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Published: November 2nd 2006
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Where is Mary
Isn´t she supposed to be here, making a ´´V´´ with the big guy in the middle? A quiet rumble at first to capture the attention of a prowling fox, then a thunderous crack, and an endless shadow that sent the soaring birds into retreat, and finally the red glow of the rivers of fire running down the white mountains would tell the villagers that once again the god was angry.
Having taken heed of the mountains cries the Incas would set out on a journey. A journey that began hundreds of kilometers away in the capital city of Cusco, and would bring the party to the crater summit of the majestic cone shaped volcano that they believed to be a god.
The journey was not a simple trek, but rather a battle of endurance through extreme heat and cold, harsh wind and lashing sands, at dizzying altitudes.
Once they got up there, (wearing fetching alpaca shauls and the latest in inca footwear) the party began the necesarry ceremonies. Drinking and praying, and laying out the treasures they had brought. Amongst the brave group was a young, beautiful, and pure virgin, whome had spent her entire life preparing for this journey.
After much wailing and nashing of teeth the group began to surround the young woman. The cold,
Short Peruvian Nuns
Small peruvian doors altitude, and alcohol had now begun to lead her from conciousness, and into the welcoming darkness of sleep. As she slumbered the onlookers bearing treasures of gold, silver, and handcrafts engulfed her.
In the quiet and darkness of the next day, hidden by the layers of ash that had melted away the mountains white dress was a small mound. Around the mound the party had constructed a small neat stone wall, from stones that they had carried with them from thousands of meters below a day ago. Inside those stone walls had been dug a hole, and inside of that hole rested the body of the virgin. She sat hugging her chest, with her knees drawn back toward her face, in a perfect fetal position. Around her there lay the countless treasures that the party had left with her. She wore the shaul of Inca royalty, although by her side lay the simple shaul of a common man. A shaul that had been her fathers. He had given it to her to remember him by, once she had ascended to be with the gods.
Hundreds of years later (in the year 1995) a party of adventurers departed the white
city of Arequipa to climb the cities neighbouring volcano. This group took with them the latest gore-tex jackets, and state of the art climbing boots with cramp-ons. Days after setting out on their grueling journey the party summited, at the very spot where Incas had once stood. One member of the party stumbled on a stone beneath the brown ash covered snow. To stumble was not unusual, but to turn and see a broken clay inca flask where he had stumbled was very unexpected. It was at this moment that the ceremonial ground of the incas was once again introduced to the world.
All except for the body of the sacrificed virgin, which had rolled down into the crater in a subsequent eruption. Fortunatley one highly qualified scientist (with an infinate knowledge of many little known subjects, and a limitless supply of technology at his disposal), decided to roll a boulder down the hill to see where it would go. The path it took happened to match that of the escapee virgin, and once again she was found.
Tracey and I visited her last week in the beautiful city of Arequipa. She lay in a glass freezer at around
-30 degrees. (She wasnt as beautiful as I had imagined, but impressively small. Dwarf like infact). The museum of the Ice-Mummy (for that is an appropriate name for a real old mummy in a freezer) bosted many impressive inca artifacts, and gave us a fascinating insight into the importance of the ceremonies conducted by incas to praise their gods.
Incidentally photos of the displays were forbidden, as the camera flash would contribute to the eventual destruction of the artifacts. (disappointingly some people have snuck cameras in, WANKERS!)
Although we were photoless after our visit to the museum of the ice mummy, the oppurtunity arose to go photo crazy in the Monestary in Arequipa. This monestary really was more then just a house for nuns. It was more like a five star nun resort, where the wealthiest and best behaved nuns went. If the nuns werent wealthy or well enough behaved they had to study real hard and get special scholarships.
Although I have clearly imagined the system by which nuns were admitted to the convent, I read in the history that the behaviour of the nuns in this convent was so outrageous that eventually the catholic church had to
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The local american ambassador has actually donated his aid allowance to the preservation of these paintings. We give hungry kids a little change! send out a tuff priest to sort them out. From then on they behaved themselves, and stopped partying.
As you can see from the pictures the monestary was a beautiful place. Built and rebuilt over 2 centuries in between volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There are numerous streets and cloisters throughout this labyrinth of crosses and bleeding jesuses. The quarters are all fairly generously sized, despite being a little spooky, and the nuns that graced these halls neednt have worried about all the usual nun chores, as each of them sported their own pair of brand new slaves (fresh off the boat).
Rumours of miracles surround the senior nun of the convent, and whilst each nuns room is left bare, her pad is decorated with candles, flowers, and decorations (including a mysterious woolen hat).
As for Arequipa, it is in my humble oppinion a magnificent place. Complete with some of the best dining in South America, at unspeakably low prices. Every night the town square is lit by wonderful antique street lamps, the grand white cathedral towers over the square (resembling a church made from the light of the moon), whilst overlooking the central waterfall (on which the pigeons rest
Peruvian nights
Sunsets are universally pretty perched around the three mirror like pools) second story restaurants verandas grant diners the oppurtunity to bask in the magic
This is a place that you visit when you visit Peru!
As for now we are off to Ica, and the Oasis town of Huacachina to try out some dune buggys, sand boarding, and a dip in the pool.
Once again rest assured we are well and looking after ourselves. I credit all the grammatical errors in this publication to the difference in keyboard buttons. I just dont know where the apostrophe is?
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Great Read
Im glad I had input to help the ball rollin on this great read :D So weird to see you in your plain "Andrews" clothes somewhere else hehe..... rock on outrageously... and eat like its your last meal :D