Dear FCI,
October is probably my favorite month out of the year, simply because of Halloween. The whole month feels crisp and spooky, with creepy and scary things being the talk of the town! Halloween attractions, costumes, decorations, pumpkin spice (and everything nice).
To me, it’s a happy time and I’d love to tell you guys about some creepy locations I’ve visited throughout my travels. I’ve visited more than what is listed here, but these sites stuck out and gave me the chills! Hopefully they’ll give you some too!
St. George’s Church | Czech Republic
This church is anything but ordinary. Some years ago, the roof of the church collapsed during a funeral service and the locals believed the church was cursed, so it lay abandoned for decades. However, in 2012 a local artist had an idea to turn the church into something else.
The artist created life-sized “ghosts” out of plaster, using his fellow classmates wearing sheets as models.
The ghost-like figures sit in the church, as if they were praying. I’m not sure if there are real ghosts here, but this site sure does create an incredibly spooky atmosphere.
Aokigahara Forest | Japan
Aokigahara Forest lies at the bottom of Mount Fiji in Japan. It’s a dark, dense forest and has a creepy aura to it. Outside the entrance to the forest there are signs posted letting people know that life is precious, so do not waste it.
I’ve always known this place as a different name: suicide forest.
Countless people have come here throughout the years to end their life. I don’t think there is a definitive reason as to why this is a primal place to do such a thing, but the forest is unique.
The locals call it the “sea of trees” and it’s very easy to get lost in there. There’s a heavy weight put on you when you walk in, and you do feel a bit lost mentally. I suppose that’s what a lot of people felt walking into the forest and deciding to never come out.
Pryp'yat' | Ukraine
In the 1980s, sector 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, releasing radioactive toxins stretching miles. The city of Pyrp’yat’, where the power plant was located, was evacuated, as well as nearby towns to protect the people from the contaminants.
The city to this day remains abandoned and was completely off limits for
decades due to the
lingering radioactive toxins.
You can visit Chernobyl today as the radioactivity is no longer harmful, and what you’re left with is
a creepy, abandoned town.
Island of the Dolls | Mexico
This is by far one of the creepiest locations I have ever been to. Don Julian used to be the caretaker of this island and he lived here alone. He discovered the body of a young girl in the canal and following her was a doll. To appease her spirit, he hung the doll in a tree.
Haunted by the young girl’s spirit, Don Julian continued to gather dolls and put them around the island.
Through time, the dolls deteriorated, and nature took them over. Dolls are creepy to begin with, but when you see them in trees, dirty, covered in bugs, missing limbs and what not—that takes it to an entirely different level.
Capuchin Catacombs | Italy
The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo was initially established to be the resting place of local friars. There was an effort to expand the cemetery to provide additional space, however, it was discovered that several bodies to be moved had naturally mummified.
The friars decided to display the bodies in the catacombs, and once people heard that bodies there were being mummified, everyone who was anyone wanted in.
The friars stopped adding bodies in the late 1800s, however the catacombs became more like a museum, as more and more bodies were placed along the walls.
People can walk through and see, essentially, mummies. Some people look so well preserved that you could expect them to jump off the wall and walk beside you.
I could talk about creepy locations all day, but since this is a letter and my hand is getting sore, I think I’m going to end it here. Before I go however, I do have one last remark I’d like to leave you regarding Halloween.
These days, people dress up in costumes—throw parties, go trick-or-treating, etc. Essentially, costumes allow us to be someone else for a short period of time, even if those characters are fictional. They allow us to feel and think differently.
I suppose that’s sort of what I do and aim for in my travels, to immerse myself in different cultures and truly experience different ways of life.
And remember, the great thing about creepy places is there’s always a story behind them, you just have to ask the locals.
That’s all for now FCI,
