Signs of Life Amongst the Graves

I have been walking in the cemetery lately and during a recent lap noticed this bird's nest nestled in a safe spot. I didn't want to get too close. Visions of Hitchcock-like swooping mama birds ran through my mind...but I couldn't resist a few photos.

 

And so that got me thinking about all of the lovely flowers and trees and wildlife that make the cemetery their home. Like this guy, that I had been hearing peck-peck-pecking for a few days now. Finally, he was ready for his close-up.

 

 

And all of the gorgeous wildflowers (or weeds....)

 

And then one day, the Groundskeeper decided that it was time to tidy up the lawns and started to mow...but I know it is a matter of time until everything starts to get wild again. I am actually looking forward to it.

 

Until then, I'll be patient....

 

 

..mute"

 

I am not sure who is running around my neighborhood with a big, fat Sharpie tagging everything standing still, but I really wish he or she would stop.

 

I am a fan of street art but not this tagging...it seems out of place here in Munich, at least in the streets nearest our building. The place I see that this tagging bothers me the most has to be on the walls of the Friedhof, or cemetery. It sure seems to me that the only names that should be honored or noticed there are the ones on the graves.

 

So, I say to you, ...mute", live up to your name and stay muted!

(or give us some real street art...)



Spooky!

Because Halloween is this week, I thought that I would show you one of my favorite places in the neighborhood: Alter Nordlicher Friedhof, the Old North Cemetary. Built in 1866-1869 to relieve the space issue from the Old South Cemetary, by 1939 it was full. Apparently there are many important Munich residents taking up residence there now...the cemetary was seriously damaged in the war, and the old tombstones are something to see. I find that I cut through here on my way home whenever I can.

The cemetary is surrounded by tall brick walls which insulate it from the sounds of the busy streets. On any given day you can find people reading on benches, jogging, walking with children or having picnics on the grass (right on top of someone...). It is a beautiful, lush place, full of greenery and trees, some growing right out of the graves themselves! It seems like a pretty nice spot to get some final rest.

There's only one problem...