Surprising evening...

I was going to call it any early night, so I went for a short stroll after dinner. (I always walk after meals, I think everyone here does)

WELL...

there was a group of about 50 people standing outside the octagon church in the village center, so I went over to see what was happening.

I stood (and then sat with others on the church curb) for ~40 minutes.

By 9:20p there were almost 300 people, 7-8 priests, 15 nuns (some in black cloaks with a white lace covering their head, the others in all white...all holding big long candles)  6 banners, a very big one of the Madonna and child.  The town band led the way playing what I would call 'a slow Italian funeral march'.  The roads were closed and we all marched around the town, completing a huge circle for over a half hour. The priest said prayers and there was a man holding a 4 ft tall and thin mircophone so we could all hear the priest.  People in the crowd repeated prayers for "Ava Maria"  and "Santa Maria".

Another surreal moment. 

 I could have run back to the house for a camera, but this felt sacred, not in a religious way, but an intimate way.

I marched along with everyone else, young and old alike.  I love ritual.  I am a pagan-zen kind of person. (if I must put it into words)   I felt this was a show of love for the goddess and a walking meditation.

It's late now, I am going to walk up 3 flights and drop into bed.

Buena notte, p