Thursday, 8 November 2007

Chiapas and San Cristobal

2 days ago I was swimming with dolphins and turtles in the warm waters of Puerto Escondido (well, we were surrounded with dolphins on the boat we hired and I swam for 30 seconds with a turtle before it dived down). I am now in Chiapas, San Cristobal de las Casas, 2000m high, surrounded with luxurious montains...and it is freezing.

San Cristobal is very peculiar. There are loads of Indian people around selling artisanal clothes and stuff and living in the villages around. Don't even try to take a picture of them, they will refuse even if you ask first. Taking a picture of them is like stealing their souls apparently.

The town is as well very arty and revolutionary. You will all remember the Zapatista movement which took place here in 1994, with the objective to try and improve the condition of Indian people. Loads of shops sell 'Zapatista' artefacts, small theatres show political movies and documentaries... it is all very curious. Tonight I am off to see a documentary about the 'Zapatistas' and what they tried to do (without any success apparently). The town seems to have turned into a symbol of the liberation of poor people around the world, into an anti-war and maybe anti-globalisation city. I will post of few pix of the town in another post.

In the meantime I am leaving you with pix from the Canyon del Sumidero which I discovered this morning. It was all truly impressive and beautiful (and yes I know mum, I need to shave... but it is too cold to do that here, bathrooms are outside in my hostel and it is 4 degrees when I get up in the morning).


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