We spent 6 enjoyable nights in Jackson's basement apartment. The rooms were clean, the refrigerator was stocked with beer and fresh eggs, tourist information was waiting on the table, and the chickens were clucking in their coop.

The apartment is in a neighborhood that appears to be still recovering from Katrina. Some homes, like Jackson's are well-maintained, others are in serious need of repair. Some sidewalks were in disrepair or non-existent. As seniors,we had some concerns. But they turned out to be totally unfounded. St. Charles Street, 2 blocks away, is home to several places to eat and buy basic supplies (a full-service grocer is about a mile away). It is also the route for the streetcar to the French Quarter and the Uptown neighborhood. A bus on Jackson Avenue, also 2 blocks away, takes you to the Mississippi or the lovely City Park, which houses the city art museum and the botanic gardens. The Garden District in within walking distance. At night we took public transportation to the Quarter, heard great music on Frenchmen Street, then took a cab back to Jackson's.

In summary, Jackson's basement is a great base for seeing New Orleans. Just one word of advice, it's an uncarpeted basement--bring slippers.