Getting around in New Orleans is a lot like getting to the land of OZ! There are no mountains in Louisiana...and, depending upon where you are in the city, you're either at sea-level or below. The city is built on a bend in the river (hence the Crescent City name) with streets radiating outward.

There are no landmarks to denote general direction other than water. Water plays a big role in our lives in New Orleans (see Cities of the Dead for an example) and influences the way we describe our location: lakeside (near Lake Pontchartrain), riverside (near the Mississippi), East Bank and West Bank.

The East Bank is really the west side of the Mississippi River...to get to the Westbank side, you have to travel east across one of the bridges! Remember... travel in the city is like getting to the land of OZ!