The route
Peru being a predominately Catholic country, they take Easter very seriously here and in Ayacucho you will want for nothing when it comes to their Easter celebrations, here are the reasons more or less in the order that they happened.
1. The view
nuff said
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| courtesy of Mike Kowalick-fellow PCV |
2. Time off
In the United States people with office jobs rarely work on Sundays so Easter is not an extra day off but in Peru, schools and most office jobs get Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, and the weekend off to celebrate.
3. Running with the bulls
This year we heard rumors that this particular activity would be cancelled; I later found out that the municipality of Ayacucho had actually prohibited the event but like many safety regulations in Peru (i.e. stop signs and traffic lights) it was ignored and I got to see this interesting event take place. I didn't see the beginning when they first released the bulls but I saw three run down the street one by one, attached by rope to a man on a horse. I was holding the hand of a fellow volunteer and we were getting ready to join the crowd to be chased by the bull but we both chickened out; I was honestly more scared of being trampled by the hordes of people more than the bull, we just stayed on the side hoping the bull wouldn't run towards us. I really wish I had video to share but I was in awe and didn't want to get distracted by my camera. Here is a picture I took off of google. I was standing farther down on the left side of the right street of the picture.
This year we heard rumors that this particular activity would be cancelled; I later found out that the municipality of Ayacucho had actually prohibited the event but like many safety regulations in Peru (i.e. stop signs and traffic lights) it was ignored and I got to see this interesting event take place. I didn't see the beginning when they first released the bulls but I saw three run down the street one by one, attached by rope to a man on a horse. I was holding the hand of a fellow volunteer and we were getting ready to join the crowd to be chased by the bull but we both chickened out; I was honestly more scared of being trampled by the hordes of people more than the bull, we just stayed on the side hoping the bull wouldn't run towards us. I really wish I had video to share but I was in awe and didn't want to get distracted by my camera. Here is a picture I took off of google. I was standing farther down on the left side of the right street of the picture.
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| courtesy of Google images |
4. Sexy fire men
After the running with the bulls excitment we stood in the plaza and watched as a firetruck drove by; we were worried that someone had gotten injured but when the truck stopped and two firemen began to unravel the hose, we realized we were all about to get sprayed down...which was a relief because Ayacucho is a lot closer to the sun than Pimentel, I was gettin' crispy.
As I have told many of you back home, it is rare for me to be attracted to a Peruvian man. I don't know if this particular case was because he was a fireman but the other Peace Corps gals who were around also commented on this guy's good looks but alas we have been here a long time... anyways after the cool down we continued to hang out in the plaza to wach the human towers.....
After the running with the bulls excitment we stood in the plaza and watched as a firetruck drove by; we were worried that someone had gotten injured but when the truck stopped and two firemen began to unravel the hose, we realized we were all about to get sprayed down...which was a relief because Ayacucho is a lot closer to the sun than Pimentel, I was gettin' crispy.
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| Photo courtesy of Mike Kowalick-fellow PCV |
5. Human Towers
When I first heard of this tradition I pictured human pyramids-groups of people on their hands and knees piling onto each others' backs. However the reality was people standing on each others' shoulders and the person at the top taking off their shirt. I decided I didn't want to risk concussion so I just enjoyed watching the toppling towers of drunk people and proceeded to nap at this point of the day.
6. The fireworks
There aren't many words I can say to describe to you how amazing the fireworks were this night, I do have a short video to try to paint the picture but ya still kinda had to be there, but please watch anyway!
There aren't many words I can say to describe to you how amazing the fireworks were this night, I do have a short video to try to paint the picture but ya still kinda had to be there, but please watch anyway!
7. Food
The food in Peru is magnificent, I do have complaints sometimes about the way it is prepared and the amount of oil used and lack of variety but gosh darn it if it isn't some of the tastiest foods on the planet. It's not just the tastiness either, I will be missing the accessibility to food in Peru. Walking down the street amoungst celebrations, getting the drunkie munchies and women are selling bags of freshly popped popcorn, candy covered apples, hand made ice cream (sooo rico), anticuchos, and other goodies!
| this lady is about to serve me delicious handmade ice cream |
8. Dancing
Never have I ever stayed out til 5 in the morning.,. until coming to Peru. Without bar closing times and when I have the ganas it is pretty easy to stay out dancing until sunrise. During these celebrations there is no lack of discotecas full of swaying people or bands in the plaza playing huayno until your feet hurt.
9. Procession
Hours were spent arreglando this arc (that might be the word, I honestly don't know) for the procession,
it is so huge that it takes a few dozen people to carry it out on their shoulders through the plaza. Honestly I didn't stay up to watch the whole procession, my eyes refused to stay open any longer as they were bringing this huge thing out of the church at 5am!
it is so huge that it takes a few dozen people to carry it out on their shoulders through the plaza. Honestly I didn't stay up to watch the whole procession, my eyes refused to stay open any longer as they were bringing this huge thing out of the church at 5am!
10. Friends
This trip would not have been the same if it hadn't been for the awesome people I was with. 19ers-you are an amazing group of people, all vacations are made better when I'm around them. So happy I got to see my friend Sam after such a long separation.
Can't believe how fast the time the time has gone, look out for my next blog post most likely featuring me freaking out about how close I am to finishing my service!
P.S. Please please please donate to our girls leadership camp this year taking place June 27-29; follow this link to see a description, all donations are tax deductible and EVERY single penny is used towards this camp, you'd be surprised how much we could buy for 5 dollars... if you cannot donate at least post the link to your facebook so others may see it!
This trip would not have been the same if it hadn't been for the awesome people I was with. 19ers-you are an amazing group of people, all vacations are made better when I'm around them. So happy I got to see my friend Sam after such a long separation.
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| love these ladies! Photo courtesy of Mike Kowalick. |
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| Sam and Garrett, my new awesome buddy who accompanied Sam on this trip from Austin |
| Samuelllll |
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| Carlhey posing with the penis face masks in a pizza restaurant....so classy |
| Look how tired I am, this was on our last day in Ayacucho with this beautiful babe, my fellow 19er Andrea |
Can't believe how fast the time the time has gone, look out for my next blog post most likely featuring me freaking out about how close I am to finishing my service!
P.S. Please please please donate to our girls leadership camp this year taking place June 27-29; follow this link to see a description, all donations are tax deductible and EVERY single penny is used towards this camp, you'd be surprised how much we could buy for 5 dollars... if you cannot donate at least post the link to your facebook so others may see it!
