Today was spent in Parque Central for the Lenten Church services and Processions with at least half of the population of Xela. We left the house close to lunch time and ate shrimp at Pollo Campero then walked around the park taking in the sights and sounds of 'Santa Semana'. We had an hour and a half or so to fill in before the start of the Good Friday Church service in the cathedral scheduled to start at 3 pm. The cathedral is a very, very large church and the pews on one side of the church were folded up to make room for several of the large barge type 'floats' with depictions of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, angels and assorted saints. The archbishop held the service and I am really beginning to like the way he does things. He does not sit around and let all of the peons do the work but jumps right in to get things accomplished. After the service we went outside where the people were lined up waiting for the next procession to begin. We joined in the waiting, standing on concrete, while they moved the largest barge we have seen yet out of the church and lined up on the street. This barge takes about 90 men to carry and the men are stacked as close together as they can get. Spaced out among the carriers are metal poles that can be placed under the barge to rest it on when it becomes necessary to change the carry crew out with some of the men who walk beside the barge. It took the better part three hours to allow the archbishop to say a few prayers and sing a song then start moving and circle half way around the park! I don't know how far they were going but it will take the forever to complete the route. We watched them exit the church and line up, then walked to the other side of the park and watched them pass by before we had our dinner and walked our aching feet back home. This puts a whole new meaning of Lent and Easter. They get into the celebration in a big way.
Don took some pictures but we have to find a way to reduce them and then try to get them uploaded for you to see. We may have to carry the computer to Wendy's where they have a second floor with an area dedicated to Skype so their Internet speed may be better than ours.
Happy Easter!
