Santo Ecce Homo Convent

 

I think we came to the Santo Ecce Homo Convent after visiting Raquira.  Only we got lost and we drove through Sutamarchán 2 or 3 times before finally making our way to the convent.  Leo was fed up of driving around at one point but since we didn't really have another destination in mind, I pestered him till he agreed to keep looking for it.  Lesson we learned repeatedly while on this trip.  Don't trust signs and don't trust google maps.  Better to use Waze locally.  

Anyway we did manage to make it to the convent and while the kids weren't especially interested, it was scenic on the drive there and the garden was lovely, and so no one complained that much.

I really enjoyed it. 

We didn't go into the main church--I think this was side chapel--because there was an uber fancy wedding going on.  The guests were all milling about when we first arrived and we were asked politely to leave where they were (the main gardens), but then the actual ceremony started and we had the place to ourselves.

I can totally see why someone would drive out to the middle of nowhere to be married here.  It's lovely.

The monks included fossils they found in the walls when the place was built.  

His face is so perfect. 

I wondered if they had any time of like parish records, but from my very brief glancing at the books (and my poor Spanish) it mostly looked like textbook type books.

Again, the window seats are so awesome.

Okay so this was my favorite part of the convent.  This one room included all the random farm tools and household appliances.  Maybe they should make like a Colombian Convent Farm version of Tudor Monastery Farm.  I'd watch it. 

The leather water bags are sweet.

The monastery was built over 45 yrs and completed in 1695 as a retirement home for Dominican friars. I wouldn't mind a retirement home like that.

 

The rooms were so huge. 

Some timelines if you care to translate from Spanish.

This was the bishop? abbot? I don't know the terminology, but the head honcho's room. 

I love this photo.

Looking at ants.

The graveyard was neat too.  It wasn't very extensive though, and more recent (1800-1900s) if I remember correctly.

This was away from the main building and was were most of the monks had their rooms.  Can I build a house like this please?

We ended the day with ice cream.  We just picked a random ice cream parlor--there was one on almost every corner--and it was so good.  

I think this might be in the top 5 ice cream dishes I've ever eaten.  Fresh maracuya (passion fruit) and arrandando (blueberry) ice cream.  So good!!!