Walking among the departed

Campo Santo Cemetery in Ghent, Belgium

What genealogist or family historian can resist a cemetery even if there is no chance one’s own ancestors rest there?

Cemetery at Fossvogur in central Reykjavik, Iceland

The only time I recall not accepting an opportunity to view a cemetery was in January 2014 during a 5 day South Australian heat wave when temperatures reached between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius each day. I was visiting the quaint town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. After lunch in an air conditioned restaurant, instead of crossing the street to the historic cemetery, I continued walking in the shade to the bus stop so I could get back to the beach.

Cemetery in central Enschede, The Netherlands

In a cemetery we remember those who went before. A cemetery is also a place to ponder the beauty and brevity of life, to observe varied cultural and religious perspectives on death, and to witness care and neglect, remembering and forgetting. The pictures are from cemeteries I have recently visited.

Campo Santo Cemetery in Ghent, Belgium