Adventures with Peter Pan

A while back I wrote about the night watchmen (a.k.a vigilantes) that ride around on bikes, blowing whistles in certain neighborhoods to keep guard. Well, the other night I was walking down the street with a friend and we took note that there was a new whistleblower in the neighboorhood. ¨What´s this?¨ we asked ourselves and decided to investigate by interviewing the vigilante we knew. But first we had to ask his name and the conversation went a little something like this;

Como se llama Ud? (What is your name?)
Me llamo Pedro, pero me llaman Peter Pan (I call myself Pedro, but they call me Peter Pan)

Surely we were destined for magic.

We talked with Peter Pan for awhile. He gave us a brief history of nearly every building on the street (mind you, Granada, Nicaragua is the oldest city in the New World and, once upon a time, a very wealthy one). The conversation was nothing less than informative until he started talking about La Casona, la casa embrujada (the haunted house).

Here is the story according to Peter Pan and others:

A long time ago a wealthy family lived in this two story colonial mansion called La Casona. The daughter was in love with a poor man, but her family did not approve and would not allow her to marry him. Instead, they arranged a marriage with a wealthier man she did not love. On the day of her wedding, she hung herself off the balcony inside of the house. Now, every night at one in the morning you can hear the sound of church music playing from the house, although no one lives there and there is nothing inside of the house. Peter Pan claimed that he once saw the ghost with long white hair peering out the window.

Spooky!

The detail that really caught our attention is that you can hear the music every night at one a.m.
My friend and I decided we would go check it out with Peter Pan.

So, this mansion called La Casona does have owners and caretakers. The owners are Colombian and only come but once a year and the rest of the time a nightwatchmen sits outside the house and only employees can enter to clean.

We arrived at La Casona a little before 1 and waited for the music. And waited a little more. And just at the point that I started doubting my gullability radar, the music began. It was, I think, organ music. The song lasted for about 30 seconds and was quite chaotic and fast, not to mention creepy!

The nightwatchmen for La Casona seemed unphased. He said that he hears it every night. Peter Pan was very happy that he proved his assertion.

Ten minutes later the music began again. The same song was playing, only softer and farther in the distant but still coming from the house.

At first I thought this must be a really bizarre grandfather´s clock, but how do you explain the frequency and change of volume? Intent on solving this puzzle, I decided I needed to check out the inside of the house (in the daytime, of course).

Two days later, after telling my Spanish teacher about the haunting event, we were walking down the street next to the house and he noticed that there was a watchmen up on the balcony. I shouted up to him asking if there were any instruments or furniture inside the house. He said no. Then the mailman came and the maid came outside. My teacher, who knew the lady from his neighborhood, convinced her that I am just a poor American girl that wants to go into the house. No photos, we promised.

Without much haggling, my wish was granted. I went inside and sure enough, there was virtually nothing. No organ, no piano and only a few pieces of furniture and a cd player (which the maid said she brings with her when she cleans...suspicious?). The maid said she had never heard the music before, but the watchman had and had seen a ghost moving through the house in the daytime. Supposedly, a group of Costa Rican documentarians came to make a film about all things paranormal, which featured the house. Also, the Colombian owners have never heard the music when they sleep in the house and don´t believe in the ghost music.

With all my powers of induction, I am going to get to the bottom of this before I go. Looks like I might need some ghostbusters to help. If interested, please contact me.