Blogs from San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, North America - page 26

Hola amigos Hope all's well with everyone and the Londoners amonst you avoided the tornado. Tornados in London - what's going on? When it became time to leave Mexico City, I had a choice of venues. Normally, I would have gone to Oaxaca City, a historic market town 4 hours'drive away which is highly recommended by most guides. For the last few months, there has been a teachers´strike there. When I was at school, a teachers´strike was usually a cause for celebration as we might have got an afternoon away from school. In Oaxaca, the teachers´strike has led to serious rioting, petrol bombs and, sadly, a number of deaths. Let's not go there then ey? So, I decided to head for San Cristobal de las Casas. A mere 16 hours by coach. Now, I had a ... read more

So convinced of his less than popular reception throughout Mexico, the new mexican president Felipe Calderón banned alcohol until midnight for his inaugural day in office. Quite rightly he supposed many that mexicans would drink all day; would let off fireworks through the night; and that others would riot. He was wrong in thinking that an alcohol ban would be upheld. At a restaurant in the colonial city of San Cristobal de Las Casas we discovered the alcohol ban when looking to order some cervesas with our meal. When we learnt the reason for the ban we immediately drew our conclusions about the new president and pressed the staff that whilst we were apaulled at the presidents first act, a couple of cervesas were not going to drive us to take up arms. After five minutes, ... read more

Updating from my favorite Mexican city so far! I planned on updating just before I left for an 11 day backpacking adventure through the south of Mexico, but things were a little hectic with writing an 8 page final project until 5am last Thursday night, getting the backpack together, and wrapping up (my last semester of) classes in general. Today would be... day number 5 of my trip, and I am in beautiful San Cristóbal de las Casas in the Mexican state of Chiapas! I can´t post pics just yet... you´ll have to hold onto your pants until I get back to Monterrey and have time to sort it all out. But I promise it will be beautiful and amazing and everything you ever dreamed in an update from me! I started out Friday around 4:30 ... read more

We went to San Cristobal de Las Casas with high expectations, having read reviews of the town, and hearing it was the place to spend Day of the Dead and to see local indigenous Mayan culture. We quickly decided it wasnt really for us with coffee shops and boutiques on every corner. We went to a local indigenous town called San Juan de Chamula to see its church and the locals there. Apparently it is easier to do it as a tour, and not recommended to do it independently. It was interesting to learn about the Mayan religion with a Catholic sprinkle over the top, and going into the Church we saw locals offering chickens to the Gods and drinking their bottles of Coke in order to "expel the bad spirits" with one too many burps. ... read more

hola amors. jim and i are on our 6th and final day in san cristobal. wow....that is a long time for us to be in one place! the city is easy to get comfortable in....cute, clean, colorful, colonial, beautiful churches. plus lots of good, cheap food options. plus, plus...our hotel room was very comfortable, complete with a hot water shower with good water pressure :) we were able to enjoy the celebration of dia de los muertos (day of the dead) here. during the celebrations, which last from november 1st thru the 3rd, mexicans honor those that have passed away...relatives and other loved ones. colorful, candle lit altars are set up in homes and businesses, upon which offerings of food and drink, made to the deceased, are placed. november 2 is when folks gather at the ... read more