MEXICO: SAN CRISTOBAL; bike rides and sore bums

  San Cristobal, Pacific Coast, Mexico
Saturday, October 11, 2008

our first class bus takes 14 hours, but my travel sickness tablets work a treat and i am out for the light... the few films on the way help put me into a deep sleep.

we arrive early doors in san cristobal, a small colonial town, which is very proud and patriotic with its flags and decorations hanging from cvhruches and in between the streets.  it makes it feel like a fiesta is going on.  in fact, the 12th is an important day, and we do see a few cars loaded with locals singing and playing instruments.  its great, and welcomes us into the town.

festival spirit, san christobal

we feel so happy when we see the hostel we have booked ahead.  for one thing, it is clean.  in fact as we arrive they are changing the sheets on our beds, and cleaning the bathrooms... i feel like i will sleep well tonight!  we unload, and have a quick breakfast of fruit.we chat to an english guy, adam who we met on the bus, who is travelling mexico for a few weeks before he heads off back to france to propse to his girlfriend.  hew says there is some great bike rides around, and i volunteer that we tag along, just the kind of thing i want to get involved with.

the finding of a bike rental place becomes more of a wild goose chase (we later find a guide pinned to the hostel board-will check in future!).  and when we do arrive i find it quite funny that the male testirone in the room allows the 3 boys and the owner battle it out over whether the bikes are worth the 8 squids for the day.  men!  i get lucky and get one of the more advanced bikes, with only being small...and even better , it is pink!

we grab a map, and head off... downhill for, well lets just say 2 whole minutes, then up hill, constantly for at least 2 hours!  no i am not joking.  and this hill is BIG and STEEP!  it goes on and on, out of the town, we even stop for lunch half an hour up it.  my legs are burning lactic acid, and i am out of breath. our stops become more regular, but we are determined to keep going.

some of the hills we got to climb!

the man in the shop really didnt want us to find this river... but we are glad we ignored him.  he said it was dangerous, and that the locals didnt like us going that way unless with a guide.  not at all what the guide books state... and he was wrong.  we have people coming out and waving.  kids squeeling, and running away after waving,... then running back.  we cycle up hill through small villages, with `pigs tied up outside, free range chickens, a few eagles, and fantastic views back down...if we stop..going uphill!

bike ride viws

eventually we cycle off down a dirt path, and head towards the el Arcotete.

el arcotete

we harness our bikes to a tree and walk the rest, and are rewarded with a river that has carved out the limestone. stalligtights hang from the ceiling and the trees hang all around us. its so calming and so worth the cycle up hill for it!

limsteone bridge

of course we have to cycle back up the dirt path, (we actually push!) and look forward to a long ride back down.  we stop at a local stall and we buy fruit.  i am given a new fruit i have not tried called a toona.  you peel like a fig, and inside the texture is like a frozen kiwi, with hard stones like out of a water melon.  it doesnt really taste of anything, but is very moist and i like it.  perfect.. a new fruit for me to try. it is served by a local girl in full traditional dress.  i cannot take a photo as they think you are stealing their spirit.  gutted.  we are meant to ask the locals if we can take any photos, even of a building.  so pics may be in short supply.

the ride back down is so much fun, and far too short.  but i realise this is what i need to do in most villages, as riding around on a bus isnt what i have come for! 

the evening is short due to us all being exhausted.