Friday, December 22, 2006
22 December 2006 Felic Navidad!
That is espanole for Merry Christmas! Christmas seems to be very slow taking hold in Cusco. So quiet, no evening celebrations in the streets, that I had been expecting. There may be a market tonight as men have been linemarking the square this morning. Quiet day washing, internet, bought some small gifts for the Lake Titicaca family I am staying with - Panadon, a light fruit cake, and rice. And finger puppets in case there are children.
There was an incredible thunder storm at about 2pm today. Been building up all morning. Thick blue-black clouds hanging over the city and horizon and then came the rolling thunder and crash! Down came buckets of tropical rain. But it is less than 10 degrees outside. A weird experience... where does a thunder storm develop when there is no build up of hot air under cold. I suppose it could be 10 degrees at ground level and minus something in the upper atmosphere?...
Visited one of the churches this morning. Another of these pushy gold jobs full of statues, icons, martyrs, gory deaths and sad faces. So over the top. No smiling faces, no happiness, no love. Only punishment and pain. I am having trouble reconciling the opulance of the Catholic system with the dire poverty outside its doors. Last night there were at least 5 whole families sleeping in the main street (obviously come to town for Christmas with family but without money for accommodation) and the church was not providing short term accommodation out of the weather for it's flock. Isn't the Christmas story about there being no room at the inn and the baby jesus being born in a stable. The church has again forgotten it's own parables...It also struck me how the Muslim faith would view this iconistic and alienating representation of Christianity. No wonder it is hard to break down barriers between faiths...off my soap box now.
Been trying hard to use my limited Spanish and learn a few new words. Just learning lists of practical words and trying to remember to put them in where possible. People are so kind and speak whatever English they have. It is a scream cause sometimes the only way for me to remember the word I want is to go through the list in rote til I get to the right one. By then I've forgotten what I started saying. Then I start again, and of course it's no good writing it down cause I can't spell in Spanish either - just phonetically. I feel like I need a plug for my right ear. Everything goes in the left and slips straight out the right. My forgettory is incredible! Oh well, keep on keeping on...
That is espanole for Merry Christmas! Christmas seems to be very slow taking hold in Cusco. So quiet, no evening celebrations in the streets, that I had been expecting. There may be a market tonight as men have been linemarking the square this morning. Quiet day washing, internet, bought some small gifts for the Lake Titicaca family I am staying with - Panadon, a light fruit cake, and rice. And finger puppets in case there are children.
There was an incredible thunder storm at about 2pm today. Been building up all morning. Thick blue-black clouds hanging over the city and horizon and then came the rolling thunder and crash! Down came buckets of tropical rain. But it is less than 10 degrees outside. A weird experience... where does a thunder storm develop when there is no build up of hot air under cold. I suppose it could be 10 degrees at ground level and minus something in the upper atmosphere?...
Visited one of the churches this morning. Another of these pushy gold jobs full of statues, icons, martyrs, gory deaths and sad faces. So over the top. No smiling faces, no happiness, no love. Only punishment and pain. I am having trouble reconciling the opulance of the Catholic system with the dire poverty outside its doors. Last night there were at least 5 whole families sleeping in the main street (obviously come to town for Christmas with family but without money for accommodation) and the church was not providing short term accommodation out of the weather for it's flock. Isn't the Christmas story about there being no room at the inn and the baby jesus being born in a stable. The church has again forgotten it's own parables...It also struck me how the Muslim faith would view this iconistic and alienating representation of Christianity. No wonder it is hard to break down barriers between faiths...off my soap box now.
Been trying hard to use my limited Spanish and learn a few new words. Just learning lists of practical words and trying to remember to put them in where possible. People are so kind and speak whatever English they have. It is a scream cause sometimes the only way for me to remember the word I want is to go through the list in rote til I get to the right one. By then I've forgotten what I started saying. Then I start again, and of course it's no good writing it down cause I can't spell in Spanish either - just phonetically. I feel like I need a plug for my right ear. Everything goes in the left and slips straight out the right. My forgettory is incredible! Oh well, keep on keeping on...
# posted by The Essence of Good Taste @ 12:45 PM 
