I spent most of the day resting up, but I wanted to experience something of what a South American city had to offer on Good Friday of semana santa. While it wasn't nearly as spectacular as what probably took place in Còrdoba, Mendoza offered something impressive in other ways. In the south part of town there is what I could only describe as a religious park surrounding a Catholic church. The park consisted of 12 stakes adorned with mosaic tile pictorials of the stations of the cross. The stations were strung between two small chapels, one depicting Christ in a life-sized statue bleeding and in pain, and the other with a second statue of Christ in the tomb. What struck me was the thousands upon thousands of people crowded in the park, standing in line to touch the statues, pray and continue to the next station. There were families, young people, old people, all in a sacred state of mind.
In marked contrast to the serenity surrounding the icons was the ring of vendors selling prayer cards, flowers, food and candy in the area surrounding the park. It gave me the sense that I was attending a street fair and a pilgrimage at the same time. To my knowledge, not many Argentineans are regular church-goers, but religion obviously still plays an important role on days like Good Friday and in various other small ways that show themselves in various parts of society. The newspaper estimated that 100,000 people were to visit the park that day, and I don't think they were far off.
The church that anchors the park.
One of the three statues of Jesus.
People in line to visit the stations of the cross.
A close-up of the mosaic picture on the cathedral, depicting a scene where the Virgin makes an appearance with the Andes mountains in the background.
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