Hotel Mision Colonial San Cristobal de las Casas

... were ready to go out shopping the rain turned into torrential rains. Christina did not find this too amusing on her birthday because, for anyone who knows her well, she likes to get dressed up on these occasions and the yellow rain poncho was not working. The roads began to flood and within minutes we were walking around town soaked, top to bottom, wading through knee high water. Later that evening we did find a nice place to eat but the rains really washed the day out, as it didn’t ...

... to be very interesting in particular the screening of a traditional Mayan pregnancy and birth. At the back of the museum the Mayan's sold all sorts of interesting potions to cure illnesses, made from various herbs and plants. The village surrounding was extremely traditional and indigenous, something out of a wild west movie. We were very careful to respect the Mayans attitude of not liking their photos taken, especially ...

... wear a long, knee-length wooly tunic and the women wear a long black shirt made of the wool. It is not smooth wool but left long like a sheep skin rug. Maybe Chris will include a photo showing it. We went on a day tour to a village just outside of San Cristobal called Chamula where the people wear this kind of clothing and live a very different life. They are Mayans who refused to be influenced by the Spanish Catholics who tried to convert them ...

... de Las Casas lacks the hustle and bustle with its implicit undercurrents of possible danger located ever so thinly beneath the surface. I think the “calmness” is brought about by the indigenous population as they quietly go about their business without creating a lot of noise and commotion. Yes, the Tzotziles, Tzeltales and Mestizos generally are a quiet people. To some extent they may have been ground down by poverty but perhaps their calm ...

... Mool you will be". We secretly suspect his expertise was down to him living through the entire era. For those of you that have seen Apocolypto - it's not 'too' inaccurate, right down to the outfits and scenes in the ball court. Those Maya were crazy cats, the ruling caste modelled themselves as Gods and convinced all the poor Peons scratching a living from the land that they were gods by physically making themselves look different to ordinary humans. This involved ...

... Town was loads walmer and drier than up in the mountains. Ursula promised to mail some photos, and then we headed on back to our hostel for a shower and to get some clothes washing done. We also managed to book our bus from Palenque to Tulum. Bit panicky about Palenque through as it's apparently a hot spot for road robbers. Hopefully cleaned up now as beware the robber wanting to steal my illegally imported cigars. I didn't risk my life and a criminal record for nothing!!

... we have both been impressed with the local cuisine. Most things have a kick or spicy twang to them but we are used to that now. Our hostel is a family run place and unlike any other we have stayed at so far. We have use of the kitchen which is lovely and have a private room that costs us a fiver a night! We can't ask for more. Since our arrival we have hooked up with six of our friends who we met back in Mazunte, on the ...

... town of San Juan Chamula. Not knowing exactly what to expect (I had read a little), we entered their church, where they pray with a syncretic blend of theologies, and I was enveloped in the scent of pine, incense, and candles, burning till the end on the floor. I was physically overwhelmed by the beauty and had to sit in the corner for awhile. When I regained my composure, I walked through the church, where women mostly were praying with soda ...

... political or philosophical messages. Many feature corn, Maya in ski masks, the face of Emiliano Zapata, or excerpts from speeches by Subcomandant Marcos, their spokesperson. Surrounded by such a strong and clear message, I was just enamored. The Zapatistas have done such an amazing job of using their voice that their cause is championed by numerous international organizations who contribute to the group and advocate for their fair treatment.

So, now it is onward to Guatemala. I ...

... are not here but we are here to move the course of nature is nature in itself transmitting happiness achieved through natural spontaneity and intuition feel the universe is dynamic. that space and time are one fractal: open the door to all this love and be love love and be loved you are created by energy and will vanish into energy - in gravity endless changes are natural and spontaneous the opposite of opposite is opposite an equilibrium of the mind within the mind and ...