GERMANS AND NORWEGIANS

Summer's nearly half over and I haven't been anywhere at all!

My guiding assignments sometimes takes its toll on my free time that I never get to laze on the beach as I'm inclined to do. Prior to the Holy Week break, I was mostly in Intramuros guiding for various clients. Interestingly, one group were not adults... These are kids from the German European School in Manila. 

They really were a fun group of eight and nine year olds. Lots of energy and lots of spunk. Half the group were boy and the other half were girls and we actually spent most of the morning taking the kids around the grounds of Fort Santiago where the kids had great fun taking groupies with our national heroes at the Rizal Shrine.

After that, the kids had lunch at the picnic area where they brought out packed goodies and bottles of water from their knapsacks. they were actually re-energized to go walking with me towards the Manila Cathedral. They had a fun romp all around the cathedral but they most enjoyed seeing the carillon bells which  were hung at the souvenir shop of the Manila Cathedral.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday were set aside for my religious duties as a good Catholic. This is the time to enjoy Manila sans traffic and sans the masses of Manilenos toiling in the city. After all, at least 70% of Manila's population are out enjoying surf, sand and sea at this time. So,  off I went with friends visiting seven churches in Manila reflecting on the Lord's passion as I prayed at the foot of the altars of repose. Good Friday was spent doing the via crucis and dropping by Quiapo to pay homage to the Nazarene.

I was back at work on Black Saturday, going to Intramuros mid-morning to guide for his excellency, Ambassador Erik Forner and his guests. The San Agustin Museum was closed in solemnity of the season, but the Manila Cathedral was open for the faithful who were there to reflect on the vigil and eventually celebrate the feast of the resurrection of the Lord. 

Sorry, I  can't post my guests' pictures here for purposes of security and diplomatic tact. Needless to say, they had a great time and as it was getting hot and humid, they had to proceed to lunch elsewhere. As a matter of fact, they had so much fun, they have asked me to guide for their other guests next Monday....