What an interesting place San Cristobal de las Casas is. Reminds us a lot of Nelson, BC! It's everything Nelson would like to be...dreads and all.
Our tour of a neighbouring Indian village was very intriguing!
We got to see how these people create beautiful pieces of art in their clothing, sometimes taking months to complete the hand stitching.
This was called a waist loom.
Shayne tried a traditional outfit on but didn't buy it.
Our tour of a neighbouring Indian village was very intriguing!
We got to see how these people create beautiful pieces of art in their clothing, sometimes taking months to complete the hand stitching.
This was called a waist loom.
Shayne tried a traditional outfit on but didn't buy it.
These women belong to a cooperative of abut 20 families that design and
sell their handicrafts.
After we toured their 'shop' we went into the back room where other family
members served us fresh made tacos cooked over an open wood fire... very delicious.
After this village our guide took us to a second village where there was unrest in the morning due to a municipal election. They didn't like who got in so they started throwing stones at one another. Trucks and barrels had stones in them ready for further confrontation. Seems things are a bit edgy in the villages surrounding us. We aren't advised to travel in on our own. Hopefully not so at home!
Traditional Chiapan 'native' clothing.
Traditional Chiapan 'native' clothing.
So, we continued to the temple and were told to put our cameras away. We watched women in their traditional clothing going into the temple carrying live chickens.
There is no furniture in the temple, only tables with thousands of lit candles. On the floor is dried grass and pine needles along with incense burning. Families came in, sat somewhere on the floor, than started chanting, waving the incense around each other (usually around a sick member), then proceeded to strangle the chickens while they were chanting. Then we had to leave as groups of men started entering the church. These men were dressed in their traditional black clothes made out of local sheep's wool. There is no police in these smaller villages, just self appointed men who seem to keep the peace, or not! Police seem to stay out of regions that aren't theirs to police. Our guides were a bit nervous about it all, especially when these men gathered in the church and in the church plaza. They shuttled us away to keep us safe. We never did find out if there was more trouble.
There is no furniture in the temple, only tables with thousands of lit candles. On the floor is dried grass and pine needles along with incense burning. Families came in, sat somewhere on the floor, than started chanting, waving the incense around each other (usually around a sick member), then proceeded to strangle the chickens while they were chanting. Then we had to leave as groups of men started entering the church. These men were dressed in their traditional black clothes made out of local sheep's wool. There is no police in these smaller villages, just self appointed men who seem to keep the peace, or not! Police seem to stay out of regions that aren't theirs to police. Our guides were a bit nervous about it all, especially when these men gathered in the church and in the church plaza. They shuttled us away to keep us safe. We never did find out if there was more trouble.
San Cristobal seems to exist in some happy chaos. Music, parades, church services, political rallies and fireworks all seem to happen at the same time and occupy nearly the same space. People take it all in stride. Parades go on and on at seemingly random times...
Some costumes were very interesting too...
The San Cristobal Market is very well known for not only its size but also for its
unique wares. Have a look...
One of the entry points...
Yes, those are plucked chickens. The live ones were in a different area.
Here are some live chickens...
And there ends my Market pictures.
We're getting tired of the cold here so tomorrow we're heading to the Puerto Arista area and Boca del Cielo on the Pacific, west of Guatemala, and follow the coast up from there.
More adventures to come!
Hugs to all!
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