Last Weekend in NOLA

My last weekend in New Orleans was an absolute blast! We were thrilled to find out that our final days coincided with the New Orleans Jazz festival, a 40 year long tradition that showcases both local and international artists for 2 weekends in April. Here are some pictures from our final lab work at Tulane, as well as photos taken while touring this great city. I would say there are few cities that compare with New Orleans in terms of the rich culture and history. I can't wait to visit again soon!

When we got back to New Orleans, we spent time setting up a caterpillar zoo in the Tulane lab, where Rebecca, our lead researcher, will continue studying the caterpillars after we leave. As we went through the bags, we observed lots of interesting life cycle changes. The picture to the right shows a fly pupa that literally broke through the skin of the caterpillar it had parasitized. You can see the skin of the caterpillar on the leaf. The coin is meant to help you see the size of the parasitoid.

Here is a shot of a cemetery I walked by after the Jazz Festival. New Orleans is famous for their above ground cemeteries. This is St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 and it first opened in 1854. The crypts (or burial vaults) on average are more elaborate than at the other St. Louis cemeteries, including a number of fine 19th century marble tombs.
Challenge Question: Why do you think the cemeteries are above ground? What do you know about New Orleans that might help answer this question? Check out this site to learn more: http://www.experienceneworleans.com/deadcity.html

I took the picture of these young musicians as they performed on a street corner outside the Jazz Festival. They are part of the New Orleans String project, an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of youths in the community through music. Check out their website: http://www.neworleansstringproject.org/

Our last meal as a group was at a fantastic little sushi restaurant near the Park View guest house. What better way to celebrate our accomplishments than a caterpillar roll?! We all agreed that this was a wonderful week! We sure will miss our caterpillars!