Laurie Beth Zuckerman photographed the historic Lapeyrouse Cemetery in Trinidad's capital city of Port of Spain this May. Lapeyrouse is one of the most corroded cemeteries I have ever visited. It has huge architectural monuments and streets, much like the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France. Transients seek shelter in cardboard boxes inside dilapidated tombs, while drug dealers with Bluetooths in their ears scurry around on bikes, arranging their deals. Only the occasional car enters the high-walled graveyard to traverse its acres of inner streets, likely looking for loved ones. I felt scared and cautious at every turn, even with my husband close by. Finally my mounting fear and the debilitating heat of the tropical afternoon sun drove me away before I could complete my photography documentation. I needed days there, not hours.
Below are my photos from the older section of Lapeyrouse Cemetery showing the diverse architectural styles of its once grand monuments. The first one is a monument styled after Port of Spain's characteristic Gingerbread Houses.
