Palanque - San Cristobal de Las Cases - Sumidero Canyon - Tuxtla Gutierrez
"Chiapas Siempre Verde"
As soon as we left the Yucatan peninsula, the soil turned from white to brownish-red, the grass was greener and more lush and there were more horses, cows and goats.
San Cristobal de Las Cases
Cool, clean, crisp mountain air at 7,000 feet above sea level - I LOVE IT!!!!
San Cristobal is an unique city with a diverse community of people from around Chiapas and around the world.
Again our hotel and breakfast are amazing, Casa Mexicana Hotel. My room and the view
The home of Sergio Munoz - Indian communities traditional clothes and burn clinic
'Sergio is one of those unique individuals who is impacting so many lives in quiet and humble way. As a young man he had studied to become a veterinarian but he said that when he began to go out into the villages he saw that the need was more for human care than for that of animals.' He has also built 25 schools in the surrounding communities.
Above he show us an instrument and in the lower left you see a photo of the Lacondones, a community with less than 600 people left.
Sergio's Burn Clinic
With open fires being the center of the kitchen, many young people are the victims of domestic accidents. These burn victims have been able to come to Sergio’s burn clinic for treatment either at no cost or bartered goods. We brought Tegaderm bandages, Neosporin, gauze and monetary donations. Any donations of money or medical items is gladly welcome and needed since there is no government funding. Please click on the link to learn about his work and consider making a donation. http://www.yokchij.org/
A delicious Mexican restaurant with marimba, guitar, singing and a full room dedicated to the modern Zapatista indigenous uprising in Chiapas on January 1, 1994. The uprising was scheduled to coincide with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Our first day we retired our bus in favor of taxis - it was a great way to see and listen to the city. Our first taxi driver spent several years working in Kentucky. He saved enough money to return to Mexico and open a travel agency. I am learning that this is quite common-Mexicans working in the US to return home to start a business or fulfill a religious obligation that enriches their community.
VW beetles are everywhere but no slug bugs
The "Misery Belt" is a series of impoverished neighborhoods around the periphery of San Cristóbal, inhabited by indigenous villagers. Many of these people have been ex-communicated from the catholic church and ostracized from Chamula and other communities for becoming Episcopalian or Protestant.
Centro de Desarrollo de la Medicina Maya Museo - Herbolaria Medicina Natural
Taller de Lenateros is a stationery shop, originally set up 35 years ago as a recycling project by the Mexican poet Ambar Past. We were treated to an insiders’ view of paper making and the use of natural dyes and colors. The paper products original books are exquisite and a definite must if coming to San Cristóbal.
Na Bolom in the rain and a photograph of the Lacandones framed by the arch.
http://www.nabolom.org/
The present and the future
Walter Morris (aka Chip), Janet and Maruch
Sunday market in San Juan Chamula San Juan Chamula
No photography or recording devices are allowed in the church at the back of the square. This article gets close to describing the syncretic worship and devotion that takes place inside.
http://www.forteantimes.com/features/fortean_traveller/253/san_juan_chamula_mexico_a_church_out_of_time.html
A warm tortilla lunch in Zinacantan, delicious!
The Nandayapa family Marimba studio and workshop on the Grijalva River in Chiapa de Corzo. The marimba came to Mexico from Africa and was modified by the Maya and Mestizo to become the instrument that it is today.
Sumidero Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Mexico
The view from above the canyon with the clouds and the river below.
While I was at Sumidero Canyon, Richard, Henry and Alex were at the Grand Canyon!
Above the clouds
Palanque
Look for a mound or hill in the jungle and you will probably find an archeological wonder underneath. Palanque is my favorite site in Mexico as it is still partially covered by the jungle. Uncovering new ruins has stopped due to the damage it has taken on the jungle. Victor, our guide, first takes on a path through the jungle, where we climb hills to find that we are standing on ruins that we may never fully uncover. Victor also shares with us plants that will help your liver and with diabetes (smelled like cloves).
Did you know that the Mayans used aqueducts to channel water and frescoed the walls of their buildings?
After one of our jungle walks, Jacques offers me three avocados that he found along the path. I love avocados and have eaten them at almost every meal since I arrived in Mexico. Once they ripen, we will all enjoy them. I just found out it takes 3 weeks for avocados to ripen!
Chan Kah Eco village is our paradise jungle retreat during our stay. Green plants and flowers are everywhere including our roofs, the original green roof.
We enjoyed eating our meals outside and swimming in the rain. You have never seen a downpour until you have experienced Chiapas during the rainy season. Absolute torrents of rain with rivers appearing out of nowhere. This environment also hosts the largest rodent, Couti, I have ever seen and hope never to see again. At first, I though it was a pig.
What an amazing journey!!! The richness in color and nature and culture must be intoxicating! I can't wait to hear your stories!
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