settling in San Cristobel del La Casa
finally found a place to settle for a few days that has comforts. the last place we went to was in the jungle of Catemaco city in the state of Vera Cruz. it was awful. the rain- of course what did i expect in a rain forest – but there was 7 inches in 6 hours and the mud and the road in to the place .5 miles of pure bumps and vines was dreadful. if it had not been so muddy it would have been beautiful. now we are in Chiapas in the highlands up 7500 feet above sea level in a city started in 1580. very neat. the indigenous tribes still survive out of the city in villages near. today after getting really settled in we will head out to see the church and the market area and find a lavanderia and fruitas and vertas and huevo’s. my last six eggs became scrambled somewhere over the Vera Cruz topes- speed bumps. this place has running water, sewer, electricity, and internet connection. it is very lovely to see the highlands around us and the villages with small unpaved roads below.. gives all new meaning to the excesses that i have filled my life with, that i would not trade. let me tell you a story about Santiago Tuxtla it is inland from the Gulf coast it is an ancient city in the town square is a giant i mean giant 5 foot tall carved stone structure of an Olemic head. a site worth seeing. as we were driving out of town two officials policia halted us and approached us as we were at a tope. one looked to the other and said “do you want a drink?” “yes” he said. so the first one looked at Ron and said -”sir give us a soda” i said we don’t have any soda in the vehicle” So the officer looks to his comrade, and says “they don’t have any soda”, and then back to us. ” ok then give us money and we will go get a soda or no take that back maybe i am in the mood for an ice tea.” we handed them 2 pesos and off we went.
i like using the full name of the town since the La Casa is the part named after Bartolome De La Casas a dominican priest who tried to protect the native people here from the spanish conquistadors who oppressed the people here who were not turning in their gold and metals to the Spanish. Oppression is such a foundation of the country that i am ever in awe of how the natives can even tolerate us. anyway it is good to be settled for a bit. i will write again.
