A new week, a new travel quiz.
Where in the world is this evocative cemetery?
A crisp autumn day three years ago, the girls and I walked through this cemetery. It was a melancholic walk past the graves of hopeful immigrants, of children, of those never found. Two questions this time: Where in the world is this cemetery and what did the people in this section – from several countries and all walks of life – have in common?
A winner will be selected among those who give the correct answer. They will be featured here on “Where in the world?” and on Sophie’s World Facebook fan page with their name, blog, SoMe channel of choice and a short bio.
Moderation is switched on, so don’t worry about giving away the answer if you know it. All comments will be published simultaneously on Saturday. So go on, have a guess!
Hint 1:
Hint 2: (for the film fans among us):
All is revealed
Update 29 October:
This mystery location is in Canada: Fairview cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As one of you spotted, it looks like the grave stones are set up so as to resemble the bow of a ship. Although that wasn’t intentional, it’s somehow fitting, as these are the graves of victims of the RMS Titanic, one of the most fatal maritime disasters in history. 333 of the more than 1500 victims were recovered and brought to the closest city, Halifax. The majority were buried at this cemetery.
Grave no 227 is that of one Joseph Dawson. After the film Titanic, broken-hearted teenage girls have wept at his grave, with their minds firmly on Leo di Caprio. The real J. Dawson, however, was a crew member from Dublin. He was a trimmer (one who channelled coal to the firemen at the furnaces) and though he hasn’t much in common with James Cameron’s fictional vagabond charmer, the history of the real J. Dawson is interesting in its own right.
Quite a few knew or guessed the answer, including Jenny of Devour the World, Nancie of Budget Travelers Sandbox, Mette of Italian Notes, Vera Marie of A Travelers Library, Sherry of Colorful Footsteps, Angela of Chasing the Unexpected, Lisa of Gone With the Family and Alouise of Traveler Ahoy, Isobel (via e-mail) and Judy of Road Stories (via facebook). Well done, everyone!
Among the correct answers, I chose Jenny Kayano as this week’s winner. Jenny runs the deliciously named blog Devour the World, all about living the experiential life, devouring the world, one bite at a time! Follow her on twitter and have a look at Devour the World on Facebook. Congratulations, Jenny!
It’s a wild guess, but it could be Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where more victims from RMS Titanic are buried than in any other cemetery in the world ???
@Mette – And a very good guess it is 🙂
No idea, this is a tough one.
I have no idea on this one but I will have to watch for more clues!
Thanks for the link back but you can update for 19 instead of 15! 🙂
I have no idea, but it looks very peaceful.
no idea!!! I can never guess these ‘where in the world’ photos
Always interesting strolling in a quiet cemetery. There’s always something to discover and makes the imagination busy constructing stories from what’s inscribed on tombstones.
Yes, Michael, I think so, too. Easy to let the imagination run wild, wondering about the lives behind them.
I don’t know where it is, but the graves remind me of the shape of a ship. A shipping disaster?
@Robert – I thought so, too. And apparently, we’re not the only ones. It’s a romantic thought, that the graves might have been planned so as to resemble a ship. But I checked and it seems the reason for the curving lines of graves is rather more prosaic – has to do with the contours of the slope, simply.
Well, if I don’t get this one I will be shocked….haha 🙂
This is the Fairview Cemetery in my hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia and these are the graves of some who died in the sinking of the Titanic… 121 to be exact. Two other cemeteries in Halifax also have Titanic graves.
I walked through here this past summer. My mother is buried in this cemetery.
@Nancie – Haha. If you hadn’t gotten it, I would have been shocked as well. I thought it was a lovely, peaceful cemetery. Must have been a bit busy in the late 1990s, though – with all those girls coming to leave gifts for Leo.
Fairview Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia??
oops, sorry – they were all on the Titanic and buried at Fairview Cemetery in Nova Scotia
@Jenny – Well done! You’re the winner 🙂
I have no clue!!!!!! but for a what have I got to lose type of answer I’ll say New York City.
@Leigh – You’re not that far off. And New York was the destination of those buried here.
Sophie, I cheated and googled to find it in Halifax Nova Scotia. I didn’t get to Halifax on my recent trip to Nova Scotia, so didn’t see it in person.
And Happy Birthday, Sophie!
@Vera – Halifax is right! And thanks for the birthday wishes 🙂
Will have to give this one a little think.
Hmmm… I don’t know. I need more clues! 🙂
I’m not usually good at these games, except when I really know where it is, and I’m fairly sure this one is in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada at the Titanic graves.
@Sherry – The Titanic graves in Halifax is right 🙂
I have no idea where this is, but I am so intrigued. That first hint picture is such a tease!
I actually had already heard of this cemetery at the time when Titanic came out, because of “J Dawson’s” grave, but I really forgot. I remember somewhere with a lake, but not sure if it’s that one or somewhere mentioned in the movie.. Was long time ago 😛
I believe that’s the Titanic cemetary in Halifax.
Spot on, Lisa 🙂
Don’t know where the cemetery is, but J. Dawson was on the Titanic.
You’re on to it, Sonja. These are the Titanic graves in Halifax, Nova Scotia. So many young girls have cried at this grave, thinking someone who resembles Leo de Caprio is buried here.
I don’t know what the cemetery’s name is, but I know it’s in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It’s where many of the victims of the Titanic are buried.
That’s right, Alouise. Well done 🙂
Thanks for playing, everyone!
I missed the guessing portion- but I had no idea that this cemetery existed- super interesting. The Titanic has always been really fascinating part of history to me.
@Jade – I just found out about it by chance – before we went to Nova Scotia, luckily, so we could visit. I’m fascinated with Titanic as well. That’s part of the nature of disasters, I suppose.