The Wierd
Ok, at first glance, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with a Myths and Legends museum. Nicaragua is full of them and their influence can be seen in the national art, dance, and poetry. We thought that we would be able to go to this museum and learn about a part of Nicaraguan culture that we were fairly ignorant about. Well, actually that happened, but we didn't learn about the popular legends.
I think our first clue that the museum was a little different when we saw this statue within its entry-way:
Ok, so there's a statue of a guy throwing a grenade outside of the Myths and Legends museum. Not entirely normal, but given all of the "Heroes and Martyrs" statues we've seen around town, it's not too out of place, either.
So, we walk through the entrance and buy our tickets where the laid-back worker tells us that the museum, and where we are currently standing, is a former prison where the government used to torture dissidents. This means that those myths and legends that are usually the realm of kids (think Little Miss Riding Hood) is hosted in a torture prison. Great. So, basically you get pictures like this:
Background: prison scene. Foreground: Figures from some local Legends.
So, I'm not sure exactly what exactly this museum is going for, but it definately gave us a good set of the heebie-geebies. Needless to say, we didn't stay much longer than it took to snap a couple of creepy photos:
Left: Legend of the headless priest; Right: Come into the jail cell to learn more!!
Left: Legend of the headless priest; Right: Come into the jail cell to learn more!!
The Best
Leon is full of amazing churches. The centerpiece of the town is the largest cathedral in Central America:
Leon is full of amazing churches. The centerpiece of the town is the largest cathedral in Central America:
When we heard through the grapevine that you could take a tour to the roof, we couldn't pass up the opportunity. The tickets were a little hard to find (you have to go through an unmarked door in the back of the cathedral) but the $2 / person that it costs is well worth the price of admission.
Basically, they open up a door for you and you have a run at the place. There you are on the roof of Central America's largest cathedral and you can basically do what you want and spend as much time as you wish. Well, not anything. There are signs telling you not to ring the bells, but if you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of bashing 200 year old bells you could do it and then face the rath of nuns if you really wanted to. But you wouldn't want to be that jerk, would you?
Anyway, this one is better told by pictures, so I'll just let you see for yourself:
There's no sign that says you can't pretend to ring the bells...
Parque Central from the cathedral roof
Pretty cool, eh? For those of you who think it doesn't look cool: You had to be there...
Basically, they open up a door for you and you have a run at the place. There you are on the roof of Central America's largest cathedral and you can basically do what you want and spend as much time as you wish. Well, not anything. There are signs telling you not to ring the bells, but if you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of bashing 200 year old bells you could do it and then face the rath of nuns if you really wanted to. But you wouldn't want to be that jerk, would you?
Anyway, this one is better told by pictures, so I'll just let you see for yourself:
There's no sign that says you can't pretend to ring the bells...
Parque Central from the cathedral roof
Pretty cool, eh? For those of you who think it doesn't look cool: You had to be there...
We're silly and adventurous, computer geeks and yoga peeps.
September 21, 2008
Bessie the wife a.k.a. the Scaried Cat
I was so freaked out, I literally asked the ticket seller if the place had ghosts. Seemingly catholic, he laughed me off. I was serious. I wouldn't go into the rooms because it literally felt like some old prisoner ghost was going to close the door and lock us in his cell with him. Whoever made this into a museum was DEMENTED!
September 22, 2008
Linda
September 22, 2008
mumsie
February 01, 2009
Kirm
I just visited that museum today and trust me when I say that this guy cannot convey to you all, fully, just how creepy that museum is. No one can. Visit it and tell me I'm not right! Honestly, I had the creeps for 10 minutes after leaving. It didn't help that I was the only person in the museum. The lady who took the paltry $0.50 US admission was no where to be found after grabbing the cash. You could tell by looking in her eyes that she didn't want to be there. I believe, as the author alluded to, that there is, in my words, a "negative physic energy" there. Ghosts, demons, the illegitimate, mutant son of the devil ...you tell me. All I know is that it was creepier than any place I've ever been and I don't want to go back without a posse.
Thank you Kyle for confirming everything I felt today. CREEEEPPPYYYYYYYY!!!!
P.S. Imagine going into that place at midnight. *SHUDDER*
February 02, 2009
Bessie
April 08, 2009
martebk
April 08, 2009
Kyle
May 26, 2009
V
December 01, 2009
Isa
Legends play a very important role in our culture. To go to Nicaragua and don't understand our traditions, fears and myths is like celebrating Thanksgiving here in America and don't eat turkey and give thanks, or celebrate Christmas and don't understand why people decorate their Christmas trees.
Nicaragua is a place where many people still believe in folktales, legends and ghosts. We repeat these stories from generation to generation as a way to revive our past so it won't be forgotten. Everything has a story behind it. For example, the "Carreta nagua", the haunted cart that is guided by death. Why is that? Because in the past when Spaniards discovered America, they used to get indigenous people as slaves and put them in carts to facilitate their transport. So, for the indigenous, carts were synonym of death. Everything has a purpose and when people take the time to understand the culture behind these otherwise silly or crazy stories, everything makes sense.
I really hope somebody take the time to fix and upgrade this museum!
I am glad you had the time to visit Nicaragua and sharing your pictures and thoughts. =)
December 12, 2011
Kathleen
December 12, 2011
Kyle