On Leyla's last day here, we went to one of the places I'd been meaning to go to for a while now - Père Lachaise cemetary. It was a lot different than what I expected - for one thing, it was HUGE. For another, the graves were really strange - a lot different than others I've been too in France:
Many of these "boxes" (for lack of a better word - not sure what they are officially called) where slightly scary, with broken-down doors and lots of spiderwebs. The idea of the door also creeped me out - that's just a horror moving waiting to happen.
I was most surprised though to see how sad and derelict Jim Morrison's grave was. It was sort of hidden away and falling apart - you could barely even read his name on it anymore. There were a few cigarettes and a couple dead roses thrown on it, but if there hadn't been a guard keep watching, you could've easily just walked right on by it. I don't know why I was expecting something bigger, more grandiose. I guess I just thought that since it was one of the most visited graves, there would be a huge tomb or some kind of big memorial.
In other news, in just a few short hours I will be off on the train to visit Doc. I'm crossing my fingers for a fun (and champagne) filled weekend. There will be champagne, right Doc?
Doc?
Dooocccc??
*tap tap*
Is this thing on?
Labels: Travel
posted by Ksam @ 9:03 AM
8 Comments:
Enjoy your weekend with Doc!
You should have told me. Our apartment is just down the street.
I think they're called masoleums...
I really love Père Lachaise, I could spend hours wandering aimlessly in there.
I believe the "boxes" are supposed to be little chapels. The ashes are put in drawers inside, then sealed, and you can go and pray in front of the cremains. I'm a weird cemetery geek (I think they're neat historically and culturally) so I just loved Pere Lachaise. When I was there in 2001, Jim Morisson's tombstone had some pins and mementos on it. I think there used to be a bust, but it was stolen (and replaced) several times, plus grafittied, which is why it's just a simple tomb now. When I visited the historic cemetery in Toulouse I learned that tombs in disrepair and generally falling apart are often torn down to make place for new ones, even if the original family paid "à perpetuité". Having visited the cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts with tombs from the 17th century, including someone from the Mayflower (all in poor shape), I think it's a real shame that old tombs are torn down. But then again, France has a lot less place than the States for cemeteries.
That is sad, about Jim Morrison's grave. Near Fremantle, Western Australia, is Bon Scott's grave (AC DC). There is a small memorial which is nowhere near his actual grave, for safety from vandals etc. But there are some tributes and Bon Scott's parents have donated a bench. Very touching!
Hey Sam...
Like you, I had always wanted to visit Jim Morrison's grave site... I was his BIGGEST fan when I was 17 years old, you know!!!!! So, this past Feb, when my friend was visiting from San Diego, we went... My first impression of the cemetary was "It'S HUGE!!!" I felt like I was in a village of dead people.. It was really cool.. like a black and white horror film of the olden days... It took us forever to find Jim's resting place... and when we found it, I too was a bit surprised.. So, I guess that even when you are someone as famous as him... You don't get a lot a hotsy-totsy tomb... It was a bit sad.. but just cool to see it... I still think he's somewhere in Africa, mind you... Actually, I heard that he died in the nightclub/bar that night and they brought him back to his hotel and put him in his room to make it appear that he died there and not in the bar-- they didn't want the bad publicity... Who knows, right?? Take care.. Leese
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Here's a link for the bust that was stolen. You can also see how bad the graffiti was. www.jim-morrison.com/jmbust.jpg
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