I have a strange entry for Dawn’s Lingering look at Windows this week. Â Maybe a little mournful, and not playing strictly by the rules. Â But I do think that these windows are rather beautiful, and hope that you will too.
Roses for eternity
Sunflowers for Fernanda
 
- Simplicity for Maria
Lilies and colour for Joao
More roses for Rosa
Eternal health
- The wife of Jacinto
- And the prettiest of pinks for Teresa
All keeping each other company
In England we have nothing like this, and I am always drawn by this expression of love. Â On a Sunday afternoon, in a sleepy Algarve village, family members come and go, bringing fresh flowers and relighting candles. Â I watch quietly and respectfully, and then try to capture the serenity. Â Even in such a tiny village, newer members have their problems.
Reaching the top boxes needs a head for heights
Windows come in all shapes and sizes, don’t they? Â For a very different view, visit Dawn- A Lingering look at windows- Â week # 5
restlessjo 
Very lovely, and yes, very bittersweet. I do love the image of the Portuguese families bustling to and fro and bringing flowers to their deceased loved ones. At least they still hold them in their hearts. 🙂
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The deceased seem to be still a part of life, in a lovely way, Cathy. My cemetery visits are more a question of guilt. Mam is still in my heart but I rarely go. It’s not at all a spiritual place.
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That’s too bad about the cemetery where your mom is buried, Jo. Too bad it’s not in a joyous place like the one in Portugal. You must have been Portuguese in a previous lifetime! 🙂
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🙂
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I’m always fascinated by these too when I’ve come across them Jo . In some ways without getting into a religious debate 😉 they do seem to honour and celebrate the passing on of a loved one with out a morbidity which can pervade at times in some cultures.
I really like this interpretation Jo .
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Thanks, Poppy. I felt very awkward about posting this, as I do about taking the photos. I find them very moving, but they are so personal. The family with the ladder made me smile but I hesitated for a long while before including the shot.
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.. do you know I ‘ve just thought maybe it’s because there are photographs of the people .. and it feels so much more personal .. I really don’t think you should worry Jo you have posted in a very respectful manner x
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Nothing morbid about it. You are a photographer. Photographers record life. And death and by sharing your photos we all learn something. I have anyway! Thanks Jo 🙂
Jude xx
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Wow, Jude! That’s the first time I’ve been called a photographer 🙂 Thank you so much.
I loved the subject. Just didn’t want to tread on feelings.
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A sensitive photographer – nothing wrong with that either 🙂
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If you make it back to Venice, I bet you’d like a wander around the cemetery island San Michele. They have similar boxes there with photos of the dead, and some pretty ornate gravestones too.
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I seem to have a vague memory of that, Richard. We’ve been to Venice 3 times, once staying at Lido and tripping around the lagoon. Fabulous! 🙂 Somebody suggested Pere Lachaise in Paris. Must be getting morbid in my old age 🙂
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Until we visited Spain and Portugal we had never before seen tombstones with photographs of the memorialized persons resting there. Like your windows analogy!
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Thanks! 🙂 I’m never sure what the correct term for them is, but they’re windows of a sort. Some of the tombstones are amazing. (in Poland too)
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this is a beautiful post! when i read the title, i expected to see closeups of eyes… i’ve been stubborn w/the slow internet and kept pushing the reload button and finally saw the post!! wow – you put a lot of work into this one!
________________________________
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Thanks so much, Lisa 🙂 I appreciate your effort too.
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Jo I love your take on windows. I too find when we travel that the cemeteries in some countries are exquisite. Sounds like an odd word but really true. In Slovenia they were absolutely immaculate, almost like beautiful parks that clearly were often visited.
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Yes 🙂 I go to the cemetery at home mostly from guilt, but in Portugal (and Poland) it’s regarded as a natural and necessary part of life.
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Hi Woolly, and thank you! 🙂
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A beatiful memorial
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They’re lovely, Eunice 🙂 I always feel a little shy and awkward of taking the photos though.
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You show no disgrace to them just beauty.
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Wow, this is beautiful, Jo. What a lovely way to remember their loved ones.
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It’s nice, isn’t it? I feel a bit of an intruder, but they are such lovely places, and each little “box” has its story. 🙂
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I thought these were quite exquisite.
A lovely and different perspective on life.
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I could have stayed, admiring and taking photos, for a long time, Madoqua. I love the pathos of them.
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They have certainly created a beautiful memorial for loved ones.
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The cemeteries in Portugal (and Poland, too) are very lovely, but I’ve never seen this “box” style in Poland. I imagine it’s a practical, space saving solution (but easier if you’re tall 🙂 )
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Nothing wrong with breaking a few rules Jo. Good subject matter!
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I didn’t actually know the name for these boxes, Andrew. Rough called them “niches” so I guess that must be right. 🙂
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I thought they were beautiful as well. Nice that they have photos of the decease.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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Thanks, Francine. The cemeteries in Portugal (and in Poland too) are very beautiful, and I suppose this is quite a practical option.
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They are beautiful, much love goes into the care and maintenance of these ‘windows’.
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I didn’t know the correct name for them, Sam 🙂 Rough called them “niches”. I guess that’s right.
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Windows worked for me 🙂
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For me they are beautiful as well as painful. Sorry.
*Mridubala*
If you like, please drop at my short story (kids’ genre) here :
http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-for-kids/children-short-story-little-goldie/
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They fascinate me, Mridubala, but I always worry about being disrespectful when I’m taking photos. 🙂
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If U didn’t many would be missing it too…
It would be great if you could drop at my story FOREVER, if you don’t mind.
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Very European though aren’t they? When I was listening to the presentation from the (UK) architecture students a few weeks back, I mentioned the niches in the cemeteries and they didn’t know what I was talking about.
I wouldn’t normally wander into one, but I have looked at more historical ones, eg in Alora or Comares here is Spain. And a few others that I can’t remember. Don’t think I have visited in the Algarve though.
But for commemoration, you have to go a long way to beat Père Lachaise in Paris.
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So true! I’ve never been there 🙂
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They are beautiful Jo, and as others have said, death is part of life…
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It’s such a peaceful little spot, Sue. I felt a bit of an intruder but when they brought the ladder i was intrigued. I’d never thought about that before. 🙂
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Crikey, as you said, what if the relatives have no head for heights (that would be me!))
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Si no fuese porque has dicho de donde es este cementerio, hubiese dicho que es uno de los que tenemos aquà en Algeciras
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You have the same style in Algeciras? I have seen them throughout Portugal and in Spain too 🙂
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Why strange..? 🙂
The death is a part of our life as birth is – whatever we like it or not… 🙂
Windows aren’t only for the future. in my eyes you make a great choice here… 🙂
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Thank you, Drake. I was a little worried I might offend or seem disrespectful, but I find them beautiful 🙂
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so do I. Gorgeous flowers. They don’t have the boxes here, but all the same, there are always lots of flowers in the cemeteries.
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Me too… 🙂
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