Poveglia

Located between Venice and Lido is a tiny island called Poveglia. When traveling about Venice, you can take a water taxi to any of the local islands, with one exception. Poveglia is off limits to tourists. Its history is seeped in tragedy and dislocated spirits. During the three occasions when the plague ran rampant through Europe, the island became a death place and a place of burial for those who were either dead from the disease, or suspected of carrying it. People would be dragged forth from their homes and carried to the island where they would be left to rot. Bodies that had already died from the plague would be burned or buried in deep pits.

Over 160,000 people are said to have died here. In 1922, a psychiatric hospital was built to house those suffering from various illnesses. The mental patients began reporting that they could see the dead plague victims roaming about the hospital. The doctor of the hospital began to perform cruel experiments on his patients in order to figure out the meaning behind their visions. He would conduct lobotomies with chisels and hammers. Hacksaws and restraints still liter the crematorium. At some point the doctor himself went mad after beginning to see visions of his own. He reportedly flung himself from the bell tower. The remaining patients of the hospital took his body and sealed it inside the tower. People who pass by the area at night report hearing agonizing screams and cries. Fisherman won't fish near here because it isn't unusual to dredge up old body remnants. The “dirt” surrounding the island is claimed to be nothing more than the residual ashes of the many deceased.

The Coliseum

Scattered throughout Italy are arenas where gladiators fought ruthlessly for their lives. But none hold the wonder and awe that the Coliseum holds. It is the largest arena that housed those awaiting their fates. Thousands lost their lives here either as gladiators, or as persecuted individuals who held strongly to their religious beliefs. Animals lost their lives here as well. Many animals became extinct because of the Romans bloodlust. People who visit here often experience cold spots. Some have experienced the sensation of being pushed. Strange whisperings and crying can be heard throughout the Coliseum. The clanging of swords and the eerie discombobulated sounds of animals can be heard. Apparitions of ghostly spectators can occasionally be seen sitting amongst the seats, perhaps still waiting for a good match. Even A Roman guard has been spotted, still standing guard.

Cappuccini Catacomb of Palermo

Nothing says creepy like a bunch of dead bodies positioned in various positions and all in different forms of decomposition. It's as if they haven't realized they're deceased. Some are suspended on the walls with hooks. Some even look as if they're about to jump to life. It is a place that gives you an uneasy feeling, as if you're being watched. Some of the bodies span back hundreds of years. The most recent is a child, Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920. She's encased in a glass coffin, and looks like a living doll. Supposedly the corpses on the wall have been said to change their position. People have heard whistling and whisperings throughout the catacombs. If anything, it is a place you want to walk around with someone else, and it's easy to get lost. I suppose this is why the place easily freaks out some people. But if you're ever in Sicily, it's a definite must see.

Piazza Statuto

Located in Turin is the Piazza Statuto. Many criminals and innocent people were executed here during Roman times. The original piazza was outside the city walls. Since there were no cemeteries, bodies of the dead and executed were thrown over the walls. Underground the piazza lays a series of tunnels. It is said that the gates of hell exist in these tunnels. Located at the piazza is a monument that was dedicated to workers killed while building the Frejus rail tunnel linking Italy to France. Some believe that the top figure of the monument is Lucifer himself. At the bottom of the monument is a manhole cover with the words “The Gates of Hell” on it. Apparently Turin is home to many satanical worshippers, some who have supposedly practiced the dark arts, which have included human sacrifices. Some people who live here don't think twice about the rumors of dark magic. Others say they feel out of place, or that their spirits are heavy. Some even feel a sense of foreboding.

Ca'Dario

In Venice lies a house that looks as if it's about to fall into the canal. When traversing the canal in a gondola, there's no way you can miss it. The house is known locally by all as being the house of no return. It was originally built in the 15th century. Over the centuries it has seen its share of death and tragedy, and no one to date wants to buy it. It is said that the curse of the house began soon after its construction. Death has claimed the lives of 13 successive owners. Talk about an unlucky number. People who have lived here have either died from murder or suicide. Many have inquired about purchasing the house, but none have taken the offer for fear of the accursed dwelling.

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When driving by Red Deer on Highway #2 you would not expect that it is cultured or has major public works of art. In fact you may think all Red Deer has to offer is fast food restaurants, gas stations, and RV sales lots. This is because Red Deer's city planners, to avoid downtown congestion, created an area called Gasoline Alley. This strip effectively keeps Highway traffic out of its' downtown area. However, if you take the time to venture into downtown Red Deer there is a thriving cultural community and the city has invested in public works of art.

What I refer to are the statues affectionately referred to as The Ghosts of Red Deer. These incredibly well detailed, life size, sculptures are scattered throughout down town Red Deer. All these ghosts are of real people, with a couple of exceptions, which are real animals. There are plaques explaining the stories behind the statues.

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The first Ghost I saw was an older gentleman sitting on a bench downtown, he had a briefcase and was remarkably well done, I admired the sculpture, but until I saw another, I had not realized that this was a special feature in the city. I soon discovered many more. I have not included a photo of this chap, you will have to discover him for yourself.

There are two sculptures that I was especially drawn to, one because of its magnificent size, attention to detail in an action pose, and the other because of the story behind it.

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The Ghost of a horse drawn fire wagon is truly impressive. The expression on the horses as well as the two human figures is very strong. No question about it, this is an intense moment caught in time. It is the largest Ghost Sculpture, complete with two frightened horses, one driver in the fire wagon, and a man who is trying to control the horses. A rein has broke and they are loosing control of the team, who typically are used to charging full speed to the fire.

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Francis the Pig is my other favorite. This little guy made an escape on route to the slaughter yard, he evaded capture for quite some time. During this time Francis made himself a town celebrity and earned this statue from his days on the run.

All in all, seeing these lovely works of art, in an unexpected location gave me quite an thrill. Red Deer is about one hour north of Calgary, and one and a half hours south of Edmonton, should you find yourself passing through Red Deer, I suggest you turn off the highway, and go into the downtown area and look for these ghosts yourself. Bring a camera.

The Chicago Water Tower

806 North Michigan Ave, Chicago - See a ghost and then do some shopping on one of the best streets in the world to shop! Historically the Water Tower is the only building to survive the Chicago Fire, it is said to be haunted by a man who chose to hang himself rather than be consumed by the flames. Many tourists have reported seeing a man hanging in the Tower's top window. When you visit the Tower today, make sure you take the tour it very interesting and you really get a feel for the building.

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

143rd Street, Midlothian - Although, this haunted place is not truly located in Chicago; it was a popular and unofficial burial site of many Chicago gangsters in the 1920's and 1930's. Rumors also include satanic cults using this cemetery for rituals and animal sacrifices in the 1970's. Due to the various happening at this cemetery, it is considered one of Chicago's most haunted places. Multiple white lights have been seen floating over this area at night. Due to its location, however, this writer does not recommend visiting this place at night. For more information on Bachelor's Grove and its history visit Bachelors Grove.

Resurrection Mary

Resurrection Cemetery 7200 South Archer Ave, Justice - Resurrection Mary is the most famous ghost in the Chicago area and the most seen. Many Chicagoans, including this author, has seen a girl fitting Mary's description walking along the cemetery road.

According to legend, Mary had gone to a dance, where she decided to leave early without her date. Since she lived in the area, Mary chose to walk home. While she was walking, Mary was hit by a car and left to die on the side of the road. Soon after her burial people began to see a young woman walking along Archer Avenue and hitching rides, when a Good Samaritan driver would pick up this young woman, she would request that they stop in front of the cemetery where she would promptly disappear.

Though ghost hunting is not for everyone the next time you are in the area you may want to stop by and pay your respects to some of the city's most famous hunted places. Who knows you may even see a ghost for yourself!

Short visit, but full of interesting things.

Edimburgh is a strange city, it is full of unexpected situations.

In example you can walk in the chaos of the main way and if you turn, for mistake or desire, in one of the Closes, suddenly you can find yourself in a space between the palaces where the voices and the noises of the main way are unable to reach you despite to the only 20 meters from the main way.

In one of these spaces outside from the time, the museum of the writers is found.

Settled during 1622 in memory of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, all the guides will say you to visit it at least for the building itself.

But, if you want to understand as the Dr.Jekyll had to be felt during his work on the formula that would change him in Mr Hyde, try to walk around the evocative Closes in the middle of the night; stop yourself on th little particular of the buildings around you, try to breathe the atmosphere... but after, don't play with chemistry, of course!

But what are the Closes?

In the 1644 they decided to wall some poor quarters because of the plague.

The wiskey blurred the minds, it is known, and in this case also the memory, in fact they simply forgot about those quarters.

So over them, they started to construct a new level of the city, this level is now called Royal Mile.

Living in Turin (Italy) I'm quite used to hear story about underground galleries, but when they forgot that the Closes were an entrance of an underground world, they forgot also in that world persons were living.

Therefore during the jobs they had two Edimburgo: the new and bright one and the dark one, where the people lives under the official side of Edimburgh.

Then the plague thought to resolve this dichotomy of the city and in the decades a lot of voices about the ghosts of the old inhabitants conviced the people to stay away from the Closes.

Thanks to the fear of the plague and of the ghost, for 400 years the basement of the royal mile kept in a good conditions a lot of narrow lanes and houses of an entire quarter.

Obviously today the tourism does not have more fear of the plague so, in the Mary King' s close, the tourists can visit an house, considered by the guides, "one of the best existing examples of city architecture of the XVII century", all obviously flavored with a lot of ghost stories expecially of child ghosts for which people leaves flowers and toys in the close.

So if you are planning to go to Edimburgh, bring with you your ghost-buster suite!

Cransford has a lovely "old church" and what appears to be a more recent one, but I didn't see a pub or a general store (except there looked like, at least one person, had a little display of goods for sale in their garden). The part of the "farmhouse" I stayed in may have originally been the "barn", but these days the "farmhouse" and "possible barn" are all as one. I didn't see any ghosts, but whether there are any there or not, I don't know.

Finding somewhere to eat was a bit awkward, so I needed to travel. I traveled into Saxmundham, and purchased a nice sweet and sour chicken from a take-away. Unfortunately, trying to eat the rice out of one container, and the sweet and sour chicken out of the other, and eating in a car, wasn't great. However, the breakfasts at the "farmhouse" were good and included a full English breakfast containing egg, bacon, sausage, mushroom and potato.

This certainly was a lovely holiday to remember.