Okay so the primary reason I went to Mexico was to visit the Island of Dolls. Isla de las Munecas. I was working on my book and doing a piece for the Mexican ghost story la Llorona when I heard about this place, and had to go. It is an island...sort of...basically a bit of land surrounded by canals...in the area of Xochimilco. This area is renowned for its floating gardens. Gondola style boats go up and down the waterways, some filled with tourists on a picnic, others transpoting things like locally grown flowers.
The basic story behind what is worth 4 hour round trip boat ride, is that in the 1920s three little girls were playing on this island and one of them drowned. At some point a hermit named Don Julian took up residence and started to see the spirit of the girl. To appease the little girl's ghost he started collecting discarded dolls from Mexico City. 50 years of collecting lead to the current state of the island...creepy. Thousands of these little guys are strewn all over the place.
Here's a little taste:
Its a trip...if your ever in the area...check it out if you dare!the next time I post...I'll show you some video I took while there.
Oh my God Michael, this is so creepy!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie Tlach
Oh, I am so there. Love dolls. Love creepy, weather-worn dolls even more!
ReplyDeleteGeeeeze!! What a sad story and spoooooky place.
ReplyDeleteDo other people leave dolls too? Seems like the place would be a MAGNET for anyone grieving or wanting to leave a doll part...
Sweet! That's my kind of fantasy island!
ReplyDeletei think this is where the discarded spirits go - whether toys or pets or people. hope you dont bring any bad boogies with you - just the good inspirational ones!
ReplyDeletelike the updates to the site....
WOW! My mouth is stuck open a little bit....what a crazy place!
ReplyDeleteOh!Creepalicious and so sad.
ReplyDeleteI remember Xochimilco, floating along on a little boat, flower ladies surrounding us, Mariachis seranading on the shore. La Llorana's whispers did not reach my ears, I never heard of La Isla de las Munecas,which must be one of her favored haunts. Glad you did.
Great photos! I actually thought the last one said 'creepyright....'
I need a vacation :)
There is definitely an eerie feel to these photos. Even without the dolls there seems to be a foreboding presence. Or is that just me?
ReplyDeleteGreat ghost story!!! It gives me little shivers.
That is seriously creepy, nightmare inducing, sad, and fascinating all at the same time. The Island would make a fantastic setting for a horror flick.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME Mikey!!! Beautifully dark and creepy! A hanging garden of the eaten!
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed you last week. Looking forward to May! We'll gather a crew together.
wow, what a ritual.
ReplyDeleteI love the doll island...
but so sad too.
that is AMAZING! i can only imagine what will happen in your studio next...
ReplyDeleteOooh! Indeed- Anthony Bourdain Did an Episode about Mexico and went to La Isla de las Munecas! It was fun to see him there... I am sure you must have had fun too!
ReplyDeletexox
Creepy is right........I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. I can feel something crawling up my spine.
ReplyDeletewow. wow. wow! The only thing that would make it creepier is if the hermit was a dirty clown...maybe with a broken wind-up monkey with cymbals tied around his neck.
ReplyDelete...I'm going to go back under my bed now and curl up in fetal position...