As Ali sees it: When she leaves the church, the town has a party!

(Samaipata continued)

I couldn´t help it, he was so cute!

Seriously now, we went to the Animal Refuge this inquire about renting horses. A young man came out with a monkey on his shoulder, the monkey promptly climbed down the man, up Kris, and across to me. Now this monkey has a reputation in town for biting, so went he started to kiss me on the lips, tongue and all I was´n´t sure what to do. I kept my mouth closed, and gently removed the monkey.

We hired horses at La Vispera instead of the Animal refuge (I didn´t want to go back there). We were told La Vispera had the best horses in town and I wanted a good horse. I felt so comfortable on this horse!

When she leaves the church, the town has a party!

   Oh, I do have to tell you about the big festival they had in Samaipata while I was there. It was for the Virgen of Candeleria (think Catholic church virgin saints on this one).
   As I mentioned in my last entry, I had decided to leave Samaipata, but then it rained and I postponed my departure for a day. That night as Kris and I were leaving the diner where we had eaten, we discovered a festival starting outside the church. At first we didn´t know what it was about and then we saw one of our National Park trek guides in the plaza and so he filled us in. And then his 8 year old daughter decided we´d be fun and so with his encouragement we hung out with Maria Jose. There were a lot of fireworks, many going sideways through the crowd. You had to actively avoid being hit! And then the Virgen came out of the church (see picture) and everyone, including us, followed her.
   We went to a private house where we were unable to avoid being given Chicha (a mind alcoholic fermented corn drink) and a cheese sandwich. Music was played to the virgen. We were told the party would recommence at 9am the next day and agreed to meet our junior guide, Maria Jose, in the plaza for another day of fun. We went back to the hostel, but the music continued all night!
    Maria Jose must have been excited, becuase she turned up at the hostel at 8.30 to pick us up. Kris wasn't ready, but I was. Kris said he´d catch us up, and Maria Jose made me run to church... she didn´t want to miss mass.
   It must be about the second mass I have been to in my life. I didn´t understand a lot of it. Maria Jose didn´t like that I wouldn´t cross myself (is that what it is called?), but I would have felt hypocrytical doing so.
   After mass, we followed the Virgen again, back to the same house. This time we were given big plates of cake and hot chocolate while a Mexican Mariachi band played to the Virgen. (It clearly was for her entertainment, the band members dedicated full attention to her.) Later in the evening the same house fed the public (me included) on pork, rice, potato and salad, and offered beer, whilst 2 big bands took turns playing music for the masses to dance to.
   Apparently this house applies for the privilege of hosting the town in their house for the festival and it is done at their own expense. They must have hosted at least 200 people, possibly more, and I heard that the Mariachi´s cost $100 per hour (a lot of money here). I do hope they get some good favours back from the Virgen!
   The next day, I finally left Samaipata, to go to Ginger´s Paradise.