So we got back to Copacabana on Friday night and had about an hour to shower, relax, etc before we went to the event hall for the wedding to do a traditional pre-wedding Mother Earth (Pachamama) offering. Totally not Catholic-approved but everyone (everyone Aymara anyway) does it. Anyway, we sat around and chewed coca and drank beer with the bride, groom,a nd their closest friends and relatives. Sergio and Stasia are the padrinos (godparents, sponsers etc) for the wedding so we were guests of honor.
The main event took place on Saturday, with first a church service in the morning, then a drive through Copacabana in our car, leaning on the horn the entire time so everyone would look and see the novios in the front seats. This was followed by lunch and photos on the floating islands where our group of 10 in the car was joined by family from La Paz. Finally, we went back into town around 3 or 4 to the event hall where we drank and toasted and danced and ate cake until 10:30ish!! It was a lot of fun- the family from La Paz adopted me at their table and suggested they might kidnap me back to La Paz with them. Luckily they didnt but they were really nice and after a few beers we were even able to communicate! hahah my Spanish is coming along, albeit slowly...
Woke up Sunday a little bit hungover but doing okay until Stasia came to my room to tell me to get ready because this was day 2 and the newlyweds and co would be at the house around noon with a band and more beer to drnk! Thus, sunday passed in blur of more beer and dancing- first on the rooftop patio of our house overlooking the lake, then we danced our way through the streets back to the event hall. This time we only stayed until 8ish, when the bride was so drunk she was having trouble walking. Eeek! Good times though, I suppose :)
Relaxed and got back to work on bones earlier today because tomorrow is the Aymara New Year so we are going to get up around 5am, go up a neighboring hill/mtn and toast Pachamama! I'll be sure to give updates on that later but for now-- happy Inti Raymi!!
please please please remind me to get married in south america :).
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the Pachamama commentary, although I won't lie, I had a good chuckle over the fact that it's a catholic Aymara tradition, but not a Catholic Aymara tradition. I only post this because I know you miss my puny humor when you are gone :).
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