I have been hearing drums!

The last several days. Early in the morning and late at night. I know, you are thinking why don't you just go see what is happening. Well, at 5:00am it isn't going to happen and at 10:00pm I am pretty much all tucked in. Yesterday I saw what was going on. Dressed as Romans the procession of Jesus and the Passion was happening all over towns. I saw it again in Paraiso from the bus. Streets are closed for it. The one I saw was right in front of Katherine's hotel and on to Main Street so I knew the bus would have to change it's route. I walked up to the bus stop by the gas station and there were several people waiting so I figured I had the time right. I was concerned it would be full since there were so few operating on Friday and it would be better getting on there than by the appliance store. Sure enough, they stopped there and then turned and headed down my street. They don't usually take it because there are speed bumps. It wasn't very full so I didn't have a problem with my big purse and my duffle bag. My red bag wasn't quite big enough for my cake pan size carrier. I walked over to the church and although it wasn't open, I found a spot to sit in the shade and called Ziomara to let her know I was there. It was only about fifteen minutes till she arrived. 

I had a great time at her house. Her mother and father were there and her sister came for lunch. It was a day of no meat so lunch was a potato and vegetable soup with a little fish and the entree was a rice dish with palmetto and cheese that was put together and baked in the oven. Very creamy and good. The treats were a big hit. I started by cutting each item into smaller pieces so they could try everything and then have more of what they really liked. 

Before lunch, Ziomara's daughter, Maria Jose, and I played a game of Quiddler. Halfway through I looked at Ziomara and said "you didn't tell me she is a whiz." I was getting beat really bad. We were using both English and Spanish words. She is only about 9. After lunch 4 of us played. They liked the game enough I left it with them. I have the new one for when I get some new victims. 

After lunch, at 3:00pm we all sat down for prayers with Ziomara and her mother leading them. It wasn't the rosary but was said in rosary fashion.

After prayers we went to visit Douglas's mother and his aunt and took treats and rice to them. Two stories get told. The first one is about Douglas hiding the jar of guayaba jelly in the refrigerator behind everything else so no one will see it and the other is about my lesson to make chiverre and all the hammering. 

Then we  headed for Orosi. We took the new highway which doesn't have near as much traffic but has a short stretch that isn't finished and is gravel. In one field along the road was a large group of people enacting the Passion including the 3 crosses. When we got to Orosi there was a large group outside the church with the same kind of reenactment. From what I understand they also reenact taking Jesus down from the cross. The events of Holy Week are taken very seriously here but not with just sitting in church. All of the groups are dresses in costumes.

Ziomara and Douglas came in for a minute and I packed up the rest of the dessert and gave it to them. The favorite was the pumpkin roll and I was surprised how much everyone liked the lemon curd cookies. The chocolate is always a favorite but it wasn't top of the list. The strawberries held up very well. Douglas had Ziomara translate to me that this Thanksgiving I need to have more chairs. I told him he is invited. A memorable Good Friday.

There were more in blue.

Our game.