Pirates, Politicians, & Voodoo Queens...Oh My!

There was one thing left in New Orleans to see before we headed out for Anne & Scott's. This town is famous for so many things and one of those is the above ground cemeteries. I had seen these in so many movies that I wanted to see one in person.

The history is this. When New Orleans was originally founded it flooded regularly. Residents would wake up in the morning to see their dearly departed uncle Joe floating by. So, they built above ground tombs in their cemeteries. In fact, we drove by one business offering a really great deal on your own Mausoleum! Kind of morbid, right? Well, the cemeteries are really cool and in some spots pretty old. The rows of tombs resemble streets and the burial plots became known as "Cities of the Dead." Pirates, politicians, and voodoo queens are buried in these areas. I had read that the cemeteries can be a prime spot for muggings, since there are so many narrow passageways and places for muggers to hide. We visited the Greenwood Cemetery, which allows you to drive through. Sweet!