I was supposed to go a long time ago, I had to go, I had to keep promises to the one who always listens to my prayers and takes care of them. For religious people it is very important to visit altars or places that symbolize the deities in which we believe, and I did not want to miss the opportunity to do so.
The National Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre is located in El Cobre, a town about 20 or 25 km on the outskirts of the city, that was our destination. My friend and I left home early to be on time, it was Mass Sunday. Arriving, I bought candles and beautiful sunflowers🌻for the Patron Saint of Cuba, syncretized with Oshun💛in African culture, yes, I am Yoruba.
That place is amazing! It generates so much peace, so much tranquility that you don't want to leave. I put the flowers on the altar and began to pray. Our Father, Hail Mary and continue to pray for the general well-being of my family, for me and mine.🙏🏻
I passed by the places of light, where people light candles and begin to pray in low voices. Oshin and I lit a couple of them, spirituality took hold of us and the most sincere pleas for progress, health and stability welled up within us.🙇🏻♀️
Upon leaving the Sanctuary we went to the Monument to the Cimarrón. A sculpture by the Cuban artist, Santiago native and neighbor of mine at some point, Alberto Lescay. The almost 10 m high piece, made of copper and other resistant metals, represents the life of those free blacks during slavery. It is part of the "Slave Route", a UNESCO project that intends to demonstrate the causes and consequences of FESEslavery in the largest of the Antilles. Getting to its location, at the top of the promontory, was not easy; climbing 348 steps to exceed 200 m above sea level is quite a challenge.😌
Believe me when I say that it is worth it, not only the satisfaction of being in a place of so much historical-cultural significance but also the amazing view that accompanies it.🏞️ We moved a few more steps and the facial expressions of all the visitors were great. How wonderful by God! "Great Blue Lake"💙, is a crater formed due to the numerous explosions in search of the mineral copper. It currently has a capacity of 4 million cubic meters of water; It covers an area of approximately 100 m, 800 m in its widest part and on one side is the copper mine. Its peculiar color is due to the oxidation of the mineral, the copper salts found in the depths and on all the slopes of the lake. It is undoubtedly a beautiful natural landscape!😍🌎
I had never done this full tour and I truly loved it! I recommend that if one day you visit Santiago de Cuba you do not leave without first stopping by here.
PS: All images are my property.
