We are in a small town called Esquipulas for Christmas! It is a popular religious pilgrimage site because of the crucifix in the basilica which has a black Christ. Took 4 buses and about 10 hours to get here but we made it in time to find our hotel, clean up, and go to 10 pm mass on Christmas Eve. The church is beautiful and much larger than most other churches we've seen in Central America. History of Esquipulas - the town was founded by the Spaniards in mid 1500s. We've heard different things about why it is a black Christ so I don't want to write the wrong thing here. Will update later. But anyway, the crucifix was installed in 1595 and was accredited with miraculous powers. "But after the bishop of Guatemala, Pardo de
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