Semana Santa’s in full swing. When Paul and I went for breakfast at 7:30 the Gallo beer tables were already setting up in the streets. By 8:30 a.m., they had customers. They sell huge plastic Gallo beer bottles that look like they hold a gallon of beer. We later found out that they hold 2 litres of beer. The drinkers don’t seem to care if the last litre is cold or perhaps I’m underestimating how quickly a person can chug 2 litres of beer. The hippy jewelry makers were already out in full force getting the highest traffic spots to set up their tables of goods.
While we were having our coffee a group of 24 people from Georgia came into the restaurant. It’s a small restaurant, so the pastor of the church group ended up sitting at our table. This was his 50th trip and he has been all over Central and South America doing mission trips. This was primarily a youth group, although I saw more chaperones than youth. So many of the groups that visit are from churches. I never realized what a large part of the tourist economy comes from church groups. They were disappointed that there was no bacon on the menu. I hate to admit it, but I feel your pain on that one brother.
Cali wanted to go to the store first thing in the morning, to replace her flipflops. Her world was off-kilter until this was done. So I rode her up on the bike to get her a new pair. She tried on more than 10 pair until she found the perfect ones. Whew. World back on axis.
Paul and I went to drop off laundry since they will be closed until Monday, and we also went to get more books at the bookstore. Now we have enough reading material and clean underwear to make it through the weekend.
Kier had to say good-bye to one of her friends from the city who’d been here for the week. Then she went to play pool, have supper, and watch a movie with her friends. It was a nice evening for her. Later she joined me with my friends and we went home together.
For supper Paul and I decided to have a date night, just the two of us. We went to the Bistro, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try. We were the only people there initially. It’s a bit on the pricey side. Most of the people are eating street food and buying drinks. A few people did start trickling in by the time we left.
My friends called to see what I was up to. They were over at the cafe in front of Dos Mundos. My two friends often go there for the 2 for 1 mojitos. This is a cafe owned by one of their friends. Paul and I were walking right by the cafe in order to go home, Paul encouraged me to hang out with them, even though my stomach was unsettled after the meal. I’m glad I joined them and ended staying out with them for hours. I enjoy their company because it’s always a good mix between interesting and meaningful conversation and laughing our heads off. We were talking about cultural differences, indiginous issues, Cuban men (I didn’t have much to add to this part of the conversation), marrying young, what the proper mix is of a rum and coke (didn’t have much to say here either). Time flew once again. Eventually we decided to walk up to The Porch because the band was playing.
Streets are packed with people, but mostly in a good way. Even with all the drinking, I haven’t seen any outrageous or over the top disrespectful behavior in the streets. Maybe that happens later when I’m in bed and people are really hammered.
While we were sitting and talking up at the Porch, the death procession went by. It’s a float is about 25 feet long with a statue of the body of Jesus surrounded by Roman pillars of the corinthian kind (that’s for you, dad), carried by 60 people, walking in step. There was a small brass band that followed the Jesus float playing sad music in an extremely out of tune way, which effectively added to the misery. Wouldn’t have been nearly effectively morbid had they been playing in tune. The main float is followed by three floats of women, the main one of Mary.
After the procession was gone, people went back to their drinking and partying, obviously anticipating the resurrection.