An Estimated 2
Million Took
Part In This
Year's Romeria
On foot almost
two million
people will have
visited Cartago
by Sunday night
to pay homage to
the patron saint
of Costa Rica,
La Virgen de los
Angeles (La
Negrita). The
majority of the
"romeros" make
the annual
pilgrimage on
Sunday, while
many others took
advantage on
Saturday and
earlier in the
week.
More photos of
the romeria are
found in our
photo journal.
By 3:00pm
Sunday, the
Calle Vieja (old
road) to Cartago
that goes from
the east end of
San José of Tres
Ríos was fully
jammed of
romeros.
The Policía de
Tránsito had
closed off the
Calle Vieja
entirely. Also
the two west
bound lanes of
the autopista
were closed off
to vehicular
traffic until
later in the day
when only one
lane was being
used by romeros.
In the centre of
Cartago, police
roped off from
vehicular
traffic two
major streets
and the area
immediately
surrounding the
Basilica. The
only vehicles
permitted were
emergency
vehicles,
police,
residents of the
area closed off
and garbage
trucks hauling
off the tons of
garbage and
debris left
behind.
All in all the "romeria"
was peaceful and
uneventful.
A visitor from
Canada commented
to ICR of the
orderly
gathering of so
many people and
the small police
presence,
especially of
the riot police
units and lack
of any type of
demonstrations.
The large number
of faithful this
year due was
partly due that
there was no
romeria last
year because of
the spread of
the AH1N1 virus.
This morning the
religious
ceremonies to
celebrate the
anniversary of
La Negrita
begins at 9am
and is being
televised live
on national
television. |
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