ECHO 2002 Daily Diary  
Columbia Education Center
ECHO 2002
DAILY DIARY
July 21, 2002

Today's ECHO activities brought to you by


Grupo Gato Montes

Elfrieda Nafziger
Carrie Boden
Frank Spikes

 
After leaving Encarnacion, the ECHO'ers traveled by bus to Trinidad where they visited one of the many 17th century Jesuit Missions. The reduccion, or community, at Trinadad was founded in 1706, and by 1728 hosted a population of more than 4,000 Guarani. In 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from Paraguay, and the Guarani returned to their former ways of life..

The mission at Trinidad was known for the manufacturing
of European musical instruments including bells, harps,
and organs. The Guarani were exceptional musicians
who readily adapted European Baroque style with
their traditional music.

Trinidad was an exceptionally large reduction. Others had about 3000 Guarani. The priests taught stonemasonry, metal work, and agricultural practices. Under the Jesuits, the Guarani flourished and learned the arts of woodcarving, calligraphy, and pottery. The Guarani in Trinidad also successfully produced cattle, yerba mate, and sugar.


After leaving the Trinidad ruins, the bus passed tung, yerba mate, and sugar plantations. The ECHOers also observed more familiar crops including soybeans, corn, and wheat before arriving in Foz, Brazil.