Comments on: Drain Away

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:40:55 +0000

Happy Halloween and thanks for the comments! I didn’t know that recycling relatives is/was a common practice throughout Italy. The San Gaudioso catacombs are a real treat to visit and interestingly, the burial site was created above the 5th century Basilica of San Gaudioso as well as an ancient Roman cistern. What’s more, throughout the hallways they’ve got modern art everywhere. It’s lush experience all around.

Saluti da Napoli!

By: Annette (Alessio) Higday

Annette (Alessio) Higday — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:45:26 +0000

I love reading about Napoli- a passionate heart of Italy. We visited and toured in 03, and 06 with family who live there. I remember leaning on golden sculls outside of a church downtown while learning about the wonderful hidden treasure of the “sotteranea”. Thanks for more info.-Annette

By: Sylvia Flores

Sylvia Flores — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:03:53 +0000

I love Naples and really enjoyed your intriguing note! Thanks for sharing more of its rich secrets with us all!

By: Marina Andriola

Marina Andriola — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:37:44 +0000

Find your niche indeed!
What a timely report. I couldn’t help but notice all the evidence of moisture on the floor.
Just when you thought it was safe to turn out the lights! Watch your step!
Happy Hallow’s Eve!

By: Wojciech

Wojciech — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:59:18 +0000

In some African countries, e.g. Mali, bodies are either buried or are left in a cave to dry. Funeral ceremonies are held periodically about 3 years after the death, sometimes for a group of deceased during those years, when the bones are excavated and properly disposed. The belief is that the spirit of the deceased hovers in the village for a longer time until through the funeral ceremony it is released to join the ancestors. Indeed it takes time for us to reliquish the grief after the death of a beloved one. Family graves are next to dwellings in Tahiti, Kalimantan (Borneo) and elsewhere as signs of the family unity, continuity, ancestoral wisdom and participation in life through generations. Cemetaries in monasteries remind monks of “memento mori” (remeber that you will die). In some monastic orders devoted to silence monks greeted each other by this phrase as the only permissible words outside prayers to be said.

By: Evanne Brandon Diner

Evanne Brandon Diner — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:13:39 +0000

We laughed out loud when we read your note. Here in Italy the Italians are often into recycling as it relates to their dead relatives. If you visit an Italian cemetery, notice most of the burial crypts are raised about ten inches above the ground. When we asked why, we were told after thirty years, bodies were often removed, their bones buried in this “crawl” space, and a new spot was made for the next person to die in one’s family.The story gives “find your niche” a whole new meaning!

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:32:08 +0000

On that happy note, I’m off to bed for some interesting dreams!!

By: Penny Ewles-Bergeron

Penny Ewles-Bergeron — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:53:11 +0000

Oh yuk! What a great note for Halloween!