• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

    A Sunday meander

    October 6, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    From the museum, we wandered around the local area, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the sunshine. 

    We crept into the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria during a service. The priest was delivering what sounded like a very passionate sermon!

    One unusual thing that caught our eye was the dozens of stalls selling 'Obleas Mick Jagger' and using his image to advertise their wares! I don't know if he has endorsed this! 😂 Apparently, when the Rolling Stones were performing in Bogota in 2016, Mick fancied something sweet. He was taken to a small stand selling obleas, a wafer sandwich with a creamy filling. Photos of a smiling Mick eating the obleas introduced this Colombian dessert to the world!

    We also saw a mechanical sugar cane juicer made completely out of highly polished and varnished wood.

    We returned to Plaza de Bolívar as I forgot to take a photo of the great man himself when we were there yesterday.

    Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios Ponte y Blanco (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan statesman and military officer who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia to independence from the Spanish Empire. He is known colloquially as El Libertador, or the Liberator of America.

    Here in Colombia, he is regarded as a hero. He was the first president of the country from 16th February 1819 until 27th April 1830. He died of tuberculosis in Santa Marta later that year, aged just 47.

    We also had a look inside the cathedral. We found it to be rather plain apart from the stunning chandeliers.
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