May 20th,
2018
VERY
hot and sunny, no cloud.
A
Cafe yesterday afternoon, which served the most delicious mango and
orange smoothies, had a poster on the wall stating that today was the
day of a parade around the Plaza at 8:00 a.m. So at 7:30 I am in
position on a bench overlooking the street that goes around the Plaza
waiting for things to happen. There's nobody about but then a lorry
arrives and a canopy is hastily erected and some covered plastic
chairs arranged, I presume, for dignitaries. Occasional parent with
smart uniformed child rushes past and slowly the Plaza begins to fill
with people. A troop of soldiers, all playing instruments arrive and
play their military music so loud that it reverberates around the
square. Another band, this time of teenagers arrives and tries to out
do the soldiers. Goose-stepping girls arrive, each carrying a flag
and their teacher has them practise their march in front of where the
dignitaries will be.
Around
8:30 everything is in place. The 'special people' are seated and an
announcer speedily rattles through his speech as first soldiers, both
male and female, march around the square. Three of the soldiers peel
off their group and ceremoniously carry the Peruvian Flag to be
raised as the National Anthem is proudly and loudly sung. So much
more rousing than the British dirge. The centre of the square has a
circle of young teenagers each carrying a flag from a different
nation. The boy carrying the Union Jack hides behind it as I
photograph it.
Over
the next hour school children groups of different ages, starting with
the youngest children, barely beyond toddler age, march past
goose-stepping to the best of their abilities. Some children carry
balloons but there is a formal air about the event, so different to
the massively costumed affairs I saw in Cusco last year. Eventually
it is the adults' turn and I decide that I have seen enough and leave
to get some breakfast.
Green
Year list : 196 birds average new birds to list per day : 4.00
birds
altitude
: 10,021 feet
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