07 December 2016

„La Isla de Las Munecas“

One of my dolls, in a tree, a Christmas tree.
It is in porcelain and very tiny, but very cute!
Before I go to sleep, I usually read something short enough to keep me concentrated and awake. For some evenings ago, I read an article about „La Isla de Las Munecas“. I had heard about it, but never really got deeper in to the story. 

But this time, surfing the net, I ended up on a newspaper page with different short stories about strange places in the world. There was deep caves under water, burning holes in the ground and other stories. This one, about some dolls on a island caught my eye. 

About an hour from the Mexico City lies Isla de las Munecas, the Island of the Dolls. It is a chinampa, a floating garden and is in Xochimilco. On the island lived a man named Julian Santana Barrera and he was a native of the La Asuncion neighborhood. He was a loner and lived on the island all by himself. 

There is a legend that tells that Julian found a little girl drowned in mysterious circumstances in the canals. He also found a doll floating in the water, nearby the girl. He assumed that these two belonged together. In a sign of respect he hung the doll in a tree. Then he started to hear whispers, footsteps and wails in the darkness, even if he was miles away from civilization. He got scared and for 50 years he collected dolls and doll parts and hung them in the trees, just to appease the drowned girl’s spirit. 

Julian died in 2001, in the same place as the girl was found drowned. The place is now a popular tourist attraction and some visitors bring more dolls, just in case as something that appease the dark spirits there. The new doll connects then with the other dolls on the island. The place is not haunted, but charmed, as the locals say. Some visitors hear whispering and think that it is a creepy place. It was never meant to be a tourist attraction, but some paranormal happenings made people interested. 

Even if this island sounds like a very scary and odd place, I am still intrigued. At the moment I do not think that I would take a trip there, looking at some photos is just enough. And if I visited the island, I would take a doll along. Just in case.

The dolls are still there, with marks from the sun, rain and wind. It looks like the dolls have had a rough life. No-one knows what brought Julian to start putting dolls all over the island. His family says that Julian believed that the island was haunted by the spirit of a little girl and he thought that he could make the dead girl happy and keep evil away, by hanging up these dolls.

12 comments:

  1. That sounds like a creepy and mysterious story indeed! I like those kinds of stories XD;~ thanks for sharing!!

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    1. Places like these have something exciting about them. The belief in magic and bringing a doll along is really powerful and affects our minds. I felt, while reading, that it is better to be safe than sorry. :D
      Thanks and you're welcome! :)

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  2. I saw the title and thought that an island with dolls would be such a cute and nice story, how wrong I was!!! That is totally creepy and I wouldn't visit that place even if I got paid to do so XD I'm such a coward x.x.....it is an interesting story though, but just way out of my comfort zone to go visit XD
    Thank God I read this in daylight time or I would be so scared now hahaha

    In any case, thanks for sharing because it was very interesting to know about it :)

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    1. Yes, would it not be an amazing place with cute dolls on a happy and sunny island! But not this time! Need to balance this story with another cute one - next time.
      I would love to visit a place like this, but at the same time I would not. And if, it should be during day time. I want to but I think I will not, that is me in a nutshell. Something about that comfort zone, too, I think.
      Haha, think of me - I read this during late night and it was dark too. I am so good in scaring myself. :D
      And you are welcome! And thanks! :)

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  3. What an interesting story! Not what I expected from the name, but even more fascinating, I think!

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    1. Thanks, I thought so too, that it was an interesting story. And that post titel can really be confusing! :D

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  4. Wow, thanks for sharing such an interesting story. I like the idea of an Island of Dolls. I think it would be something to see in person. I would probably get a little bit spooked and would certainly bring a doll to hang on the tree too!

    I like the idea that Julian wanted to make the girl happy so he hung dolls to keep her company on the tree.

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    1. Thanks and you're welcome! Some have said that the dolls follow you with their eyes and that some dolls even blink! Probably scary at night, and not so much at daytime.
      I'm glad that Julian's family still keep the island in a good condition and that there are people who want to do as Julian, bring a doll.

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  5. Might be a little bit creepy, but it's an interesting story non the less Niina. You do come up with some unusual stories, no wonder I enjoy coming here. :)
    Hugs,
    X

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    1. Thank you so much, Xanadu! I'm glad that you found the story interesting and that you enjoy coming here! :) Hugs!

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  6. My kind of story! Thanks for sharing it! :D Also... are you kidding!? I have almost the same ornament on my tree! XD I have to take a photo of it right now!

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    1. You're welcome! And oh wow - that is almost crazy to have the same ornament! :D That is a surprise!

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