Último Día en Colombia

"All Aboard!"

30/06

El Tren de la Sabana

This morning we walked to the nearby train station, Usaquen. There we all got our tickets and grouped up. Mrs. Burlison had invited some of her family to go as well, so we were 12 altogether.  

On the train, foods were offered and different musical groups performed in the coaches. One of the bands that played was a typical Colombian band, called Papayera. 

It was nice and added to the enjoyment of the train. It was a scenic ride. The mountains and landscape were nice, but there were also some views not so nice- like seeing the homes of the poor in Colombia. 

The area we passed by reminded me of the Favelas in Brazil. 

When the train reached the last station, Zipaquirá, we disembarked. There, passengers who had bought the ticket previously, like me, could go visit the Salt Mine Cathedral. I boarded a bus with Mrs. B's daughter and two of her nieces, and we set off to the salt mines.

Once there, we only had an hour to explore. Unfortunately we weren't able to see it all because we had to be back at the bus stop by a certain time. Once inside the mine, there were carved out sections with large crosses. 

As we walked along the big underground tunnel, we passed the different sections that each represented a station of the cross. After the last station, the tunnel opened up in to a big room with various levels. There was an even bigger cross against the end wall, and statues of angels. The colored lights added to the beauty of it all.

The Cathedral is known here as the "Primera Maravilla de Colombia."

After making it back to the bus and joining back up with the others, we went to lunch in this restaurant that had live music. The name of the place was "Donde el Pollo Canta," which means "Where the Chicken Sings." In this case, the chicken was a man who sang upstairs, where the tables were situated. 

He sang some classic Colombian tunes, and it was very much like a karaoke. It was a great cultural atmosphere, and the food was really good as well. 

From my time here, I have seen and eaten a lot of avocado. Some pieces were served with the salad at this restaurant. Colombians like their avocados! I do too.

There was more music for the trip back. This time, we heard from a new group. Two guys: one with a drum and the other with a stringed-instrument and pipes. They played some music of the different countries represented by the passengers, Brazil, Mexico, and of course- Colombia.

Before reboarding the train to head back to our original station, I was standing by a statue where a daughter and mom were taking photos. Waiting for my turn, I overheard them speaking and recognized the language as Portuguese! We began conversing (in Portuguese don't you know) and turns out not only are they Brazilian, but they also know the city where I'm living, and the mom is living in Pouso Alegre, a city I myself have visited various times! The daughter also knows about AIESEC and participated in an exchange previously. She now is living and working in Colombia as a Portuguese-Spanish translator. Cool stuff! Man, it's a small world. 

4o Día en Colombia

28/06

In the morning I went to the central Market with Mrs. B's mom. There, she bought a variety of vegetables and fruits to carry to Linda's house (her daughter- Mrs. B's sister). Linda had invited us over to watch Colombia's match versus Uruguay later in the afternoon. 

In the market I saw a few foods I had never seen before. 

There was a vast variety of things.

Back at the house, I watched the first half of the Brazil versus Chile match, and what a way to start the knock-out phase... with a penalty shoot out! After Brazil squeaked by, I'm not so sure about their chances of making it to the final. Chile nearly had that one. But I know my Brazilian friends were happy and relieved.

We ate lunch at Linda's and watched the Colombia vs Uruguay match. 

Colombia played well! James Rodriguez had 2 goals. The first one was a beaut! A volley off of his chest that grazed the keeper's finger tips before deflecting down off of the crossbar behind the goal line. The second goal was also great, an excellent example of teamwork with nice passing. I wore my Colombian jersey and rooted for Colombia today.

3o Día en Colombia

27/06

In the morning we went to play tennis. The court we played at is located in the neighborhood where Mrs. Burlison's sister lives, up in the mountains. 

On the way there, the road runs along the cliff side and had some nice views of the city.

Before heading down to the court we stopped by the house, and O-M-G. Did I say house... I meant more like a mansion. Not that it was as huge as one, but the design, interior, and location was very over-the-top. I felt like I had walked in to an episode of MTV Cribs. 

So Mrs. B's sister married a Spaniard who is the owner/boss of a Home Depot-like company. They are definitely living the life of luxury and I am privileged to experience a little of it. 

After Mrs. B gave me a tour of the house: all the bedrooms, bathrooms, maid's rooms, kitchens, patios, jacuzzi, grill, etc, we had brunch. 

(Arrepa de yuca, huevos con jamón, cebolla y tomate, y chocolate caliente)

After the tennis and the visit, we headed back to mom's apt. On the way, my stomach got upset- either bc of all the curves in the road, the hot chocolate I had just drunken, or a combination. So when we arrived at the house, I had to lay down for a while.

Next destination was Monserrate. We took a cable car up to the top of the mountain. On top was a church, souvenir shops, food stands, restaurants, and the stations of the cross. It was all very scenic and you could see a lot of the city below. Bogotá is huge!

Afterwards, we descended and headed to the centro histórico. We passed by a house where Simon Bolivar used to live. Once in the historic district, we walked around. 

We entered in to the Plaza of S. Bolivar where we saw the cathedral and the palacio de justicia. Further back behind the justice building, I caught a glimpse of where Colombia's president lives (kind of like the Colombian White House). As we proceeded, the next block up contained the house of a girlfriend of Simon Bolivar.

 

Also there was a copy of Colombia's Declaration of Human Rights posted on the walls.

Before returning to the car, we passed by a library, the Casa de Moneda, and an art museum (Museo Bortero). Unfortunately we arrived too late to be able to enter any of the buildings, as they were already closed.

2o Día en Colombia

26/06

The second day in Bogotá started with a visit to the elementary school of Mrs. Burlison's niece, Sara. Every year the school has an event that commemorates the graduation and advancement of the students from one grade to the next.

The elementary school, colegio, is private and the students have the option of studying French or German. The language teachers are native speakers from Europe, which is better for the students. There were a few teachers retiring and others moving to other places. The director for example, is transferring to another like sister school located in Barcelona, Spain. 

The event included a show from the students. We went off to the gym to watch Sara and her classmates perform. The show had a circus theme, so there were balancing acts, acrobatics, and the like.

Following the performance, we gave our congratulations again to the proud mom and dad of Sara, and headed home. On the way, we stopped on a street corner where a man was selling some Colombian national soccer team jerseys. I got one! I was then prepared for the game Saturday against Uruguay.

But before that game, there was a crucial match to watch: the USA vs Germany. It was tense as Germany went up 1-0 on the second half, and Ghana and Portugal were playing simultaneously. Thankfully we still qualified for the round of 16 although we lost to Germany. I like our chances as we look to play Belgium next and one of our key players Altidore may be back from his hamstring injury. 

After watching from the edge of my seat, I had a delicious lunch with the family. Sara and her mom, Linda, came over to join us and visit along with one of Mrs. B's nephew, Geronimo. They are 8 and 3 years old respectively, and a fun bunch. 

We went to a mall that afternoon and the kids played in the arcade. I walked around and explored some. 

On the first floor there was a multi-screen display of the World Cup match between Belgium and South Korea. 

When I returned to the arcade though, I noticed that they had a DDR Extreme Arcade game there, and I had to play! I used to have the very same game at home for the Playstation 2, and it was fun dancing along to the familiar songs. Mrs. B recorded a bit. (Hopefully I can get a copy of it soon). 

Before leaving, the kiddos wanted some icecream from McDonald's. Nom-nom-nom.

How many McDonald's do you know that deliver?!

Primer Día en Colombia

Bogotá 

25/06

After a 6 hour flight from São Paulo, I arrived in Bogotá, Colombia! My high school Spanish teacher (Mrs. Burlison) invited me to visit her and her family while she herself was visiting during her summer break. Thankfully, my boss back in Brazil allowed me to take a two-week vacation to travel and visit more countries in South America. I plan to visit two more countries before returning to Brazil to finish my internship :D

The first day in Bogotá, I met some of Mrs. Burlison's family. Her mom has a very nice apartment with ample space. They converted one of the rooms in to a guest room for me. It has a tv and a big, comfortable air mattress inside- bigger than my bed in Brazil! Ha.

I enjoyed a delicious lunch after arriving at the house. 

Later, we went by a money-exchange place and a bank so that I could convert and withdraw my money for Colombian pesos. I quickly noticed how thick and congested the traffic gets here. There are buses, taxis, motos, and bikes in the streets simultaneously. Another thing that struck me, was the amount of pollution all these cars, and especially trucks, emit in to the air. I do not like how the big puffs of black smoke billow out from the buses and trucks. If I can get on a tangent- we've got to address this problem in order to help preserve the environment and begin to lessen the affects of global warning. Unfortunately throughout Latin America, the situation is the same in the big ciities.

Aparecida do Norte

May 25

Lots of people travel to the basilica.
Many carpool via car, bus, or van.

Trip to the big Basilica

The day after my Birthday, I traveled with my friend Juliana and her family to Aparecida, São Paulo. I was looking forward to visiting the basilica, the main attraction of the city. Popes, including Jonh Paul II and most recently Pope Francis have visited the church previously. We left Itajubá early in the morning in order to arrive there before the crowds, and to make the most of our day trip. The city sat in a cloud during the morning, but the fog lifted later in the afternoon. 

The Basilica in Aparecida.

The church complex was massive! I have seen several different types of cathedrals, basilicas, and churches during prior trips, but this one had to be one of the biggest. After arriving, we walked through a part of the basilica that held a small figurine of Mary- a replica of Nossa Senhora Aparecida (Our Lady of Aparecida), for which the church was constructed. 

The story goes that some fisherman were out one day fishing in a local river when they caught the bottom-half of a small sculpture in their nets. Soon thereafter, they brought in the upper-part (head) to the sculpture and realized it was a small statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Replica of the original Aparecida in the basilica.

Before discovering the figurine, the fisherman were having difficulty catching fish. However after their discovery, their nets filled with fish. This marked the first miracle attributed to Our Lady of Aparecida. Aparecer in Portuguese means "to appear." Thus, the statue of Mary was named "Aparecida" because it appeared to the fisherman in the river. Both the basilica and city are named after the saint.

As you know, or may not know, Brazil is the largest catholic country. Our Lady of Aparecida is the Patroness of Brazil. Thousands upon thousands make the trip to Aparecida, as visitors or pilgrims, in order to show their respects, make an offering, pray, or just visit the basilica. Throughout the Catholic faith, there are a number of instances where Mary has appeared in different countries and miracles have been attributed to her. Our Lady of Gaudalupe is one of the most famous and well known Mary apparitions, who is particularly important in Mexico (where the sighting occurred).

Sala das velas (the candle room). People light a candle in
remembrance of a loved one or to make a special prayer.

"Room of Promises"- here are located many different items people bring that represent an answered prayer that is attributed to Our Lady Aparecida. The ceiling was covered with photos of different people who credit Mary for their health, recovery, success, etc.

Around the city were hundreds of shops and stands selling a myriad of items: religious tokens, electronics, t-shirts, magnets, necklaces, bracelets, figurines, and whatever other kind of souvenir you can think of. We walked by a lot! 

"Felicidades" (Congratulations). "F" was rubbed off in transit.
There were a lot of curves in the road.

After Mass in the basilica and some shopping, our group returned to the cars to have a snack. Unbeknownst to me, Juliana had purchased a birthday cake and brought it along on the trip so that her family could celebrate my Birthday with me. It was a surprise and a very thoughtful (delicious) gift. Her family sang the Happy Birthday song to me first in Portuguese and then after in English. 

That afternoon, we walked across the bridge that connects the basilica to another part of the city where the prior, older church is located. 

A Igreja Antigua

The Old Church is undergoing restorations in order to preserve it. What is so special about the original church in Aparecida, is that it holds the original sculpture of Mary, Nossa Senhora Aparecida- from the miracle story. People wait in line in order to pass by the statue up-close, perhaps to say a prayer or just marvel at the sacred sculpture. I observed many that walked by actually touching the base of it's container in reverance. I was able to walk by as well, and was struck by how beautiful and ornate the figurine is.

Like other religious journeys and trips to significant sites around the world, people make pilgrimages to Aparecida. My friends told me of how some walk, ride a bicycle, or take a horse to the city. Bruno, Juliana's boyfriend and our driver for the day, had actually rode his bike to and from Aparecida a few times before. The trip by car was about  11/2-2 hours, so I was impressed. Another religious custom I saw, was that some people walk on their knees to the Basilica. Not all the way from their homes, but once they arrive in the city. For example, I saw a woman with knee pads crossing the bridge that connects the basilica to the older church. Not everyone uses pads. I believe people perform these actions as a type of sacrifice, or a type of "prayer-deal." For example, if someone prays and prays and their prayer is answered, they might come and perform this act as a way of showing thanks. It could work the other way as well, as in someone making this type of physical sacrifice in faith that their action will result in a good outcome to their prayer. I have heard of similar traditions before, when I was in Costa Rica.

I myself am Catholic and have grown up in the Catholic church. I have attended Baptist, Methodist, and even non-demonitional church services before, and so have an idea of how other Christian denominations function. Here is the most important fact: we are all Christians who serve, believe, and worship the same God. Catholic churches are more traditional and structured, as they follow customs that have been practiced for centuries. One very cool thing I have been able to experience through my travels, is that the Catholic church is universal. It is comforting to know that where ever I go, I will be able to find a Catholic church. I have been able to attend Mass in Austria, Hungary, Germany, Spain, Costa Rica, and now Brazil! It is very cool to be able to go and celebrate the Lord with different people, in another language. The structure of the Mass remains the same in these places, but each contain their own unique traditions and practices. Here in Brazil for example, I have seen a few customs that are different from the church I attend back home. It is a neat experience to partake in them and see another part of the culture.

A humorous sign posted above trash cans that reads
"It is a sin to dirty mom's house."

One of the biggest misconceptions about Catholics involves our relationship to Mary. We do hold her up in high respect because she is the mother of Jesus, which merits respect and admiration, but we do not worship her. Mary accepted Jesus, and this is the ultimate example of how we should strive to be, to say "Yes" to Jesus. Catholics do pray to Mary and believe her to be an intercessor on our behalf, especially through the "Hail Mary" prayer. Here in Brazil, I have seen how people of other denominations or faiths might think that we worship Mary. The church I attend here has a big statue of Mary behind the altar, the first of its type that I have seen. Usually, or at least in my experiences, there is a statue of Jesus or a crucifixion located behind the altar. Mary is a very important person in the history and founding of the Christian faith and Catholics acknowledge this. Here are a number of prayers that practitioners learn growing up and are commonly recited prayers: Some Catholic Prayers.

I know this differs from some Protestants' beliefs in that one can speak directly to God alone and that there is no need to pray to any other. In fact some may think that to pray to another is the same as worshipping or placing that being on the same pedestal with Jesus. However for me, that is not the case. I am still exploring and learning about the Catholic faith, as there is so much to learn! I am very thankful for my Christian friends, that have encouraged me to get in to the Word (Bible) and learn more about my faith. I plan to continue this investigation and in the future, be able to confidently defend my faith and answer questions people may have.