The Monastery was built in 1579 and enlarged in the 17th century to 20,000 square meters.  Although there are @20 nuns currently living in the northern corner of the complex, it once housed @450 people (1/3 who were nuns, the rest, servants).

To enter the second son or daughter in a life of service in the Church, upper class families paid the equivalent of $150,000 and donated 25 listed items, i.e. a statue, a painting, a lamp and clothes.  The wealthiest brought fine English china, silk curtains, and rugs. In addition to stories of outrageous wealth, there are tales of nuns becoming pregnant.

In 1871 Pope Pius IX sent Sister Josefa Cadena to reform the Monastery.  She sent the rich dowries back to Europe and freed all servants and slaves.  But many treasures still remain.  In the 1960's, the Monastery was struck twice by earthquakes.  Once restored, it was opened to the public, which helped pay for the installation of running water and electricity.

It is unlikely there is a larger, more exquisite, or more fascinating Monastery anywhere in the world.

Would you believe World Cup Soccer was being shown in the Gift Shop?	No wonder the streets were empty!
The original drainage system	The original bathtubs...
We exit the Monastery at the same time France has won The World Cup; the celebration spills over into the street	Obviously not a soccer fan....
Meanwhile we return to the Square we visited the night before
	Last meal together   The Poets head home to York, Pennsylvania; while The Burkels fly on to Iquitos, Peru to catch our cruise on The Amazon(a).   We will visit the remote Pacaya Samiria Reserve, a place "where few have gone before!"
The deck of our stateroom on the Delfin 1	Our private Jacuzzi on the deck
We're on The Amazon!!!!!!!!!	...John is not impressed (only kidding:>).
	Just before dusk we journey into the rainforest on a skiff, where we are greeted by the only downpour of the trip...
It was a doozy...	...until it cleared...

 Peru page 9