Inspired by blogfriend CaT of picture/day who is making a tour through the south of US, I remembered this cemetery in New Orleans. In 2008 I visited Saint Louis Cemetery, the oldest cemetery of New Orleans which dates from 1789.
It is a Roman Catholic cemetery, all of these graves are above ground vaults. The custom of above-ground burial in New Orleans is a mixture of folklore and fact. The vaults are in fact more due to French and Spanish tradition than they are to water table problems.
Most of the graves belong to complete families.
This is my tribute to Taphophile Tragics where you can see more pictures.
Your last shot reminds me of an apartment block with window boxes.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSuch big and elaborate tombs Biebs, cemeteries are such fascinating places!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenMarianne, this is fascinating. If I am right, this was AFTER Cyclone Katrina. So this cemetery was not washed away or damaged by the flooding? The cemetery where I have applied to have my father's ashes interred has a number of streets full of above ground family vaults like the ones you show here. Personally, I have simpler tastes.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenHamilton's comment makes me smile. It does appear to be like a run-down appartement block. But I wonder, still, why they are bricked up in such an ugly way. I wonder if they have been vandalised.
Thank you for contributing to Taphophile Tragics again this week, and for encouraging your readers to do likewise. I value your participation very much.
thanks!! i already could not believe they were aboveground because they are below sea-level! :) i see you went to the more fancy cemetery. we saw that one too, from the street, but could not find parking. we were in another one that really looked like it could fall apart any moment (it was also not in our tourist guide).
BeantwoordenVerwijderenpretty pics!
I always enjoy driving through the New Orleans area and seeing these cemeteries. They almost look like small cities. I wouldn't want to walk through one at night though!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt's a grand looking cemetary!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenLooks like a special cemetary. Many very big graves, must be for rich people.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGreetings,
Filip
Julie,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI was surprised too, it had not been washed away, but I think not all the parts of New Orleans had been flooded. The old part had been spared of the water, so maybe this cemetery too.
CaT,
We visited with an organised tour, so no parking problems, but I remember it was a small street indeed.
Very different from the cemeteries in my area. They sure are on the large scale.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI am impressed by how clean and well-tended these crypts are. New Orleans is still on my top ten list of places to visit. This cemetery is one of the reason.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenSome impressive tombs there.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenWonderful post. I've always been fascinated by these above-ground burials and have only seen them from a moving car for one reason or another.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThat is interesting why they build them above ground. I can't say that I like the idea much. but all cultures are different.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI remember seeing these when I was in New Orleans ... nice to have my memory of that trip jogged.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenThis new meme Taphophile of Julia's promises to be very interesting! I only discovered it today, but I will post in weeks ahead. Above ground vaults are very typical here in the Philippines too, and I suspect that is from the shared Spanish influence.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGelukkig Nieuwjaar! :-)
I have mixed feelings about such cemeteries. They are spooky, yet pristine. it's hard to believe these represent entire families of people!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI have always wanted to see these cemeteries in New Orleans. Now that I am so close, there is no excuse not to, other than the fact it's difficult for me to leave my elderly mother for overnight visits.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenaaaahhh, now i finally know to which cemetery you went! you went to st. louis #1, and we went to #2... this one seems to look a bit better!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenthen there was also the lafayette cemetery, somewhere else, that was very crowded (and in my tourist guide..)