May 21st, a day with Doña Dolores. This day felt very enriching especially with her introduction. I loved how she spoke about her early years and then finding love and finding the church all through to the civil war. Things I did not realize was that the war had been so recent. People were forced out of homes, community, and even church.
Where was safe?
Traveling with Doña D felt like the grandmother I needed. From her mannerisms to her deep knowledge about everything from the church to the weaving co-op, I could tell that she was very passionate about everything in her life. After learning about church, we moved towards the Cofradia, where we met the brotherhood and Maximón.
Maximón is a shrine that is idolized for many reasons. The people of the town go to him if they are sick, if they need help, if they need purification. He is their beginning and end. He is their holy grandfather. I was intrigued to see the body of Jesus Christ right next to the Maximón, as it confused me to see both entities in one room. But as the day progressed, I learned that both religions were practiced simultaneously. German explained that everything was integrated, and I saw a lot of integration as we continued with the tour.
Ending this blog is tough because there is still so much more left on this trip, but I am forever grateful to German and Doña Dolores as they added a pivotal switch in this program for me.