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Published: February 12th 2013
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SATURDAY (1-19-13): We arrived in to Tuxtla on time (8:00 pm) and the airport was almost empty. The 50 people on our plane were the only people in immigration. 30 minutes after arrival we had hit the ATM machine, had a pocket full of pesos and were in our taxi on our way to Chiap de Corzo. On the way, our driver told me that the city was a little bit crazy so he may not be able to get into the central area and we may have to walk a bit. I was less than excited about this idea given that it was dark, the city will be full of people partying and we have all of our stuff! When we arrive he was right, the road into the downtown area is closed and a police officer is redirecting traffic away from the central area. He drops us in the road and points a finger and say “derecho tres o cuatro cuadras” – shit. We start walking and I ask several people how to get to the central area. It proves to be about a ½ mile. Once I am in the zocalo (central area), I get my bearings and
make my way to the Hotel Pasada Real. Our room is on the first floor towards the back of the hotel. It is a nice little hotel, only 2 blocks from Central Square. We put our stuff in the room, brush our teeth and head to the party! We walked for a while and then had tacos in the central area. The party in the central square went all night. It really is a carnival atmosphere. When I say all night, I do mean all night. It actually wound down about 5 or 5:30 am.
SUNDAY (1-20-13): Our room was not too noisy last night. We both slept with earplugs. We both woke a few times for the fireworks, but mostly slept pretty good. In the morning we made our way to Los Corredores for breakfast, which faces the central square on the corner. It has a nice little court yard and we both had eggs mexicano. Then we walked through the town and watched the weirdest parade ever. It was the parade of the parachicos (boys and men swathed in colorful blankest and Spanish garb, carrying tin rattles and wearing wooden pink skinned masks and a huge dome
of yellow hair (funny broom like hat). (see pictures) Teresa was tired so she went back to the room so she could take a short nap. Later in the afternoon, we went on the boat ride into Cañón del Sumidero. It is close to the central area the boats leave when they are full. It took only about 20 minutes for our boat to fill with 16 people.
The boat took about an hour to reach the far end where you are stopped at adam. Along the way, you see wildlife and stunning canyon wall’s with highest spot (3,000 ft above the water, almost 6 tenths of a mile) and various cave and rock formations. On my last vist I saw a mist-blown waterfall known as árbol de navidad. January is the dry season and no water was flowing, but it left an amazing Christmas tree shape lush triangle of moss and vegetation clinging to the wall beneath it. The entire trip was really beautiful, but a little cold. It was around 60 degrees. We were on the water in a boat going 30 mph. Teresa was very cold. If you go, wear a jacket of go early when
the sun is high.
TERESA: Chiapa de Corzo is having the biggest festival of the year which was neat because they had a big parade and alot going on but at the same time there was a fair like thing going on which resulted in the entire central square being taken up with fair rides like home -blech. But the food all around cooking in the street with rows and rows of tables, it all smelled and looked so good, I really wanted it but Jeff said no, we cannot eat at these, they are washing the dishes in tubs in the street! On Monday afternoon we arrived in San Cristobal, in the mountains at 6000 feet and beautiful. I love it here. We just got tacos to go, some beer, and have just started a fire in our room. In the morning I will read in the beautiful courtyard while Jeff is at class. High of 65 or so tomorrow.
MONDAY (1-21-13) Today I arose early and went to Dunham Institute for Spanish lessons. I returned to the room around noon to find Teresa sitting in the courtyard sun reading. I ran to the
one of the small shops and bought a PARACHICO wood mask and we jumped in a taxi to San Christobal.
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