S

Every place in the world it seems has a tourist bureau and it is their duty to promote all the places, worthy and less worthy, withing their perview. So it is with the province of Santander: it promoted Socorro and that is why we went there. It was a fortunate choice because it has a delightful "Casa de la Cultura" which is a gem of a museum and the two churches are well worth a detour.

General view toward north

Church Columns

Statue of Angel in Church

Courtyard of Casa de la Cultura Museum

Statue in Main Square

Tower of San ?? Church

Start of Funeral at Chiquinquira Church

We were surprised and happy to find this small church open having failed to gain entry into the Cappucino Monastery. When we climbed the steps and walked in through the door, we understood why it was open: there was going to be a funeral and the priest in his purple robes was waiting at the door for the coffin. We were very surprised when he started talking to us in English and welcoming us to his church. Apparently he had spent some months living in the U.S. where he had learned his English. The conversation was very warm, but cut short by the arrival of the funeral party.

Funeral Cortege Approaching Cemetery

Having seen the beginning of the funeral, we later encountered it as it arrived at the cemetery, which we had just visited.