our-grand-americas-adventure

Wow, this was such an amazing visit, The Monastery resembles a small town, with streets, 3 cloisters, church and a gallery, 450 nuns lived here, in the 1800's, families could choose if their daughters get married or become a nun at the age of 12 (wish that was still applicable today!!). They had no contact with their families as novices and only when they became a nun, could they see them for 1 hour a month! The senior nuns lived in little apartments, all very sparse, but with their own kitchens! After I saw their ‘laundries’ I didn’t feel so hard done by (hahaa - see the earthenware pots). They also had to bath once a month, in their clothes! Halloo. When they pass on, their faces get painted just the way they went; one nun died with her eyes open, so she was painted like that, the gallery was also breathtaking, today only 20 nuns still live there, and they are now even allowed to venture out of the monastery. Even Mel found a spot to confess her many sins!