Music, Treme, and the Pharmacy Museum

One of my absolute favorite parts of NOLA is that you can walk around the French Quarter and you hear music on almost every corner. Since I've been here, I've heard all sorts of different musical styles, with jazz being the most prominent. New Orleans, and Louisiana as a whole, had a major impact on American music. Jazz was born here, but before jazz music came along music was predominant back in the 18 and 19th centuries. The history of Congo Square is so intriguing to me. I got goosebumps standing in the middle of the square, listening to Mr. Carr tell us all about the history. New Orleans was also a port city therefore a number of cultures made their way here and brought their own musical styles with them. I love how the city is a melting pot of a number of different genres. I have enjoyed all of our tours thus far (even though I am EXHAUSTED), but I honestly think I would enjoy just walking around the French Quarter or stopping on Frenchman Street and just listening to the sounds. I love music and use it as an outlet therefore I could just listen all day long. I think what I found the most interesting about Treme was the photo gallery that we were allowed in to. I loved viewing the history and listening to Mr. Carr's stories.

I think my favorite part of the day thus far was stopping at the pharmacy museum. I found it amazing (and scary) that just about anybody could be a pharmacist during the 19th century. I think all of the different medications and tools that they used are terrifying to think about, especially being familiar with current day medicine and it's regulation. I found it crazy how many different things that the pharmacy actually influenced, such as soda and the pole at the barber shop. I was surprised that the first licensed pharmacist opened up his pharmacy right here in New Orleans. I was also shocked to hear about all of the dangerous medications that used to be used as sort of a cure-all, when in reality they probably hurt the patient more than anything. (Chloroform?!?!) Though I am exhausted, I enjoyed the pharmacy tour. Science is cool.