These are the hardiest believers I've ever seen! At 3:00 pm we went to sub-chapel of the parish for mass and Corpus Cristi procession, then back home for a 5:00 pm mass and procession. Just as mass finished and folks solemnly started processing out of the church, under the flying banners, the afternoon downpour started. The ubiquitious umbrellas went up, the band played on, the bells began to clamor and ring, and the folks just calmly continued the procession. Out they went, through the gates, into the neighboring streets where homes had been decorated, adorned with flowers and crepe paper decorations, singing as they went. The band kept playing, how I don't know, with oompa, ta dum ta dum. The bells continued to ring the whole time the procession was sedately winding its way through the streets of Barrio Nuevo, ancient indigenous village. Fireworks also continued. Even now, three hours later, the band is still playing and folks are following through the streets. At least the early procession, the priest also carried the Blessed Sacrament. This is also one of the few days the faithful here can receive Communion under bith species.

We did not participate in this second mass and procession. Dick was tired and sweaty from the earlier one, and I'm watching my energy level. The folks sent home more wonderful fruit and a homemade decorative bread, which had adorned each way-station along the path of the procession.Got to post this before the lights go out..