Semana Santa

I thought I "woke up dead" this morning. There was not a sound to be heard except for the birds singing and the macaws squawking. It's Good Friday and Costarricans take this entire week VERY seriously. I've blogged about Semana Santa and how people in Costa Rica respect it with their many cultural customs. In the good ole days, EVERYTHING shut down and was closed. Now, not so much. Old timers still respect the traditions of prayer beginning on Wednesday. No cooking, no driving, no t.v., just praying and being with family. No school all week and government offices closed on Wednesday until after Semana Santa.
I live by one of the busiest highways in Costa Rica and not one semi-truck has passed this solemn Friday. Barely any cars except for a few with surfboards on top. All this week I have seen cars passing loaded down with all kinds of items from mattresses, coolers, chairs, to just about anything you can think of for family gatherings and camping. This is a time for families to come together. It is also a very spiritual time. No alcohol sold anywhere in Costa Rica right now, legally.

The song today, The Old Rugged Cross, is dedicated to my mother. I can still remember her like it was yesterday, her sitting at our piano in the "guest livingroom",,, singing and playing this song so beautifully, by heart. It was one of her favorites. She would have loved Brad Paisley's rendition of this old gospel tune.

This is my favorite time of year. It is so peaceful and quiet.
Let us pray ...

Image: I took this photo of in front of our Catholic church this morning.
There are a ton of powerlines since ICE is in the background but I tried photoshopping them out.