Trip to COLOMBIA

After three great weeks in Colombia. Time to head back to Africa. During a final party in Bogota, we invite our friends to come over and visit us in Congo. Three seem particularily keen. Next to come: their trip to the crazy land of Congo.

. The church of the "The Third one " is one of the most beautiful jewels of the colonial religious architecture of Bogota.  Its name itself due to that said church was built by initiative and to expenses of the members of the Third Franciscan Order or Secular Franciscan Order, to whom it belongs.  In Colombia the Secular Franciscan Order was established since the arrival of the first Franciscan in 1550, and nowadays, throughout the country, they are found disseminated secular Franciscan... [Lire la suite]

. The construction of the church of San Francisco in Bogota began in 1557; it opened its doors in 1566, year in which it was blessed for the worship. The original construction was comprised of a nave to which were added chapels on the oriental side, chapels that were integrated to become a second nave at the moment of the reconstruction of the church carried out after the earthquake of 1785.  The master mason Francisco Thin was in charge of the construction of the sacristy and of the chapel between 1610... [Lire la suite]

. We are back to Bogota and head straight to Bogota’s historical centre. Bogotá’s real charm lies in La Candelaria, a recently revitalized neighbourhood of grand colonial buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. According to Hoyos, the area "used to be hell: part of a whole city of private splendour and public squalor." Now, its Teatro Colón participates in one of the continent’s most important theatre festivals, and its restored mansions have been turned into museums. Galleries, yoga studios, and dimly lit cafés... [Lire la suite]

In Popayán, a religious and cultural center since colonial times, Semana Santa is an all-out celebration. In a town known for the ratio of churches to residents, the week long events include religious processions and masses, with a number of residents playing the treasured roles of religious personages. With the rituals of Holy Week celebrations come the mysteries of religion, its traditions, and its meaning as part of the powerful Catholic legacy in Latin America. A crowd of pilgrims follows a procession through the city,... [Lire la suite]