Tarata Franciscan Church
You can never go far without coming across a Catholic Church. Sometimes I do not know I am passing one until someone else in the bus makes the sign of the cross. This indicates that one is passing the church and in particular the tabernacle. I could have dozens of photos if I only had my camera with me.
In the market area I had passed a church many time without knowing it was a church. At various times there was an older woman outside selling religious calendars, or candles. Since there is always people in the street selling things I didn't take note of the church. One day as I was passing many people were going into a mass, and I realized it was a church. I went inside and I couldn't believe how big it was, it was like a mini cathedral very old fashioned and quaint. I just peaked in because I didn't want to be a tourist during mass, and I needed to continue on my way for work.
I just wanted to share a few photos of churches to give you a mini picture of Bolivia. The above photo is the Franciscan Church in Tarata a charming village about 40-50 miles from my house. There is a retreat Center run by the Franciscans. My parish of San Carlos went on a one day retreat there, with two bus loads of folks.
The Franciscan church is slightly removed from the village. Above is the interior of another Church in Tarata on Main Plaza. I really like this town!
This is another church in the same valley as Tarata. It a valley parallel to the Cochabamba Valley to the South. There is more argiculture in the region and many artisans also. There are about 5 main small towns, with various hamlets. Each town has there main plaza with church.
This is the top of Santa Clara, where the Franciscan Sisters live in the city. Its hard to get a full picture from the busy street. This is taken from the Franciscan Social Center, where Nora and Clare live, and where I lived when I was first out of language school in March.
This is a Franciscan Retreat center on the way to Tarata, near a lake as you enter the next valley. You can see the front of the Church.
Here is the Retreat House behind the church. The only water they have is when it rains. Luckily it is a big tank, so it fills up in the rainy season!
