More NOLA

I visited several cemeteries while I was taking the class on
Louisiana history. Some were in Lake Charles, but the most
interesting one was in New Orleans....St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
This cemetery was started during French ownership of New Orleans.
All of the graves are written in French. Being in New Orleans the
tombs are above ground. Also, each tomb can contain a couple of
hundred years of the dead. They just keep sliding them in from the
top. Some even use cardboard coffins so that the bodies can
slide on down. The cemetery is segregated by religion. Catholics
on one side and Protestants on the other. They are separated by
wall. We only visited the Catholic side.

The cemetery looks like a miniature city. I was so fascinated
by each tomb. Some are still kept up by family members and some
are still kept up by benevolent societies started over 200 years ago
to take care of burying the dead and survivors. Look at how ominous
the sky was at that time. We could actually see the lightening and
hear the thunder. Luckily it went around us and all we got was
the cooling effects of a Louisiana thunderstorm. I felt somewhat
anxious being in New Orleans with a thunderstorm brewing, knowing
almost 5 years ago 80% of the city was flooded. The cemetery we visited
was not affected by the flood.

I loved all the iron fences with their typical New Orleans
Fleur de leis.

More fencing.

Still more fencing. I am not sure how old it is.

All of the graves are in French. At least the Catholic side is.

This is supposedly the grave of voodoo priestess, Marie LaVeau.
She was a free woman of color who practiced voodoo. Voodoo was
not a religion of strictly sticking pins in dolls. It originated in
Africa and was a religion meant to bring harmony between humans
and the earth. Marie lived with (they were not allowed to marry)
white French man and this is his family tomb.
She was a devout, practicing Catholic as well. There is another grave
that is said to be her grave as well, but is probably her daughter's who
was also named Marie LaVeau.

Right next to Marie LaVeau's grave is the grave of the first
black mayor of New Orleans, Dutch Morial. I like to think
that Marie is keeping an eye on that Louisiana politician.

The cemetery was a very interesting place. I would love to go
back. There is also a St.Louis Cemetery Number 2. There are
also American cemeteries for when the American's moved in after
the Louisiana Purchase. The city is so full of history.