A stroll around St. Joseph Cemetery in New Orleans
Cemeteries are different in the city of New Orleans. Known as "Cities of the Dead", bodies are placed in above-ground tombs. This custom came about as it certainly wasn't practical to dig six-foot graves since the city is located below sea level. You can take tours of the different cemeteries, including the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 with the supposed grave of the voodoo queen, Marie Laveau. We got quite lucky with our air bnb shotgun house - it happened to be right across the street from St. Joseph Cemetery No.1. We didn't need to take a tour - we could just visit whenever the gates were open. So one morning we took a slow stroll around viewing the unique graves of a New Orleans cemetery. I highly recommend visiting one if you visit New Orleans - it's just not something you see everywhere....
Have you toured a New Orleans cemetery?
This post is part of a link-up with: Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard at The Travel Notes and Beyond!
Have you toured a New Orleans cemetery?
This post is part of a link-up with: Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, The Weekend Wanderlust Weekend Travel Blog Party and The Weekly Postcard at The Travel Notes and Beyond!
Fascinating place, I feel like I was walking with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting, Carol!
DeleteI think I may have visited this cemetery when I was in New Orleans! It was many years ago but I remember how interesting it was! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a lesser known one but was still very interesting. I found it fascinating. Thanks for visiting The Unpaved Road!
DeleteVery interesting photos of a cemetery. I have seen these cemeteries before and they remind me a bit of the above ground vaults I've seen in Spain's Basque region.
ReplyDeleteThese cemeteries remind me of the photos I've seen from cemeteries in Buenos Aires. Very interesting indeed! Thanks for visiting, Rhonda!
DeleteInteresting pictures. I also have a fascination with cemeteries (not in the weird sense!). I love to photograph them. From your list, I have only seen the one in New Orleans. #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteThese kind of cemeteries make for great photography! My walk around this one was very interesting. Thanks for stopping by - and for the link-up!
DeleteCemeteries like this are very interesting. I saw the same practice of placing the bodies above the ground in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Recoleta Cemetery). In there, a lot of bodies have their own "house." Family members can open the door, sit inside and pray or pay respects in front of the niche. Some of these places offer an unique perspective on culture. #TPThursday
ReplyDeleteHow very different from our usual cemeteries here! I'd love to visit Recoleta someday. Thanks for visiting, Ruth!
DeleteI've been wanting to visit this cemetery since we visited New Orleans when I was a teen. My mom is very superstitious and would not even consider it. Now that I'm a grown woman (and have been for a long time), I need to make a return trip and check this off my list. The sky really lent a spooky atmosphere to your photos. That one with the laughing leprechaun beads reminds me of how joyful those New Orleans jazz funeral processions seem.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty cool place and I hope you make it there - I also was able to walk by it at night when it was a bit more spookier. If you can take a night tour, do it! Thanks for stopping by, Michele!
DeleteI always wondered why they built tombs above ground instead of below! Thank you for enlightening me! Hope yo make to NOLA one day! Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard!
ReplyDelete(www.caliglobetrotter.com)
I hope you make it to New Orleans someday and visit one of their cemeteries. It's a fantastic city to visit - and eat your way through! Thanks for visiting, Lori!
DeleteGreat photos. I haven't been to New Orleans. However, I have visited a cemetery in Cairo that is very similar with the crypts above ground. Thanks for linking up this week. #TPThursday
ReplyDeleteThat's too much - I thought there were only a handful of places that had these types of cemeteries, basically New Orleans and Buenos Aires. Then I saw one in Hawaii and you have mentioned Egypt and Rhonda said Spain. I'm gonna have to search these out if I go any of these places. Thanks for visiting, Nancie!
DeleteThis was so interesting to see. My kids have not always been keen on visiting cemeteries so we've never fully explored other than passing by some. I may need to do a tour when I ever go back to New Orleans. We've found an interesting one in Salzburg though if you want to add to your list. It was the crypts used in the Sound of Music movie when the family was hiding as they made their escape.
ReplyDeleteOh that's cool, Mary! I'll definitely add it to my list. I've never really sought out cemeteries but since this one was so unique, across the street and open, I'm glad I checked it out. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteI love the different burying "above ground" idea. I can totally see why it is necessary!
ReplyDeleteI never knew why until we visited this cemetery - I just thought they were different! :)
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