Semana Santa
Days 118 to 122: Popayan
Wed 20 Apr 2011 - Mon 25 Apr 2011
18 °C
Easter is a big deal in this part of the world, especially in Popayan which hosts the biggest Easter celebrations outside of Spain apparently. The crowds start to roll in, and the streets are filled with balloons, candy floss, popcorn, ice-creams and obleas (wafers filled with raspberry sauce and dulce de leche): you could be forgiven for thinking there would be a party atmosphere, but then the processions commence and the mood is unmistakably sombre.
Heavy religious images are paraded around the town, borne by the local men. Candle bearers line the sides of the road, following the wooden statues depicting the passion and death of Christ around the streets of the White City. Marching bands accompany with gloomy music, and the army take position at the back, brandishing large guns to put you off cracking a smile. It's all very interesting though. Processions take place every night during Easter week, with the largest on Thursday and Friday. My favourite is the women's procession on Sunday: the crowds have gone by then, as has the army, and the mood has lightened.
Popayan is also full of cultural and gastronomic delights, and I spend the rest of my time visiting the various exhibitions and eating my way around the city with my new friends Frans and Cheryl. I decide to kick my running career into shape again and go for a few runs around the town. I also try out some mountain biking: 30km mostly downhill, though unfortunately it's raining a lot and my back brake isn't working which makes me even more of a wuss, so I think I will stick with the running in future.
Posted by cmarks Mon 25 Apr 2011 14:13 Archived in Colombia
