San Cristobal de las Casas
02.12.2009
San Cristobal is at 2100 meters and it is chilly! However, it´s more like a desert climate in that it´s very hot during the day but as soon as the sun sets, you freeze your butt off.
The city itself is bright, cheerful and well kept and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. I would have to say that it´s one of my favorite places to have visited so far in Mexico.
There is a really obvious caste system in place in this part of Mexico which was suprising to us. You see the peasants from the local Mayan villages in the city dressed in traditional garb who are selling their bracelets etc. You can sense the disdain from the city folks and they often seem to chase these people away.
Mixed in with this is a group of modern day Robin Hoods here called the Zapistas. Essentially, they fight for the rights of the indigenous people of the Chiapas state.
There is quite the clash between the two religions in place here (Mayan and Catholic). The Catholics have a very strong love for the Virgin de Guadalupe and she is everywhere you look.
While we were in San Cristobal, there were demonstrations in support of the Virgin and you could feel the tensions.
There is also a big love of flowers here which made me so happy!! We checked out the local mercado munipal and half the offerings there were huge floral arrangements for very cheap.
Visiting the locals market was a real shopping treat. All the folks from the surrounding local villages come to sell their wares and there was everything from produce to toothbrushes for sale. We did our grocery shopping for less than $10!
We also discovered that these folks are apparently into climbing! While checking out one of the local churches, we found a little climbing wall hiding in behind it. I knew I liked these folks.
Posted by ReneeJared 08:11 Archived in Mexico
Hi guys - Just found your blog and will be an envious virtual traveler for a while...
05.12.2009 by wkimmitt