Well we are now in the middle of what is probably Latin America's most important week- Semana Santa. Thursday and Friday are official holidays I think, but the festivities started at least as early as last Saturday (3/16). That night the Plaza de Armas (main square) was closed down for an anti-abortion rally led by the Catholic Church. It struck me as a little strange since abortion is illegal here.

Last night as we headed downtown with our friend David, we ran into the same traffic, again due to hubub in the Plaza. As we entered the Plaza, I felt like I must be at some strange mutation of Disney World. There were marching bands, street vendors with candy apples (specific to this week for some reason), all kinds of people selling everything Catholic, the mayor talking on a loudspeaker, lots of candles, and three wooden litters carrying life-size replicas of Jesus and I think Mary. It was surreal and so much fun. It nearly makes me want to be Catholic myself.

Apparently this commotion carries on all week, so since I didn't get very good photos last night (cell phone camara), I'm hoping to go back again. I have no idea what to think in terms of the religious/spiritual implications of all this, but I am fascinated by the expression of Peruvian culture.

0 comments