Monday, October 26, 2009

Cementerio de la Recoleta

The cemetery in the upscale barrio of Recoleta is one of Buenos Aires' A-list tourist attractions. I'm not sure what this says about the city, since I visited a nearly identical complex in Valparaíso, Chile, that's much less hyped.

Regardless, the cemetery contains the mausoleums of many notable Argentines--the most famous being Eva Perón--including several presidents who's names I recognize from reading about how the government "dealt" with the Mapuche and other indigenous peoples towards the end of the 19th century.

The graveyard is laid out like its own mini-barrio, with tree-lined main streets and narrower connecting walkways. All this is presided over by an army of feral cats who live on the grounds and are fed by locals.

***

At this time last year, I was newly arrived in Mexico City, contemplating the differences--and increasing similarities--between Halloween and Día de los Muertos. In Argentina, neither holiday holds much sway. So I've taken it upon myself to "spooky" up my photos of the cemetery. Gotta celebrate the season somehow!

Creepy caretaker


Long shadows


Roads of the dead


Ghost, angel...or statue


Cemetery still life

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Roads of the dead". That's an actual road in the cemetery? Wow, I wouldn't wanna walk through there when the sun goes down...

Kathy Amen said...

All the above-ground structures make me think of New Orleans, where I'll be in less than two weeks. I hope to do some cemetery touring there.

Matthew Barker said...

Some brilliant images here - the white stone kind of reminds me of Arequipa in Peru - where there is also a Recoleta, one of the most beautiful but undervisited parts of the city.

hal said...

@Matthew: Definitely, I can see the resemblance. Never made it to Arequipa's Recoleta, though.

Lauren Quinn said...

Did you take these pictures? They're awesome! Dualing talents--I love it!

hal said...

Thanks so much, Lauren. They are indeed my snaps, + the editing magic of GIMP 2.