Places to look forward to . . .

I am going to highlight some of our destinations so that students are a bit better prepared. The Convento de San Francisco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_San_Francisco,_Lima) is a church and monastery in the heart of Lima - and we visit it on that first, sleepy day in Latin America. We can't fault ourselves for not having heard of the church (if that is the case) but we can hold ourselves accountable for not remembering it after we leave! But I don't think we'll have much trouble with that.

Like many cathedrals and churches in Roman Catholic countries, San Francisco is sure to be held in high regard. Although a major tourist stop, it is also a sacred place that is still a going concern - so we will need to be respectful. Monasteries and convents were significant players in pre-Independence Latin America - and even beyond. Wealth and power were held by these religious institutions - and the buildings they erected are bound to reflect this. At the same time, austerity and self-sacrifice were the personal goals of the monks. Think of the contradictions that could play out in that setting!

Although I would love to believe that all of our students will walk out of the monastery with a profound understanding of the role of the Church in early colonial America, my guess is that the highlight of the tour will be the catacombs. Yes, catacombs.  Burial was a different story back then - and underneath many churches can be found sacred spaces to rest forever. There are up to 70,000 individuals in the catacombs, and they are apparently arranged in very interesting patterns. I know I am looking forward to what we now see as a macabre spectacle - and my guess is our students will use up a lot of battery power catching sight of the bones of the interred.

Of course, I can't but help wonder how the early Spanish practices of religious burial will contrast with those of the Inca - who tended to put their ancestors high on Andean peaks. A good topic for further discussion!