My report today is a interesting experiment in humanity. The Jesuit Missions. Around then end of 17th century, the Guarani indians were being kidnapped by the Portugese slavers and Spanish bandits so the Jesuits founded some missions, beautifully built and architected for the Guaranis. They kept the Guarani social structure intact and worked their beliefs in with Christian ones. The Jesuits leant Guarni and even though the Guaranis were supposed to learn Spanish, they in fact didn't. It was a form of communism because the Guaranis had no notion of private prorperty.
There was a section for workshops that made ironwork, stonework, woodwork, crafts and arts and musical instruments. A long covered ditch ran through the main areas and drained into the vegetable gardens to fertilise them. The working day was about 7 hours when back in Europe it was 12. The rest of the day was spent in music, worship and getting along with the family.
It was in the border territory between the Portuguese and the Spanish and the Guarani were good fighters and readily coped with firearms to win battles for the Spanish crown.
It was a form of Utopia.
Got soaking wet on way home. Walked through deep puddles in a torrential downpour on way back. Red clay colouring our socks. Raincoats no help at all, just dripped water into sodden shoes. Then had to stand in an air conditioned bus for 1 hour to get home. What us journeywomen have to do!
See photos
1. Guarani houses
2. Guarani Passion Flower
3. The fog rolls into the jungle
4 and 5 are the most interesting. We got an impromptu private tour by the guide who wanted to get out of the office and pointed this one out. It epitomises what happened to the missions when they got abandoned. A strangler fig grows right over a column. What you see is a row of columns and a tree in line. Look inside the tree and you see the column.
next news will be from Salta
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