Friday, August 17, 2007

Père-Lachaise Cemetery

I took advantage of the sun today and visited the Père-Lachaise Cemetery. I didn't have any strong desire to go there, but that's the first page my guidebook opened up to so what the heck. I have to admit it wasn't what I was expecting at all. Lots of family crypts built on a hill rather than the bumpy lawns with boring tombstones of the U.S. There are so many trees that this cemetary stayed quite dark and gloomy in many spots. I could envision Edward Gorey characters here. Cue the music and credits for MYSTERY!













It wasn't hard to find one of the most famous occupants of the cemetery. Look at the crowd:

surrounding Jim Morrison's grave. Rather disappointing. For all the hubbub I thought it would be cooler than this.

Anyway. I'm saving the pics of my favorite tomb for another day. I need to get something done around here besides play on the computer.

8 comments:

Joyce said...

We went to Jim Morrison's grave. There is always a crowd there, often smoking pot in memory of Jim. I enjoyed the cemetary more than I expected too. It has an atmosphere that is hard to explain.

Donna said...

I rather enjoy hanging out in cemeteries -- no one bothers you, its quiet and at least here in Canada an abundance of greenery...

Unknown said...

You wait til 1st November it will be awash with beautiful bright coloured chrysanthemums wall to wall!

sewprimitive karen said...

I once got the absolute most gorgeous photo of sunlight shining through trees at a rural cemetery in Indiana. They're always good photo subjects anyway. Boy, Pere-laChaise looks like a real jumble in addition to being photogenic. I'll be interested to see your favorite photo from there :-).

Candy Schultz said...

There are so many people in Pere Lachaise whose tombs I would like to see. Jim Morrison is one of them and Oscar Wilde, among many others. It looks like it was a gorgeous day.

Ms. Jan said...

Thanks for the pictures--I love old cemetaries and this looks like a peach. I'll bet it is something on All Souls Day.

Lily Mulholland said...

Yes, the cemeteries in Paris are pretty Gothic! The one in Montmartre up behind the Moulin Rouge is equally dark and jumbled. They're pretty bizarre tourist attractions really :)

atet said...

Way cool stuff -- I'm weird like that, love old cemetaries. Modern American ones just don't have it. When I went to New Orleans the last time I think I took like 3 or 4 rolls of film at Laffayette 1 and 2. Thanks for sharing the pics -- and yep, Jim Morrison's grave just has nothing on the rest of the residents!