Famous Graves Around The World

On my recent winter travels to Turks and Caicos, I discovered a small village cemetery on the northwestern end of Providenciales: the Seventh Day Adventist Church Blue Hills Cemetery, located in the Blue Hills Settlement area, a place known for its long, scenic, and rugged beach. Just metres from the North Atlantic Ocean, this small […]

On my visit to the Vatican, I visited one of the holiest burial sites in the world—the resting place of Saint Peter, traditionally regarded as the first Pope and Bishop of Rome. Originally named Simon, Jesus renamed him Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), meaning “rock.” Peter was a Jewish fisherman who was called by Jesus […]

On our walk, we learned that before Glasnevin was established, Irish Catholics in Dublin had no cemeteries of their own. This was due to the repressive “Penal Laws” imposed by the British, which restricted the public practice of Catholicism—including Catholic burial rites. During the tour, we stopped at the mausoleums of several prominent figures, most […]

A Bike Ride to Ernest Hemingway’s Finca Vigia In November 2022, an old friend and I rented bikes from a local, family-owned shop called Ruta Bikes and embarked on a 25-kilometer ride from Havana to the quaint town of San Francisco de Paula. Our destination was the legendary home of Ernest Hemingway, a place he […]

My friend and colleague, Cynthia Switzer, recently visited the grave of Irish born, singer, songwriter and activist, Sinéad O’Connor at Deansgrange Cemetery, just outside of Dublin, Ireland. This 70 acre cemetery was established in 1865 and is the burial site of writers, poets, actors, political activists and John Boyd Dunlop, inventor of the tire of […]

We were driven in a classic 1950s Buick to the gates of Havana’s Cemetery of Christopher Columbus—a place steeped in history and mystery. Located in the Vedado neighborhood and founded in 1876, this cemetery is renowned worldwide for its stunningly elaborate memorials and over 500 private family mausoleums. As we walked among the fading grandeur, […]

A Monument to Bravery: The Firefighters’ Memorial at Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón While wandering through Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón in Havana, Cuba, I paused at a striking and solemn monument—its presence commanding, its message clear even before I knew the full story. Later, I discovered its deep significance, a reminder of sacrifice and courage in […]

A Walk Through History: Plaza de la Catedral, Old Havana While walking through the cobbled streets of Old Havana, I came upon Plaza de la Catedral, a charming square that stands as one of the city’s architectural and historical treasures. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the plaza is dominated by the Havana Cathedral, officially […]

On my bike ride and walk to this historic Cementerio in the Vedado district of Havana, I discovered the memorial dedicated to all the great baseball players, managers, and umpires from Cuba.

Although I haven’t been to Queen Elizabeth’s grave at Windsor Castle, I put together a collage of photos taken off my television set to remember and honor this incredible woman.