Chocolatada at Pokras

A ´chocolatada´ a is the traditional thing to do here in the run up to Christmas. And they´ve started this week. It´s basically when people get together to make a big communal pot of hot chocolate, cooked over an open fire, and then you usually drink it with panetones. I was asked by some of the people who work here in Manthoc (the charity for working kids) if I could contribute towards a chocolatada for the children in Pokras, a poor area above the city. I paid for the chocolate from the contributions, and I was invited to join in.

I was told to go at 8 in the morning which seemed a little early for hot chocolate! But now that I´m getting used to ´hora peruana´I got there about 9 and they were still sorting out where to make the fire. Kids were gathering though, and about a hundred were expected to attend. I only had an hour to spare, and in that time the fire was built and the pot of hot water gradually warmed up, but so slowly that I didn´t get to see the adding of the milk and chocolate or the final result! Never mind, I´m sure there are going to be other opportunities!