Norm, I don't know about the premium of the land in Germany but you are wrong about there being no wide open spaces or that towns have little or no space between them. It is just full of open spaces. There are many small villages and small towns with only a few miles apart. However it is much open space around and between them and it is just beautiful. If only we had that here in America. You have to remember that Germany is not nearly as large as America. But they have much open space compared to ours. I believe that you are right that there is no room to expand the cemeteries, but with their plan it is not needed. Marguerite > Sandy, > > First understand that real estate is at a premium in Europe. Towns have little or no space between them. There are no "wide open spaces" like in America. Cemeteries are full, hemmed in, and cannot expand. > > The original burial plot lease is for a certain period (variously 10-30 years). Close relatives plant the plot with flowers and frequently visit and tend the garden. The lease can be renewed indefinitely and, as long as someone pays for a renewal, nothing changes. Perhaps there is some absolute maximum time, I'm not sure, but eventually the deceased becomes a distant memory of current survivors, the lease is allowed to expire, and the grave is cleared. There is not much left of the human remains at that point. A German told me that any remains become part of road pavement. I don't know if he was joking or not, but it seems reasonable after all that time. > > Norm