Rain in Mexico... surely not!!!

Trip Start Aug 12, 2010
1
6
135
Trip End Sep 23, 2011


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow
Where I stayed
Roscco Backpacker's Hostel

Flag of Mexico  , Chiapas,
Thursday, August 19, 2010

After our overnight coach journey from Oaxaca we made it to San Cristobal. San Cristobal is in the highlands of Mexico and 1700m above sea level so its a little cooler and 'damper' than the rest of Meixco. We spent 3 days at Rossco's Backpackers Hostel which was a really cool hostel, we had a really nice bed and you knew everything was clean as it stank of pure bleach. Despite the very heavy rain (now we know why the curbs are 2 feet high) San Cristobal is a charming colonial town that is far one of our favourate spots. The town has a more european feel, with comtempary restaurants that serve pasta and steak plus amazing hot chocolate. This stuff made you have a suger rush and make your head spin because it was pure coco. So as you can hear on our first day we settled into our hostel, made a few friends and eat our way up the main street. That night we went out with the girls that we had met in the hostel (Joy, Lucy, Linda and Bridie) to a karaoke bar where we had our first taste of tequilla and 2 corona, all for about 3 pound. On the way back to the hostel it must of rained 12 inches in about 10 minutes and we were damp for 2 days, it was all fun though
Tequila Time
Tequila Time
.

On the second day we went to the village San Juan Chamula, a traditional Mayan village and church. We had to pay to visit the church but photo's were forbidden as it was very sacrid and spiritual. The floor inside the church Iglesia de San Juan Bautista is covered with pine needles and the whole church is full with hundreds upon thousands of candles on the floor and surrounding tables. There are no pews as the villagers pray by clearing an area of pine needles and arranging a "message" in candles. The rituals that take place involve chanting, sacrificing a chicken, cleansing the soul by rubbing an egg/chicken over the body and either breaking the egg or killing the chicken and offering food and fizzy drinks (7UP and Coke were very popular) to the saints which line the walls of the church. Unlike other churches or non-indigenous churches we have seen there are no priests and no masses, just baptisms. We stood in the church for longer than expected as the whole atmosphere and spirituality of the place grabbed us so much. It was very moving seeing the indigenous people being so passionate about their religion and Mayan ways, it is something that we will remember for a very long time.

The next day we walked into town and had breakfast with Joy before getting our short bus journey to Palenque.
Slideshow

Use this image in your site

Copy and paste this html: