He is 4 hrs in the morning, my alarm clock rings. I'll wake up Julie (my friend visiting Quebec) because it has an appointment in half an hour in downtown Oruro. We'll join my friend Javier and his cousins-cousins.
Getting ready to climb the highest mountain in Oruro. For each region of the Altiplano, in June 21 sosltice summer (ben. .. winter here), many people who go to the highest point of the city to get as close as possible the sun. For today we celebrate the Sun God, we celebrate the New Year Aymara. Aymara: Aboriginal cultural identity of the Altiplano. A bit like Atikameks or the Iroquois at Quebec.
So Julie and I, full of goodwill, we began our ascent ... which will prove a challenge of endurance. Oh god, climb a mountain of 500m ... not that bad, but when you're already at 4000m above sea level ... you are looking for your air is not possible! What should have taken 20 minutes oruréniens our friends (if they were not hanging around behind us), we have made painstakingly by quarter past one! Thank you to Rene, who had the good idea to prepare a thermos of coca tea to his Canadian friends, greatly affected by the altitude! Because yes, coca has the property reduce altitude sickness. You talk to Julie, who was dying of nausea in the middle of the ascent ...
At the top, by cons, you should have seen the spectacle that awaited us ....
a hundred people, young and old (I do not know how they got to ride there), all dressed in typical clothes, playing the flute and drums typical wood ... around a bonfire. Dancing, drinking, living the fullness of time ... at night, waiting for sunrise. In part, colorful floats the flag of the Aymara.
groups of friends are preparing their "white table", a ritual where they place blocks representing sugar things that are dear to them (the houses, hearts, children, money ...), pure alcohol, red wine, beer "spoutchée" after Shakee Without .... forget coca leaves carefully selected by each participant of the "table". Everyone chooses one, think of a wish and throw it on the white paper that serves as a table on the floor.
Just before the round heat of the sun peaks out from behind the mountain, the chief original authorities made his speech. We are all called to be placed on one side of the bonfire, facing the sun will appear in a few minutes.
It is about 6:00. All begin spontaneously to his knees, his hands raised, open, reaching for the sun. It remains thus, all silent ...... It receives energy from the rising sun.
For about 7 minutes, until the fireball so completely from the mountain. Magical and totally inspirational. I never forget that moment.
(Well, I must confess to you something good ... In Canada we are, we failed to keep his hands off continuously for 7 minutes. I had to pause a few seconds put them in my gloves llama. Too difficult. I felt, yes, spiritual energy ... but also frreettte chilly Altiplano. Ouch.)
Pierre-Luc and me, we shall definitely keep certain rituals learned here. And the Summer Solstice is definitely gone. You'll join us next year?
But really, what is the highest mountain of St-Henri de Lévis ....???
Getting ready to climb the highest mountain in Oruro. For each region of the Altiplano, in June 21 sosltice summer (ben. .. winter here), many people who go to the highest point of the city to get as close as possible the sun. For today we celebrate the Sun God, we celebrate the New Year Aymara. Aymara: Aboriginal cultural identity of the Altiplano. A bit like Atikameks or the Iroquois at Quebec.
So Julie and I, full of goodwill, we began our ascent ... which will prove a challenge of endurance. Oh god, climb a mountain of 500m ... not that bad, but when you're already at 4000m above sea level ... you are looking for your air is not possible! What should have taken 20 minutes oruréniens our friends (if they were not hanging around behind us), we have made painstakingly by quarter past one! Thank you to Rene, who had the good idea to prepare a thermos of coca tea to his Canadian friends, greatly affected by the altitude! Because yes, coca has the property reduce altitude sickness. You talk to Julie, who was dying of nausea in the middle of the ascent ...
At the top, by cons, you should have seen the spectacle that awaited us ....
a hundred people, young and old (I do not know how they got to ride there), all dressed in typical clothes, playing the flute and drums typical wood ... around a bonfire. Dancing, drinking, living the fullness of time ... at night, waiting for sunrise. In part, colorful floats the flag of the Aymara.
groups of friends are preparing their "white table", a ritual where they place blocks representing sugar things that are dear to them (the houses, hearts, children, money ...), pure alcohol, red wine, beer "spoutchée" after Shakee Without .... forget coca leaves carefully selected by each participant of the "table". Everyone chooses one, think of a wish and throw it on the white paper that serves as a table on the floor.
Just before the round heat of the sun peaks out from behind the mountain, the chief original authorities made his speech. We are all called to be placed on one side of the bonfire, facing the sun will appear in a few minutes.
It is about 6:00. All begin spontaneously to his knees, his hands raised, open, reaching for the sun. It remains thus, all silent ...... It receives energy from the rising sun.
For about 7 minutes, until the fireball so completely from the mountain. Magical and totally inspirational. I never forget that moment.
(Well, I must confess to you something good ... In Canada we are, we failed to keep his hands off continuously for 7 minutes. I had to pause a few seconds put them in my gloves llama. Too difficult. I felt, yes, spiritual energy ... but also frreettte chilly Altiplano. Ouch.)
Pierre-Luc and me, we shall definitely keep certain rituals learned here. And the Summer Solstice is definitely gone. You'll join us next year?
But really, what is the highest mountain of St-Henri de Lévis ....???
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