Dark Destiny

In this life both of us are the quintessential "soccer" mom (though neither of us have children that play soccer). We're married with the standard 2.5 children (Tracy has three, I have two - do the math). We work, taxi kids, cook meals, do laundry, etc., etc. Yet we're drawn to the darker side. Perhaps an escape from a routine that revolves around things mundane?

I love cemeteries - always have. What is morbid and eerie to some seems utterly peaceful to me. Wandering around a cemetery reading headstones curious as to how these souls lived and died probably would give some (cough *husband* cough) reason to have me committed. But I figure since I'll spend more time below ground than above it I might as well get familiar. As they say, memento mori.

Time does not always allow an on site cemetery excursion but there are plenty of resources online. Several months ago I stumbled upon Dark Destiny. I must warn you before you visit - if you love old cemeteries you can waste some serious time at this site.


Quote from the site:

...To the uninitiated a Cemetery conjures up images of almost identical headstones set out in symmetrical rows, for the modern day Cemetery this wouldn't be too far from the truth.

But step back through time to the Victorian age and you'll find vast gardens of the dead. Mausoleums, tombs and catacombs aplenty, still shelter thousands of ornate coffins with their Victorian inhabitance over a century into their eternal slumber...

(Gardens of the dead?! OMG - I think I just drooled on my keyboard!)

Loaded with photos of tombstones from over 20 cemeteries in England, including the Magnificent Seven, it's a visual delight. You can even download a photo slide show from most of the locations. In addition to the photos there is a history on each cemetery, stories on any myths associated with the location, notables buried at the cemetery and what bus to take if you're so fortunate to visit in person.

Whether your passion is cemeteries in general or if you need a little tombstone inspiration for your haunt this site can not be missed. But - don't blame us if you get lost and don't remerge for several hours.

Tip Toe Through the Tombstones

My husband is ultra cautious. I am so not.

Recent example. We were on a Caribbean cruise and had docked at St. Maarten. Half the island is owned by the French and half by the Dutch. We docked on the French side and after having a looksy I decided we needed to visit the Dutch side as well. Hubby was not amused. He liked to keep the ship in sight should they decide to sail off without us. ::sigh::

I won the debate and we grabbed a cab and headed to the other side. Our driver was wonderful but there was a bit of a language barrier as I had trouble grasping the dialect. So, when we were given instructions on locating the cab stand (a different location than where we were being dropped) I thought I understood. (Whoops! My mistake.)

We took a quick run through Marigot and knowing my husband was nervous I decided we needed to head for the cab stand. I was certain the driver had intended for us to take a left so that's the way we went. We walked along, not a cab in sight, hubby growing more nervous. I looked across the street and there was a long rock wall. Could it be?! I dashed across the street digging for my camera with hubby trying to keep up. I ducked under an overgrown entry into the cemetery.

The water level is high so the graves are above ground like they are in New Orleans. The place was a sad mess. Over-grown, neglected and trash everywhere. I brushed away debris and balanced myself on rubble to get a few pics. Hubby had positioned himself close to the entrance less than thrilled with my excitement over the find.

Here are a few shots. (Sorry I don't know the name of the cemetery.)












Obviously we did manage to find the cab stand. We should have gone right instead of left but if we had I would have missed this little field trip.