Cemeteries are Different Here

I was driving down a back road, and stumbled on something very different -  a cemetery which looks like a miniature town.  Arranged in streets and cross streets which were about 100 meters long, were a series of small buildings of the same size but unique designs.  The buildings were of very high quality.  Looking through the doors, I could see that is was like a mausoleum with bodies behind polished granite walls with the names and dates carved.

I later found out that the cemetery sells the land, and the owners put up the buildings (with strict guidelines), and then the bodies are buried.  The cost is from 30,000 - 40,000 Euros.  Some of the dates I saw were back in the 1800's, and there may have been some much older.  It really was quite beautiful.

One of the surprising things was that some of the doors were open a crack so fresh air could get in, and I knew the residents didn't need that.  Many had freshly cut flowers and/or burning candles.  I was told by a local, that they were approaching a holiday where a family tends to return to their home town, and visiting the dead is a part of that tradition.  There was a florist on site, but probably to service owners for this holiday.  You always learn something when you travel.

ps:  Since this post, I have seen many others, and usually on a much less costly scale.

Ciao