June 16: Corpus Cristi y Más!

Yesterday was a big holiday here in Cusco because of its Catholic heritage. It was the day of celebration for Corpus Cristi, when they remember the unity of all the saints and all people in Christ. We had the day off of school and work, so we were able to attend all the festivities.

Beforehand, I really had no clue what the day would be like. All I could make out of conversations was that there were going to be a lot of people in the Plaza, that it would be easy for me to get pick-pocketed, that there would be music and some kind of parade. That description pretty much applies to every day of June.

On Wednesday, throughout the day, there were parades of the saints with their followers carrying their statues to the plaza. They processed with a large number of people carrying the idol as well as

playing in the band and walking with the assemble. It was neat to see all the different idols as well as all the dedicated followers.

On Thursday, we--Lexi and I--went to the Plaza around 9am to get seats, as this is what our host family told us to do. We found really great seats on the temporary bleachers that have been set up in the Plaza for the various festivities happening this month. At 10am, the event started. It was like a giant mass (I later found out that it is appropriately titled la Misa de Fiesta, or celebration mass), with all the citizens of Cusco gathered together. That alone was powerful. There was a nice little choir leading the hymns, and many important persona adorning the stage and speaking. The service was partially in Spanish, and partially in Quechua, the native Incan language that almost all Cuscaneans speak. I really enjoyed singing and speaking familiar prayers and hymns in Spanish alongside the natives.

The formal service ended around 11:30, when the procession of Corpus began. This starts with La Carroza followed by all the Saints and Virgins, and later numerous bands, dances, and hours later, the Saints exit the Plaza via the parade. The crowds only grew as the afternoon drew on, so Lexi and I escaped to the Chocolate Museum for a tour and tasting.

That is Barney. 

Meanwhile, the crowds were also invading another plaza, where the traditional Corpus Cristi dish was being served. This dish, entitled Chiriuchu, consists of 10 elements that represent different regions. These elements are served together, but not mixed or cooked together, to show how differences united together form something greater than each separate. The separate elements are: roasted guinea pig, dried lamb, roasted chicken, flour-based patty, toasted corn, seaweed, cheese, fish eggs, sausage, pepper. Sounds delicious, right? Though I have tried most of these things, we did not eat this food yesterday due to the craziness of the crowds as well as the risk for food-borne illness. We, instead, headed over to the local Indian buffet, for a delicious meal, great view, and we also happened to run into Kristen (another one of my house mates).

Following lunch, we escaped the crowds again by climbing the mountain up to Cristo Blanco. Kristen was our guide, taking us on some real steep climbs, through barbed wire fences, and through the "wild". We made it to Jesus right at sunset--beautiful. And after a climb like that, there is nothing better than choclo con queso and another visit to the chocolate museum. Yes, that's right...we went to the chocolate museum twice in one day. It was a holiday, remember?

Tonight, they're back to work, with a bunch of cake and catering orders for tomorrow. Here are just a few of the cakes for tomorrow. So beautiful! Feel free to follow their bakery, 3 sabores, on Facebook.