I saw a lot of New Orleans in places I stayed at in the interim. The first week was spent in a comfortable but scary guest house on Canal Street. It was very clean, reasonable, safe and comfy and owners, Sam and Kathy were pleasant. Do look for the Canal Street Guesthouse if you need a low budget stay in Nawlins without the amenities and expense of a fancy hotel. Bring your own towels, use the community kitchen and phone.
Some rooms even have private baths.
We couldn't stay another week as they had overbooked, I might add, communications and reservations are difficult, very under construction but a very pretty place with potential. The second place we found to stay was off Canal at N. Dourgenois. There were rose bushes and mockingbirds playing in the adjoining yards and it was so peaceful and quiet even tho right in mid city. I found some morning glory seeds on a fence bordering the parking lot and set my moonflowers out on the sill, feeling like I had my own little garden again. The nearby Rite Aid, Mac's, Burger King, and Robert's on Broad Street made getting food and necesities easier too and Betsy's is a neat downhome breakfast diner on the corner at Canal where you can catch buses everywhere.