Xochimilco..Island of the Dolls

Known as les Islas de la Muneca,this has got to be one of the creepiest tourist destinations I have  been to. I went on a photographic trip with a small group.  The leader has written a book on the dolls and is one of the few people welcomed on the island by the owner and the dolls!!Located within an extensive network of lagoons and canals south of Mexico City,it is a place of mystery and superstition.You feel very disconnected  from todays world as you meander down the lagoons for 2 hours on barges that are painted in vivid colours, are canopied, and manned by a boatman using a pole,like the Venetian gondoliers...Life up and down the canals is worlds removed from what we know. Children go to school on barges..hay is delivered to cattle by barge, the wildlife is beautiful,and finally you reach the Island of the Dolls.

Almost every inch of this island is decorated with old  mutilated dolls..many hanging for  years, exposed to the elements.  There are a couple of sheds full of them as well.  You feel as if you are being watched. The story goes like this: a hermit named don Julian moved here many years ago. Don Julian used to say he was haunted by the ghost of the little girl who had drowned in one of the canals around the island. Some say he used to fish the dolls from the water because he though they were real children, but the truth is he was collecting and placing them around his home as a shrine for the spirit that tormented him.  Ironically, he himself drowned after suffering a fatal heart attack in almost the same spot where the child drowned.  Since his death in 2001,his nephew has been the caretaker of the dolls.  Many people want to bring him dolls, but all he will use are dolls from the river or dumps.  The eyes  follow your every move and I was almost glad to leave.  A very unusual photo trip to say the least.  There were many more of the painted barges on the way back and the atmosphere soon changed to a festive one as there were parties on these boats and  barges with Mariachi players to entertain all the way back.  A very cool experience.