Easter in Peru is celebrated as an event called "Semana Santa" and I got to spend my weekend in lovely Ayacucho! Located over 9,000 feet above sea level, Ayacucho is a lovely department down in the southern part of Peru, and has one of the largest festivals for Semana Santa. Activities included visiting Wari ruins, running with the bulls, human towers, visiting 33 cathedrals, fireworks, and tons of FOOD!
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| Coast of Peru, on the way to Lima |
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| Plaza de Armas in Ayacucho |
After two 9-hour bus rides, I arrived in the morning in beautiful Ayacucho to hang out with 45 other Peace Corps volunteers! First day we went on an excursion to visit nearby Wari ruins, the quaint city of Quinua, and a large war memorial called the "Pampa de Ayacucho".
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| Wari Ruins |
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| Taylor and I at the Wari ruins |
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| Wari ruin of an ancient wall |
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| My friends! |
The quaint town of Quinua had lots of charm with original cobble-stone streets, old churches, and crafts for purchase. There was also lots of cheese for sale.
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| Plaza de Armas in Quinua |
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| Shop |
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| Items for sale |
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| Old building |
Another site to see are the 33 cathedrals in Ayacucho, one for each year of Christ's life (tho there are actually more than 33 cathedrals in Ayacucho). We stopped in about 10 of them, all different and all with interesting facades and intricate details inside.
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| Cathedral |
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| Cathedral |
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| Cathedral |
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| Inside of a Cathedral |
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| Enjoying the town |
There is a lookout point high above the city called the "Mirador" and is over 350 steps from the main level of the town! We made it all the way to the top...
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| Top of the Mirador |
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| View from the top! |
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| Ancient stormwater system |
Beautiful artwork was created in the streets with plant materials for the procession with Christ's body to walk over on the Friday before Easter.
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| Creating murals in the streets |
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| More murals in the streets |
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| Murals around the Plaza de Armas |
Finally the big day arrived! On Saturday, there were many activities in the city. The morning began with the "running of the bulls" where live bulls were sent down the narrow streets running after a man on a horse, and all the people ran after the bulls so that you were "running" with it. The goal is to actually touch the bull, but this is very dangerous! I ran after one for a little while...
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| Where the bulls were let loose |
After the running of the bulls people make human towers in the Plaza de Armas...and not like cheerleader towers on all fours, but towers where people stand on your shoulders! Highest tower we saw was three levels high. Another activity was throwing people into the air, and my friends decided I was the one to go flying...
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| Flying in the Plaza! |
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| Human Pyramids |
After all the mornings adventures we headed back up to the Mirador where we feasted on one of the traditional dishes in Peru: Pachamanca. Pachamanca is beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables that have been cooked in the ground on top of hot rocks. The food was delicious!
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| Ladies with our Pachamanca! |
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| Food cooking |
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| Traditional dishes in Ayacucho |
Another treat in Ayacucho is special ice cream made by ladies who spin metal bowls in ice to create the ice cream from fresh cream.
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| Ice Cream |
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| Enjoying our ice cream |
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| Serenade |
Saturday night we stayed up all night watching fireworks and waiting for the resurrection of Christ and the final procession at 5am.
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| Fireworks in the Plaza |
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| Fireworks |
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| Bonfire in the street |
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| Finally what we had been waiting for all night! The rising of Christ... |
Had a fantastic time in Ayacucho! Wish that I could have spent more time there enjoying the sites. Until next time!
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