A French Ghostly Encounter - Curse of a Photograph

Cimetiere de Montmartre (Paris, France)

 It comes as a surprise to some, "not so close" friends and relatives but to no surprise to those who really know me, that I have an open mind for the supernatural. To the latter, I've shared some personal experiences of ghostly appearances, dream like communication with premonition and familiar beings that recurr in my dream state. But I've kept from sharing others with more hair-raising results such as encounter with evil entities or succubus seduction. Of course, most are deemed unbelievable. But I believe and so, I share and I share this under an pseudonym.

On my latest Paris visit, the most convenient hotel accommodation was with a hotel (I won't mention its name) that borders the Cimetiere de Montamartre. Even as I was on an upper floor, my bed's headboard pointed directly to the graveyards on the top of my head. From the window, I took an innocent photo of the visible tombs which to my mind had some dreamy romantic sadness attached to it. I humorously share the photo to my siblings with a short Messenger message that it indicates that this situation did not bother me at the least.

In those days, there was intermittent rains over Paris but we were well-equipped and well prepared for such conditions.

Hours after checking in, I started to feel a slight cough coming on so we decided to have a little rest before exploring the neighboring area. Hours past and the sensation deteriorated. At around dusk, I peeked at the cemetery through the window to investigate a woman's voice repeatedly crying out for what sounds like somebody's name (in French). The woman I saw was just roaming among the tombs crying out this name - creepy but visible and audible to anyone that was there.

Despite the worsening cough that was developing, we decided to go ahead and explore the Pigalle area. Besides, we had to grab dinner. Even as there was intermittent rain, I felt much better being out of the hotel and having a breath of fresh air. The coughing nearly disappeared.

Later that night, we were back at the hotel. The coughing spells return with a vengeance, this time with a full congested respiratory system and fever. With a supply of acetaminophen handy whenever we travel, I took the required dosage before retiring for bed. Things progressively deteriorated through the night.

Next morning, things were no better. Congestion, colds, cough and running a temperature, I was determined to head out just the same to salvage our Paris holiday. Continued medication, the fresh air, and the distraction that the allure of the city managed to alleviate much of what has ailed me. By the end of the day, I was 85% well. The anticipation of a restful night coupled with followed up dosage of acetaminophen would certainly make me ready for the next day.

I was dead wrong. For the following two days, it was the same pattern. Deteriorating health through the night at the hotel, and progressive healing out of the hotel. Historically, this was not the way my body copes with illness. There was definitely something at play here.

On the second night, we had an inkling of the cause. It was the window facing the cemetery that I had opened when we first checked in that I thought somewhat added a little fresh air into the room. The hotel was 3-star and had no provisions for air conditioning. We therefore agreed and decided to close the window to keep the spirits out. And keep them closed.

We found the window reopened the morning after.

On the early hours of the morning on our third night's stay at the hotel was a visitor in my dream. A vague figure of a light-haired Frenchman obviously upset, projected the idea of being upset over disrespectful acts committed around his resting place. 

Visualization of my supernatural dream visitor.

As I often do in my dreams, I communicated with the being to find the cause of his irritation. It was the photo that I had taken of his tomb. I apologized and promised to delete copies of the photo of the tombs that I had earlier taken from my hotel window. He departed although I was unsure if that appeased his annoyance.

Day after, I felt better and on my way to recovery and managed to spend the next night progressively getting better.

On the next morning, it was time to check out and head for Lyon (our next stop). Before heading out that morning, I took my morning medication and packed my night medication in a place I would surely see it when we get to Lyon. Before checking out of our hotel room, I asked that we say a prayer for the soul of my visitor the night before with a plea for him not to follow in our journey. We left for Lyon.

At Lyon, my night medication disappeared. A parting mischief for the annoyance I've caused perhaps ...