The trip
Highgate Cemetery, in the district of Canden, is off the beaten track of the huge and monumental London. It is a special place, symbolic and full of history. Not only because there lie the bones of Karl Marx, probably the most influential man in the historical development of the twentieth century (understanding that his philosophy, branched in various and very different options, has resulted in many of the revolutions, political regimes and governments that have succeeded after his death), but also by the many famous characters that have been buried there. The list of illustrious give one at the entrance of the cemetery this, the most modern and open to the public without a tour, is full of delightful curiosities. The other half of the cemetery, the west, is older and monumental, but not able to visit on your own. The stage looks like a painting of the period that have survived intact over time. Trees and vegetation mix of sculptural tombs. A walk through history in which even can be crossed with a fox that roams the area.
To reach the cemetery we take the subway early, that takes us from Liverpool Street, where we are staying, and we stopped at the station Archway, on the Northern Line (can be stopped also in the station Highgate, but is somewhat far from the cemetery). Stumbled upon a typical London suburb of identical houses in a row, with windows and steep Victorian look. I like that part of this cosmopolitan city (the saving part of their essence intact after, sometimes, deceptive facade).
For years Highgate was almost in a state of neglect and was a private association that has restored. It is an open field, with sand roads surrounded by trees, that occur in the ancient tombs sculpted with more modern.
At last we reached the cemetery. Our idea is to visit the grave of Karl Marx so we headed straight to the new (I have already noted that there are two parts). It was a mistake, because that day because of time, could not get into the old cemetery that, as I found later is a fascinating space left in which to bury in 1975 for "full house" and in which there is a mixture of Egyptian columns and mausoleums of the nineteenth century that give the place a magic nebula.
We entered both, after paying three pounds (three years ago) in Highgate this, opened in 1834, and that was part of a municipal plan private cemeteries (seven) created it impossible to continue burying bodies in the London churches, then, colgaban ya el cartel the "overbooking". For years Highgate was almost in a state of neglect and was a private association that has restored. It is an open field, with sand roads surrounded by trees, that occur in the ancient tombs sculpted with more modern.
"Change the world"
The place where Marx is buried in the upper, one of the main roads. A huge bust of the famous phrase "workers of the world, join "tells us that we have come to our meeting with the philosopher. At the bottom of the sculpture can be read: "The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various forms, however, the goal is to change ". At the tomb, in which also buried other members of his family and his loyal servant, with whom he had a son, several bouquets of flowers on the ground fruit of the daily pilgrimage of Communists and admirers from around the world. Many people take the opportunity to take some pictures next to the most universal mass shaker.
But, what we see now has little to do with the reality of Marx's funeral, the 14 March 1883. Then, His death took only just 10 people to Highgate. One year later, were 6000 Communists who came to his grave to pay tribute, which was prevented by police who shielded the room and stopped to the entrance of his daughter Eleanor. The tomb we see today was erected in 1955 commissioned by the British Communist Party. Marx rests near where he died, at his residence in the number 41 Maitland Street and the city where he wrote his famous work "The Capital (in the library of the British Museum).
But we say that Highgate is the resting place of other famous historical importance as the parents of Charles Dickens; the writer George Eliot; the criminal and possible inspiration for the character of Professor Moriarty, Adam Worth… and others present, to which history has yet to locate, as the creator of the Communist Party in Iran and Iraq, Mansoor Hekmat or Russian dissident died in mysterious circumstances four years ago, Alexander Litvinenko. But above all stands one of my favorite Highgate, the first man who decided to air the hospital wards ('m not remember the name but the story I was marked. One may deserve a place in history for many things, even open some windows). However, and say, the list of personalities is extensive and worth the visit to spend a morning to finish eating at a particular pub and walking through a park we recommend in particular the tabs above.
PD. Some of the information given here is also due to a fabulous article by Esteban Perez in the Commonwealth of The Country. A, who made the visit three years ago, need to refresh your memory of when you need the notebook. We like to recognize each VaP. merit.
