29 juin 2007
Bye Bye 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.
27 juin 2007
Iglesia de la Tercera
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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 fraternities.
The church is situated right opposite the lively Parque Santander near the Gold Museum. Its construction was completed in 1780. The curch has an impressive facade but a rather sober interior, except for teh carved cedar retables and altarpieces crafter by colonial artists.
The construction of the church took place thanks a fortuitous find of a valuable treasure by the tertiary one Mr. Ignacio Red Sandoval, who offered it integrally to raise the church dedicated to a cultured divine and that to serve besides as headquarters of the Order Franciscan Layman of Bogota. The Virrey Mr. José Solís, who was also tertiary, heard of the project and donatet a great part of the current lot where is built the church. Mrs Francisca Caicedo and Florez, tertiary Franciscan, offered in turn, the house and solar adjacent al ground donated by the Virrey Solís, for the a lot project other donations concurred to do the construction.
January 25, 1761, the mister Araus, Archbishop of Bogota blessed the foundation stone and in August 25, 1780 the church was inaugurated pompously. The work without interruption took on the whole 19 years.
Although it is forbidden to take pictures inside this church, it is a must see for anyone interested in the history of Bogota. Inside you will find paintings with were created in the late 1600's which is part of the reason there are no photographs allowed as the lights from the flash could damage the paintings. You won't find glits or glamour here, but a simple church with a lot of history, take the time to stop in and "feel" the history for yourself, spend time taking in each painting, as it reflects history. Listen to the paintings and the walls, for they have a magnificent story....
Address: Carrera 7 con Calle 16, Bogota.
25 juin 2007
The Church of San Francisco
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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 and 1616. Three years later he would participate in the placement of the aqueduct with a battery of provision for the convent. In turn, the cloister and the nursing were completed in the middle of the 17th century. In 1618, the carpentry of the chorus and the seating were assembled by Luis Márquez and the greater altarpiece Asturian Ignacio Garcia of Ascucha that would devise it between 1623 and 1629. Also by the year of 1627 the tower of the temple would be built at the time with the chapel of San Pedro of Alcántara. The side room of the Immaculate, that was attributed to Esquiaqui, was built toward the middle of the 17th century.
The earthquake that shook to the capital in 1785 caused serious damages to the structure of the church and caused the collapse of the facade. The lieutenant general Domingo Esquiaqui was in charge of the repair of the front of the church and of the tower and Fray Domingo of Petrés the recovery of the remainder of the church that ¨there was to redo almost all¨ according to its own words. The intervention of Petrés was extremely respectful of the baroque style of the temple, which caused stupor among those who recognized in the friar to a ¨neoclassical abominator of the baroque one¨. The restoration was concluded in 1794- although there are evidence that in 1802 the works of restoration continued - and the church was re-inaugurated and consecrated by the bishop Martínez Compañón. Concerning the restoration by Petrés, Pedro María Ibañez wrote: ¨The builder wanted to give more amplitude to the church, committed the very serious error, very frequent in the Spanish cities, of diminishing the wide one of the public highway, adding of the side of the small square a nave (...). The new cover sheet of the temple was built with stones of ashlars, very well worked, was adorned with four elegant columns, symbolic shields and a statue of stone of San Francisco.¨
Address: Av. Jiménez at Carrera 7, Bogota, open daily 8-6.
23 juin 2007
Streets of Bogota
22 juin 2007
Back to Bogota
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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 give the area an air of gentrifying boho-chic. Hoyos calls it "a renaissance of public space."
One of the best pastimes is wandering the streets of Candelaria admiring the colonial architecture. Each street is a photo opportunity with brightly coloured buildings, many with intricate balconies, some with privacy screens and others laden with flowers, but always with the green mountains as a backdrop. Many of the buildings still carry the traditional names of the streets such as Calle del Olivo. There is always something interesting to see on the streets – musicians, street performers, and vendors selling handicrafts. There is artwork in the parks and even eye-catching statues of people in everyday poses.
Tip of the day
We had dinner at Donostia, a Spanish restaurant, Calle 29 Bis Nº 5-84. Very good food. Recommended.
21 juin 2007
Procession in Popayan
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, reciting prayers and chants, and remembers with expectant joy the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One can see peoples' devotion to the celebrations of Holy Week, which has kept such rituals and celebrations alive throughout the years.
20 juin 2007
Rita and the Guambianos
19 juin 2007
Guambianos 3
18 juin 2007
Guambianos 2
16 juin 2007
Guambianos
