Jun
20
A review of Friday, June 18, 2010
The Cuzco Cathedral has so many giant paintings, gold-covered adornments and original items from the Spanish conquest. One of my favorites from the Cuzco Cathedral is the painting of the Virgin Mary in which her eyes move like those of the Mona Lisa because the artist went to the same art school as Leonardo Da Vinci. Other fascinating things are the first cross the Spaniards brought to Peru and a silver-covered car only used for special religious celebrations.
It’s interesting that the Santa Catalina Monastery for women was once the Incas’ haven for the Virgins of the Sun. The Incas and Spaniards had the same idea for the same location.
My favorite part about the La Merced Convent was the room in the basement once occupied by a priest. This priest lived in the room for 13 years without ever leaving, but it is believed that he left the room once a year for the celebration of Corpus Christi. He split the room in half, and painted one side to be Heaven and the other side to be Hell. He chose to sleep in the Hell side of the room and to live this way of life because he wanted repentance from his previous years in which he lived a life of sin.
San Blas Catholic Church is in San Blas Plaza, surrounded by art shops. San Blas has the most beautiful and detailed pulpit in Cuzco. It took the artist more than a decade to create the pulpit. The artist’s skull is placed on top of the pulpit to honor his dedication and work to the church. It once had a small crown made of diamonds, but it was stolen years ago.
The girls and I went out with our Peruvian friends, Saúl and his brother, to a show at Ukuku’s Cultural Pub. We watched two boys perform an indigenous dance involving scissors and bright costumes.
Ukuku’s Cultural Pub where we listened to a Peruvian band.
We had dinner at Norton's Pub in the Plaza de Armas. The ceiling of the restaurant is covered in flags from the world, and it has a tiny balcony that looks out to the plaza where people were celebrating the Inti Raymi! Most of us enjoyed hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and fries there.
OU Journey to Latin America students visited the Cuzco Cathedral, Santa Catalina Monastery, San Blas Catholic Church and La Merced Convent.
All of these places were once Inca places of worship, and parts of the original structures are still standing.
The Cuzco Cathedral has so many giant paintings, gold-covered adornments and original items from the Spanish conquest. One of my favorites from the Cuzco Cathedral is the painting of the Virgin Mary in which her eyes move like those of the Mona Lisa because the artist went to the same art school as Leonardo Da Vinci. Other fascinating things are the first cross the Spaniards brought to Peru and a silver-covered car only used for special religious celebrations.
It’s interesting that the Santa Catalina Monastery for women was once the Incas’ haven for the Virgins of the Sun. The Incas and Spaniards had the same idea for the same location.
My favorite part about the La Merced Convent was the room in the basement once occupied by a priest. This priest lived in the room for 13 years without ever leaving, but it is believed that he left the room once a year for the celebration of Corpus Christi. He split the room in half, and painted one side to be Heaven and the other side to be Hell. He chose to sleep in the Hell side of the room and to live this way of life because he wanted repentance from his previous years in which he lived a life of sin.
San Blas Catholic Church is in San Blas Plaza, surrounded by art shops. San Blas has the most beautiful and detailed pulpit in Cuzco. It took the artist more than a decade to create the pulpit. The artist’s skull is placed on top of the pulpit to honor his dedication and work to the church. It once had a small crown made of diamonds, but it was stolen years ago.
It’s awesome learning more about the Catholic faith and seeing the result of the merging of Catholic and Andean/Inca symbolism in the architecture and art.
We later discussed Spanish colonization, presence of Catholic Church and observations from today’s visits to four Catholic institutions in tonight’s class in the courtyard of our hotel.
There’s traditional dancing and live, Andean music around Cuzco because people are celebrating the upcoming Inti Raymi, an Inca festival honoring the Sun God!
We had dinner at Norton’s Pub in the Plaza de Armas. The ceiling of the restaurant is covered in flags from the world, and it has a tiny balcony that looks out to the plaza where people were celebrating the Inti Raymi! Most of us enjoyed hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and fries there.
The girls and I went out with our Peruvian friends, Saúl and his brother to a show at Ukuku’s Cultural Pub. We watched two boys perform an indigenous dance involving scissors and bright costumes and listened to a Peruvian band.
I finally have Wi-Fi to update my blog, but it won’t let me upload pics, so just visualize with me.
It’s funny that most of the tourists around here wear North Face…even the native wear (fake) North Face. I’m assuming the North Face the native wear are fake because I priced North Face clothing here, and it’s more expensive than in the United States. Plus, I have an eye for distinguishing between real and fake brands. Did the people of Cuzco start wearing North Face because many tourists wear North Face?
Our hotel in Cuzco, Casa Campesina, has unisex community restrooms and showers. So, it’s startling when we forget that, and we see a man walk out of the shower or stall. BUT our lunch is always delicious. You win some; you lose some!
One of my nostrils is constantly bleeding while the other nostril is constantly running. Thank you, chilly Cuzco and your high altitude! The Peruvian germs are attempting to make me sick…I must fight back!
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