People like to visit the unusual place for sightseeing when discovering new places, travelling. My dad is very fond of visiting railway stations in every new place and would jump on the next train if possible. Some others tend to visit cemeteries. Yes, usually it is quiet place where you can walk, observe and let your thoughts go wherever they should would fly. They say the death is part of the life and it is the only fair as equal for anyone. Why such topic today?
One remark to Sarajevo here – there were cemeteries wherever you looked around, with the tombs/stones one as the other. Some older ones have been decorated to demonstrate the nobility or success of the people buried. But generally, the cemetaries there were considered as places with good energy and vibes and it is prestigious and appreciated to live nearby.
And from what I have seen here in Georgia, I cannot say the cemeteries are places to avoid. Every tomb is decorated with a huge picture /photograph of the person who is buried there. Many of them are colorful with people smiling. It is like a village photo album which gives you some hints how the people have live at those places. When discovering new places we usually do not go to visit the cemetaries for the purpose. But the locals do. They consider the tombs as places where they can meet their beloved who passed away. They tend to gather there for birthdays, anniversaries, or other religous events. They eat there, they drink wine or beer there as they have always did. There are seats and shelters around the tombs exactly for these reasons. Definately, Georgia is very religious place on earth, would say the priest/popes are the ones the most respected in the country. We have not had a chance to visit the funerals here, but have spotted some, with many people, flowers and singing, celebrating the life of those whose time is up. And they continue to do so afterwards as well, so rather frequently you would see people gathering with the families around the tombs, celebrating.
Last, but not least, during supra (there is nothing else more georgian than to meet up at the overlooded tables to eat and dring together with family and friends) there are many toasts lead by designated speaker called „Tamada“. And ususally, no later that toast number 3 or 4 is for the beloved who are no longer here and they are commemorated this way and at least one glass is drunk in their honour and loving memory.
„Death ends a life, not a relationship.“ Jack Lemmon
