Monday, July 2, 2012

We saw dead people

Believe the hype. The Glasgow Necropolis boasts that it is "one of the most significant cemeteries in Europe." And if you want to give your bones the greatest view for eternity, this really is the place.

Elizabeth leads the way through the Necropolis as Glasgow looms. 

The graves have taken over a steep hill like spiky stone hairs.

"It's like a giant army standing at attention at the top of a hill," Elizabeth said as we reached the crest. It felt more to me like being in the presence of an oversized, morbid chess set.
Like disciplined soldiers on the front line.

The grave markers overlook central Glasgow and its majestic cathedral (although we can only confirm its majesty from the outside because it's closed to visitors this week.)
Some dead guy's view of the cathedral (left) and the Royal Infirmary. Convenient location to the graveyard, huh? 



And this cemetery contains the final resting place of some of Glasgow's most notable figures, such as:

  • John Knox, a 16th century homicidal, sword-wielding Protestant priest
  • William  Miller of Wee Willie Winkie fame -- as in the nursery rhyme.
Big Wee Willie.


  • And theater owner and actor John Henry Alexander, whose epitaph was almost worthy of the Bard himself -- and conveniently left out that 65 people got trampled and died when someone falsely shouted fire in 1849. 
A whole lot nicer than "Here lies ..."

I guess that's why they don't let journalists write for tombstones.

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