Monday, January 31, 2005
In New Orleans, the Garden District is infamous for their gigantic plantation-style houses and seeing them is overwhelming. Though we had heard about the insanely-huge mansions, we could barely comprehend their enormity once before their gates. Luscious palm trees and Spanish moss dominate the front yards, while ancient trees - trees that could surely tell tales about the wiley neighbourhood - are the ultimate kings of the county. The sidewalks are at the whim of the trees' roots - cracked, raised and broken beyond repair.
We did a tour of the Garden District in the midst of a search for Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. The classic New Orleans cemetery has been the sight of movie scenes in Double Jeopardy and Interview with a Vampire. The difference between New Orleans cemeteries and 'regular' cemeteries is that the buried are above ground versus below and raised up to a minimum of six feet above the dirt floor. So, the gravestones (and bodies) are at, or in some cases, above eye level. We learned that the reason for this practice is due to the fact that New Orleans is six feet below sea level - essentially a swamp. So, you can guess what would happen if people started to bury their dead below the ground - not pretty.
For me, the location was incredibly creepy. I took pictures quickly, while Angelo kept an eye out for dodgy characters, looking to score on gullible tourists. While snapping, I swear I saw the shadows of unruly, day-walking vampires and lurking werewolves, hungry for flesh. Once we got outside of the cemetery, I shuddered, certain the dark ghosts were hanging at my elbows and pulling on my hair.
The pairing of posh, old-school mansions and a creepy, broken-down, above ground burial site was unique. Truly, unforgettable. Lestat was certainly smirking at my curiousity.
We did a tour of the Garden District in the midst of a search for Lafayette Cemetery No. 1. The classic New Orleans cemetery has been the sight of movie scenes in Double Jeopardy and Interview with a Vampire. The difference between New Orleans cemeteries and 'regular' cemeteries is that the buried are above ground versus below and raised up to a minimum of six feet above the dirt floor. So, the gravestones (and bodies) are at, or in some cases, above eye level. We learned that the reason for this practice is due to the fact that New Orleans is six feet below sea level - essentially a swamp. So, you can guess what would happen if people started to bury their dead below the ground - not pretty.
For me, the location was incredibly creepy. I took pictures quickly, while Angelo kept an eye out for dodgy characters, looking to score on gullible tourists. While snapping, I swear I saw the shadows of unruly, day-walking vampires and lurking werewolves, hungry for flesh. Once we got outside of the cemetery, I shuddered, certain the dark ghosts were hanging at my elbows and pulling on my hair.
The pairing of posh, old-school mansions and a creepy, broken-down, above ground burial site was unique. Truly, unforgettable. Lestat was certainly smirking at my curiousity.
