Marie Laveau's (supposed) grave. Louis No. 1 cemetery, New Orleans LA. Feb 2005.

There were a lot of tourists here. It was difficult to politely get a decent shot. Most seemed to think that I was going to -snap- and move along, and got kindof irritated when I started trying to find a decent angle & light metering. Grrr...

However, by eavesdropping on the tour guides I found out about the XXX's: come to the cemetery at night, steal a brick from another grave, and use it to make three X's on Marie Laveau's grave. Make a wish, call out to her, and knock on her wall twice. If your wish comes true, you're supposed to come back and circle your X's. Surprisingly few X's were circled.

We don't think this is even her real place of rest, though--nearby there's a tomb made of black rock, unnamed, covered in many more...frenzied...XXXs. I thought that was hers before I saw the plaque on the white tomb.

*assumes Tyler Durden voice* damn tourists...