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The World: Chilean Cemetery’s Party-Like Atmosphere

Originally aired on PRI’s The World on November 1st 2012.

What if all the players on the San Francisco Giants decided to stay together in the after-life, pitching in to build a team crypt? Or, what if Lady Gaga arranged to build her own resting place in the shape of a pyramid guarded by two sphinxes?

Well, there’s a cemetery in Chile where such memorials really do exist. It is located on the outskirts of Chile’s cultural and political capital and looks out on the tall peaks of the Andes. And the capital we’re looking for is Santiago de Chile: One place to visit is the city’s General Cemetery. Sounds a little creepy, doesn’t it? But the cemetery is a popular destination for families and tourists alike.  And as Olivia Crellin reports, some visitors go there to explore Chile’s history