I came across the New Jewish Cemetery in Krakow less than two years ago; during a covid-19 lockdown. Because of the restrictions, I started intense exploring my city. Since then, I've been visiting this place once every few months.
It is where I often reset my mind to "factory settings." Many so-called problems lose their power, faced with the definitive end.
I know that time is limited and very precious. Usually, I don't think about it. Nor about how lucky I am to have any time at all. It is here I always become acutely aware of all the wasted hours. Sometimes, when I catch myself mindlessly scrolling Facebook, I can almost hear my voice from the distant future - put the damn phone down and LIVE!
The cemetery on Miodowa St stole my heart on my very first visit. There is an incredible atmosphere here, as in any old cemetery.
It was opened in 1800; when Kazimierz (once a separate town) was incorporated into Krakow. Back then, all old cemeteries located in dense residential buildings were closed. On the outskirts of the city, new ones have opened.
The cemetery has aged considerably since then, and the term 'new' sounds strange.
There are an estimated 10000 gravestones in the cemetery. Like all sites associated with Jewish culture, this place was trashed during the Nazi occupation. Most of the matzevot were used for construction works (some served as paving slabs in the Płaszów camp) or had been sold to local stonemasons. Those that managed to be saved were only returned here after the war.
Some of them are still lying under the wall.
There are many new graves, but most of the area is hidden under a carpet of ivy. Every time I get up here, I think: I see you. It is my way of honoring the human beings who are no longer with us - a few seconds of attention.
I won't lie; death scares me. But would I love my life so much without it?
As always, warm greetings from Krakow 🌼 See you!
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I did a very similar photo shooting at this cemetery back in the winter two years ago. I had the same feeling there like you. Very unique atmosphere, especially with the snow...
Usually when I visit new city or village I'm looking for some old cemetery... don't know why. I look at graves that nobody cares or remembers anymore and I think... so this how my grave will look like in 100-200 years after my death. It won't be important how many things I bought or collected in my life. It probably will be just one of many other old forgotten graves.
It's remarkable, but I have similar thoughts - will my gravestone also become overgrown with ivy? Will there be someone who will think for a moment about us, the forgotten ones?
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Really fantastic photography, interesting and very well done. Excellent @astinmin!✨
Thank you 🌸
❤️✨
Absolutely beautiful with all the ivy and moss. Pity it is not kept in good condition, but then again it woul lose the charm.
The eternal dilemma, isn't it? 😉
Yea it is...
You should try go to that place in the blue hoour , a little after the sunset, i could guarantee that those photos will get a misterious landscape like from a horror movie!
I'm sure they will! Who knows, maybe one day I'll look here after sunset. It must be at the end of December, when the days are the shortest, as the cemetery is only open until 4 pm.
Ohhh oh you have a point, that's something to really unfortunate
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1785.
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