We usually become aware of the above kind of silence when visiting cemeteries ׂ(headstones) and deserted places (stone of ruins and abandoned houses).
In summer 2015, I visited the leper colony (1903-1957) of Spinalonga (Crete, Greece). The silence of the stone there , was telling us about the struggle of the former inhabitants to survive under terrible, unimaginable, conditions .
Their suffering got through the stone and reached us, visitors. Despite the midsummer scorching heat, I felt a shiver along my spine during the whole trip.
Great sadness fell upon those walking on the islet and learning about the people with leprosy gathered and brought to a place with no way of return.
In spite of it all - sickness, hardships, stigma - there was life going on there (people fell in love , married, had children; built houses, two little churches, an hospital , a cemetery). The place , once nicknamed 'the land of the living dead', is seen nowadays as a monument to human pain and spirit.
by the window of a deserted stone house
access to a little dock where supplies were brought in
(more photos and details in my post of Oct. 2016).
*
The message conveyed through the silence of stone is that suffering ultimately leads to death and decay, but the spirit stays on. It is a comforting thought.
There's a dramatic song on YouTube named "The Spirit goes on" whose refrain says:
"If I die tomorrow I'll be alright
Because I believe
That after we're gone
The spirit carries on"
Such an interesting place. I did a little reading about it from some Google search links. Fascinating! Goes to show the character of people, despite what they are facing, life does go on in the fact they got married, had children, built buildings and churches, etc. I do believe our spirits live on after we pass, not necessarily here on this earth, but hopefully for those who believe someplace far more wonderful and less painful.
ReplyDeletebetty
That's definitely a place worth visiting. I totally agree with the two words used by you: 'interesting', 'fascinating' - on many levels, I should add.
DeleteAs far as I know, there's a book written by a descendant of one of the colony people, and also a documentary made in Greece. After the visit, I don't think I'll be able to read the book or watch the documentary.
I believe that too. The Spirit does not die. We were created to live forever, to walk with God in the garden.
ReplyDeleteWe become aware of this, especially in the case of the more gifted among us. Take Chekhov,the writer, for instance. I've often heard about 'the Chekhovian spirit' in literature and theater.
DeleteThoughtful sombre post.
ReplyDeleteTrue. It makes us think of the leprosy disease (infectious, caused by bacteria), of the cruelty of isolating people with no hope of returning to their normal surroundings. Nowadays, the disease is curable.
DeleteThere is such sadness and misery in the world; I guess the only comfort is that something good can come from it. Places like that make me very grateful for what I have. I don't know that I would have functioned well with all that physical pain and it's attendant sorrow.
ReplyDeleteYour words are a reminder of the need for gratitude. We should be grateful for the things we have as we don't know what lies ahead of us. It seems disease and war never stop and can strike anytime.
DeleteNot a nice disease at all, have read about it in the past, seen films about it so sad.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Fortunately, it is curable nowadays. The cure is based on antibiotics given over a period of time.
DeleteI once was bitten by a very poisonous insect in a small town named Burutu in Nigeria and had to visit the local hospital,for treatment. There was a section for lepers there, and the sight of those mutilated bodies is something I have never forgotten.
ReplyDeleteThere were no pictures of the sick at Spinalonga, just the bare place with some religious items left in the two little churches.
DeleteI knew, however, from general knowledge, that the disease greatly affected the skin and limbs, and people with leprosy were considered by society as monster looking.
Such a poignant post. Thanks so much for your words. An honest reminder of a history we have forgotten.
ReplyDeleteDiseases come and go, so that doesn't let us forget history. We go back to it again and again. Just as covid-19 reminds us of the Spanish flu in 1918.
DeleteIt's also wonderful to hear of your travel stories. You are quite the adventurer! I am sure you have met many and hopefully good friendships too.
DeleteI started travel somehow late in life(money, family/work priorities,etc..),but the few places I visited were quite unforgettable. I wrote in my blog on most of them, including Spinalonga.
DeleteTherefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our trouble, light and momentary, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, as we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
ReplyDeleteThese words from Shaul, Paul in 2 Corinthians 4;16~18.
I do hope that the eternal glory that came from those sufferings is breaking through hearts of pain in this world , even now. Blessings and thank you for sharing Duta. Much love in Yeshua. ❤️
❤️
DeleteIndeed, Shayndel,the suffering of those people is heartbreaking even now, when only stone is there to remind it.
Delete"For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" - that's a beautiful line!
Such a sad place, we can be so cruel and we never learn.
ReplyDeleteThe place is sad, the behavior of society towards the lepers - cruel.
DeleteThere is isolation now of covid-19 infected people, but a temporary one, not an isolation of no return as in those days.
Sadness and despair continue...never-ending...very sadly, never-ending...
ReplyDeleteHi, Lee.
DeleteYou're right - sadness and despair go on, all the time, in various places of the globe.It\s a never ending human struggle.
For sure the spirit carries on!
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad, but it makes me happy that life went on there!! Those people kept going!
But society was so cruel towards them!
Big Hugs!
Knowing that there was no other place for them, those people tried to do whatever they could under the circumstances. They showed amazing enterprise!
DeleteHugs and blessings to you!
The old buildings, the ruins of stones, and abandoned houses have became the witnesses of this horrible disease, but the disease still exist. there are some countries with more than 10,000 new cases of leprosy recently, such as India, Indonesia, and Brazil.
ReplyDeleteYes, the stone was witness to the suffering and struggle of the leprosy victims.
DeleteIndeed, Evi, the disease still exists, but, fortunately, it's curable.
That IS a very comforting thought. In times like the past year, when life can be cut so short, through illness or war or just life, that is something one can hold onto. That had to be an extremely moving and profound experience. I love this post very much.
ReplyDeleteA visit to Spinalonga is a great mental and emotional experience! It makes us think, feel, learn life lessons. And above all, it's unforgettable!
DeleteI once read a book about this theme: the island. It was heart touching. (The Island
ReplyDeleteby Victoria Hislop)
It is, I think, her most popular novel.
DeleteVictoria Hislop is a british writer. I thought she had perhaps roots in Crete or Greece, but it would appear not. Anyway, she was awarded a prize by the greeks for promoting greek and cretan subjects in her writing.
I feel the spirit of those I loved the best when they were alive, my mom, my husband, his mom, and my grandfather on my dad's side. I don't understand it, but these people, their souls, are with me and not in a sad way, but helping me along the way of life.
ReplyDeleteI do understand it, Inger, as I also believe the spirit of my beloved are with me, helping me, and protecting me.
DeleteI even keep their photos on my desk and thank them for that.
It's sad to think about what some of those people went through.
ReplyDeleteIt's beyond sadness ;it's a place where one could easily lose faith in the human race.
DeleteYour post is hearty wrenching, yet heart touching. I agree the spirits speak ilently. We were once visiting ruins in Mexico overlooking the turquoise sea. It was an incredibly moving experience,. The covilization had died out, but I felt life force.
ReplyDeleteThe Mexican experience does give an idea of life despite the dead civilization. The spirit of that civilization is at work through its ruins.
DeleteA very touching post. Thank you for sharing your visit there. I've recently watched a documentary (National Geographics?) about this place. It was a sad place indeed.
ReplyDeleteIt was probably not easy to watch the documentary; it stirs emotions. On the one hand, the suffering of the people with the disease, on the other hand the cruelty of the society in those days.
DeleteThank you for the comment. Have a wonderful new week!
i would like to go there... this place is so full of emotions...
ReplyDeleteGood idea! This place is sad, but it's in a very beautiful region of Crete. You can either take an organized tour, or get there on your own. I went on my own( you can enter my post for details by typing Spinalonga in the search tag).
Deletei would prefer walking on my own:) I have more time for thinking and adoring the views:)
DeleteYes, the spirit carries on ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I suppose we must look at the bright side of things. It's hard to accept that death is so final, so absolute. The spirit comes to our rescue.
DeleteAll the best to you too, Jan!
I felt something similar when I visited the Alcatraz prison island in San Francisco. What the prisoners went through could be felt when you are standing in the same surroundings.
ReplyDeleteThe people (prisoners) are gone, but the atmosphere remains, forever. Almost everywhere in the world, there are vestiges of the past; we can't get away from it.
DeleteThere is a special poetry in hearing the silence of stones. It's like a journey to another reality. Thank you very much for the wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteSo, to you there's poetry in the silence of the stones. I like that.
DeleteYou're welcome, Victoria; thanks for leaving a comment.