Odessa, as a city, reminds me of no place more than New Orleans. Itâ??s not the geography or architecture of these two cities, itâ??s the similarity of character and of their place in the greater pantheon of the cities of their respective regions of the world.
Like New Orleans, Odessa isnâ??t a capital. It isnâ??t even one of the larger cities in the country. Its citizens are by and large poor, its economy not the greatest. Its best days are obviously about 150 years behind it. Yet itâ??s still full of character, can still hold its own on a cultural level with towns that far outpace its population and economy. â??Oh, yes â?? everyone knows that the funniest comedians/baddest gangsters/best writers are from Odessaâ? is a constant refrain there.
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