katrina.

A new bridge, thanks to Katrina.

A FEMA shotgun home that the residents were allowed to buy for their permanent home.  Tiny, isn't it?

This home is fixed up to it's pre-Katrina beauty, but they have added a high water sign.

This home has been condemned, but it still standing with the marks still visible on the door.

Biloxi was changed forever by Katrina.  Huge hotels, casinos, and many businesses, in addition to private homes were lost in the storm.  They received the full force of the category 5 storm, winds and all, not just the flooding as other places had.  The people seem strong and determined to rebuild a town that is better than the one that Katrina tried to destroy.