Pacaipampa

Last weekend me and the girls went up to Pacaipampa to visit the Sisters of Mercy stationed there and to celebrate the assumption of the Virgin (or something like that). We work with the Sisters of Mercy at the Ceo Betania, the women's center where I teach yoga. It's a 5 hour car ride over some pretty treacherous terrain. The first hour is highway and the next 4 are more or less off-roading:

I actually got really sick on the way up. We took a private car that belongs to the Sisters instead of the bus and I was riding in the back. Apparently, the bumps are way worse in the back, which I didn't learn until I sat in the front on the way home and was a-okay.

Anyway, we got there and had an AHmazing lunch with, wait for it...PUMPKIN PIE! One of the Sisters, Mary Alaina is American and made two huge pies for dessert. We ate one of them and the other was for people to snack on over the next few days...except that at the end of the weekend we counted and I definitely ate at least 3/4 of that pie by myself. And it was TOTALLY worth it.

After a great lunch we got a tour of the town from Mary Alaina:

Some burros chillin in the street.

A cool wall that holds up the houses on top of the hill.

Sister Mary Alaina explaining the origins of one of the smaller plazas.

Really pretty garden where the Priests live.

Flower from the garden.

Most adorable puppy ever.

From the balcony of the priests house looking out at the church.

Moseying down the road.

This water comes from underground and is pure enough to drink - it has been tested by the health post.

Hiked up to the cemetery - they put the cemetery on the highest hill so the dead are closer to heaven.

Drying corn on the street.

More corn.

After our walk about town we came back, had a great dinner and played charades with the sisters which was pretty hilarious. My days are getting all mixed up but on Saturday or Sunday we went hiking. We walked up to a school on top of one of the smaller hills to get a view of the city from above. And for the record, kids climb up and down the hill everyday and we were all suckin wind and taking breaks the entire time. How's that for devotion to learning!

Tara and Hermana Janet (who is HILARIOUS).

Our guides up the mountain - friends of the Sisters.

We did it!

Next came the celebration on Sunday. Mass, which we got suckered into being the choir for, and a lot of fireworks.

Anto with our friend Tito (left) and Father Tito (right).

Couldnt resist sneaking a picture from the alter.

The lighting of candles for loved ones is big at religious festivals here.

Yes, what you see is a big tower that will shortly be lit on fire with people standing all around and about 2 ft away from it.

Watching from above.

Our really good friend Alejandro (Deacon) who was recently moved from Chulu to Paciaipampa.

Our priest friends (from left): Pd. Tito. Robert (American), Alejandro

Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Dani