Third Week of Summer Camp

Here are some highlights from Mateo's third week at summer camp:

1.  Mateo dressed as a cowboy and enjoyed stories about cowboys and indians.

2.  He got to listen to a guest musician play the trumpet.

3.  He's making progress in learning how to dance "salsa".

4.  He was totally mesmerized by a magic show - which included pulling a pigeon from a scarf and disappearing balls.  He told us that he was invited to blow on the magicians hand to make something disappear.

5.  He met Tyrone and Pablo from the Backyardigans (apparently some show on TV, which all the kids here know about) - the fact that Tyrone is a moose, just like his favorite stuffed animal, was enough to have him shaking (literally) with joy!

6.  He still cried when I left, despite the tempting banana split offer.  

I'm not convinced that Mateo feels integrated in Bogota just yet.  He enters school and tells the teachers that he's leaving.  When they ask where to, he replies, "Berkeley".  Nico feels Mateo is happier; I'm not so sure. He's not unhappy, but happy, hmmmm .... 

This weekend we visited the famous salt cathedral in Zipaquira, about 45 minutes away from Bogota (okay, it would probably be 30 minutes away if the driver drove above 50 miles/hour - all in the name of safety!!). The cathedral is pretty impressive (and smelly!!!  I had no idea salt smelled like rotten eggs!!) - it's built in an underground rock salt mine 180 meters underground.  There are miles of tunnels from where the salt has been extracted and which have the 14 stages of the cross lined up.  At each stage, there is a cross and pedestals on which to kneel to pray.  The cathedral itself is austere, with high ceilings and carved pillars, but very fairy-like.  

We headed to the city center, la Plaza Mayor, after chomping down some meat for lunch. It is a quaint little plaza, very colonial, and to Mateo's joy, full of pigeons!!   

At one of the 14 stations of the cross.

Admiring the salt formations in the ceiling.

Our visit to Zipaquira coincided with Independence Day - all Colombians were sporting white T-shirts (for peace).  This one says, "Yes to Liberty, Yes to Truth, Yes to Life, Colombia without FARC."