Return to Ocozocuatla

Kevin's readers have been very generous, they donated $3,380. Kevin and Ruth got a list of items the orphanage needed and they went shopping. They bought fans, water pumps, furniture, balls and games, boxes of soaps, shampoo and such, a freezer and paint. Check out Kevins' blog.

Bob, Aron and Roger checking out the wiring 

Pulling wire through the protective conduit.

Bob and Aron installing new wiring for the pump

New 7 hp pump, 23,188 pesos 

Me scraping the peeling paint

Owenita

Larry pitching in

Denise rolling along

This ceiling needs some TLC

Getting there

Done.

Ruth, Owenita and Kevin painting the wall

It was a fun productive day. Many hands make light work.

Sumidero Canyon

Sumidero Canyon was created when a crack opened in the earth's surface allowing the Grijalva River to carve out this magnificent chasm. Mother nature began this creation 35 million years ago.

Our party of 14 took a 40 passenger boat for the 2.5 hours tour of the canyon. Our boat seated four across. There are smaller boats that seat 12 passengers two across so everyone has a seat on the gunnel.

The Virgin of Guadalupe shrine

Some people see the face of Jesus in the rocks to the right of the ladder, it escaped me.

The canyon narrows and the walls ascend 

The "Christmas Tree" formed by mineral laden water emerging from a spring higher on the canyon wall.

3000 feet to the top

Father/daughter having a great day

The American Crocodile 

Mom and baby just hanging out

After the boat ride we drove along the canyon rim.

Chamula and Zinacantan

Chamula and Zinacantan are home to indigenous people who have lived in the area for thousands of years. The towns are rather autonomous, you have to be born here or marry in to live in these towns. Zinacantan charges outsiders an entrance fee to visit their town.

The old church was damaged in an earthquake. The people could not understand why their god would destroy the church. So they turned it into a graveyard.

They build a new church a short distance away.

The men in the sheep skin ponchos are Donas. They volunteer for one year to take care of one of the "saints' that line the inside of the church. These "saints" look like Christian saints, but represent Mayan gods. 

The tiles around the entrance

No photos are allowed. This one is from the web. There are hundreds of candles and pine needs cover the floor. Glass fronted cases containing the "saints" line the walls

"San Juan Chamula is one of the last places that still practice Mayan culture. The inhabitants of this town continue to refer to the sun as (jtotik) who in Spanish is a father, and to the Moon as i (jmetik). i According to their culture, their ancestors at night measured the stars to determine the time. Another important point for the culture of the place is the importance of the elder as wise."

From Chamula we went to Zinacantan to visit a weaving studio.

Mona and Roger in traditional wedding attire. 

San Cristobal

San Cristobal is nestled 7200 feet up in a valley surrounded by pine covered mountains. It is a large city of 200,000 plus people. We hired a large 14 passenger van for our 3 day, 2 night trip to San Cristobal. We rented a 7 bed room house for our stay.

The wheels on the bus go round and round

I don't need no stinking pickup

Our first glimpse of San Cristobal 

It was 2 km walk from our house to the central plaza. On the way we stopped at this restaurant for lunch.

I had some very tasty tacos pastor. I enjoyed the added pineapple chucks.

The Central Plaza

Off the central plaza one finds upscale shopping 

Even a Burger King

Several block further are stalls where indigenous people sell their wares

Then several blocks more and you enter the real central market frequented by locals for their daily shopping. 

We stopped for some refreshments at one of the food stalls. I had Horchata, a rice flavored drink, Kevin, Ruth and Sue had Jamaica, a hibiscus tea and Roy had a coke.

clever

A very ornately carved Santo Domingo Church

The detail is incredible