Thursday, September 10, 2009

Gardeners at Chacarita Cemetery

Gardeners on a Small Ride in the La Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina
It is almost impossible to say how many graves there are in the graveyard of Chacarita, but they are definitely many. At least this cemetery is enormous enough to be called a city, a city of deads. Well, maybe I should have asked these local cemetery gardeners. They are in charge of tending the graves and general gardening. They might know. These guys clean the graves from leaves and dead flowers. When I took the picture they were on their way to the next section to cut the grass and clean the paths of the largest cemetery in Buenos Aires. It seems these gentlemen really enjoyed the little ride and the environment in which they perform their job.

8 comments:

Lowell said...

You know why they put fences around cemeteries, right?

People are just dying to get in!

And these gentlemen, hopefully, do indeed feel good about their job, for it is an important one...especially to families and loved ones of the deceased.

EG CameraGirl said...

I think the workers can feel good about an outdoor job that beautifies an area. Most people respect cemeteries and the memories contained therein.

B SQUARED said...

A most quiet working environment.

AB said...

Nice capture of these guys going about their daily life.

But how do you dispose of your rubbish in a way that puts paid to the dengue mosquito?

Celeste Maia said...

Cemiteries are actually happy places, where the dead are visited, and flowers are brought. It is a nice rite, the same everywhere in the world.

Julie said...

Ooo ... I am a cemetery tragic. This looks like a graveyard with many many stories.

I wonder if I could tempt you into telling a few of the stories ... ?

Buenos Aires Photoblog said...

@AB
A cemetery is a typical source of dengue vector, so prevention starts here. The dengue mosquito (Aedes aegypti) loves standing water which it will usually find in vases and flower pots. Consequently, people are encouraged to empty and clean any containers that accumulate water and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Additionally they shall get rid of any junk that could collect water. But how to keep flowers fresh then? Instead of using water, people should use wet soil or sand in the container where they place the flowers in.

Mike said...

Not an easy job either.