We have been blessed....

Everyday here in Peru offers an adventure - today was no different.  An early 5.30 am start saw us pile into a taxi, prearranged the day before by Milka .... and off out of the Cusco Valley, and into the Sacred Valley.  Just a few days ago, Sep 14, thousands of people made a pilgrimage through the night, over the mountains to to a church high up on the slope above the village of San Salvador.  We first heard about it at our language class - (some were going to attempt it) - but there wasn't much information other than you trek up over the mountains through the night to arrive at the church in time for 6am Mass - then return by bus.

Apparently the festival of Senor de Huanca lasts several days either side of the 14 Sept, allowing many more people to visit the site.  Hence our early morning start ....  arriving at the site around 6.30, we passed several groups who had apparently camped out overnight, and were cooking cuy (guinea pig).  We were by no means early!!!

We could see the church further up the hill, and just below that was a sea of blue tarps.  By this stage, our car had been stopped by groups of vendors selling candles and decorations - weren't sure of the purpose of these at this stage.  Up the hill and through the market stalls - the usual food, drinks, and the most amazing array of miniatures.  Customs seems to be that you can buy  miniatures of things as gifts for others, and take it up to the church to have it blessed by the priests, with holy water from the area. And it will come true in the future.  There were all sorts of things, cars, trucks, houses, beer bottles, money, wheel borrows full of tools, etc.... as well as numerous, various sized, framed images of Senor de Huanca, and the magnificient decorations and flowers.

So ... Zac and Milka bought us a 'miniature mobile home' - it was decorated, splashed with holy water - AND we 'Transfer of sale' document from the stall holder - all signed over to ME.

And a house for Zac and Milka - with the required transfer documents...

With all our items for blessings we headed on further UP the track.  It is a huge church in a spectacular part of the valley.  The views are amazing!!  Milka's message for Tio Don - "These are mountains."

The church was already full - well all seats taken.  But when Mass began, people continued to pile in.  We stood through a full hour of Mass - and the only words I recognised were 'glory glory hallelujah' - well they sing 'gloria gloria hallelujah'.  So much for our week of Spanish lessons!!!  There must have been about 2000 in the church, but when Mass finished, all those still outside surged in to get their items blessed by the priests.  What a crush!!!  We were right beside a door, but it took quite some time to get out.

Eventually a priest appeared a level up from the church (spotted by Milka) and she made sure we were right in his path to have our items blessed - splashed with holy water. And Zac took Framma with us - she too was blessed!  Next he proceeded to some of the decorated cars - and blessed them!!

With our candles blessed we headed into one of the small rooms to light our candles (different colours for health, wealth, love etc) and have a little quiet time.  The concrete walls were plastered with shapes and words made with the molten wax.  Many of the local women have long hair, often tied in plaits - however, accidents of 'hair in flames' still occur.  Lex and Zac returned with such a story.

Peru is a land of complete contrasts - but the one thing which seems to connect all sectors is 'religion'.  This festival goes on for days - thousands must pass through over the several days.  Many bought framed pictures and shrines including all sorts of miniatures for their homes.  Most of the taxis have religious pictures hanging from their mirrors - we even have one of those for the 'real' mobile home when we get it.  There are images of Saints everywhere - in shops, markets, streets, homes etc.

For us, it was an amazing experience.  Thanks for taking us there!!