Monasterio de Santa Catalina, Arequipa, Peru

I spent much of the day wandering around the Monasterio de Santa Catalina, which has a great website with photos:

http://www.santacatalina.org.pe/mapa_i.htm

Like the convent in Potosi, the nuns here led a cloistered life until the Vatican reforms of the 20th century. For 391 years, they were completely cut off from the outside world. Unlike the convent in Potosi, however, this monastery is a place that I could actually be convinced to live in for the rest of my life.

Declared a UNESCO world heritage site, it is considered one of the most important cultural sites in South America. A walled compound set on five acres, the Monasteriois a city-within-a-city that is so large that it has its own streets. Constructed primarily of the white sillar rock characteristic of this area, it is painted in striking hues of brick red and sky blue. In addition to beautiful murals in the courtyards, the convent also houses an extensive collection of religious paintings, mostly from the famous cuzqueño school. Unlike most groupings of religious art that I have seen, this one has informative signage that makes for an interesting gallery experience. Even the living quarters are lovely--the kitchens have tall ceilings with skylights, and artfully constructed adobe bread ovens; I took a number of pictures because the latest crazy project I´d like to tackle is to build one back home. Rick, will this go well with tea plants and bee hives? Does fresh earthern-oven bread every week sound good?

Not only are there thousands of photo opportunities in the picturesque surroundings, but the monastery has an unqualifiable energy to it...I admit that this sounds a bit New Age, but it is the kind of place that makes you believe in miracles. One of the nuns who lived there in the 17th century, Sor Ana de los Angeles, is famous for innumerable miraculous healings, as well as 68 predictions that were corroborated as having come true. After spending time in her living quarters, I don´t doubt it. Over 300 years after her death, her room still has a downright magical feel to it. After today´s visit, I have decided that if yogis can levitate, and if one´s mind can control one´s physical state, I don´t see why nuns can´t perform healings. I am a believer!