The Christmas Spirit of San Cristobal de las Casas - a little land travel does you good.

 

Jen and I slipped our hands together as we walked the historic streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, marveling at the colorful holiday spirit on display around us. And also, how no car traffic harried this block.

“Honey,” I remarked, feeling a Hallmark glow in my cheeks as wide-eyed Campbell soup kids pulled display items from the sidewalks and into the stores. “What do you think this line of black powder is on the street?  Perhaps it represents the ashes of ancestors? It looks remarkably like gunpowder. Note the decorative newspaper balls spaced meticulously along the powder line, like charges! I wonder why all the shopkeepers are closing up so early and in such a rush?”

“Now that you mention it, the street has cleared quite quickly,” Jen noted.

“Let’s hurry along, dear. Towards the firetrucks.” 

Press play on the video below to see what happens next!

…But wait, let me catch you up. 

We had such an INCREDIBLE time in Chiapas! We found adventures around every corner. I’m not even sure where to start…On the sail from Zihuatanejo, I hooked a beautiful mahi mahi (dorado) for the first time, successfully breaking the Curse of the Mahi Mahi.  

Things just got better and better from there. The marina we arrived at after crossing the Gulf of Tehuantepec was sleepy in the off-season, a great number of northbound cruisers having just departed.  The staff was wonderful with helping to get necessities around the region and giving us rides to town.  Basing out of the marina (which offered fantastic birding), we visited a historic German coffee finca, countless artisan shops, and quirky cathedrals.  

                                                        Tour of an antique German coffee roaster in Chiapas, Mexico.

Flower market, with a skeptical child with two spoons in her cup and a fabulous, yet practical, hat.

Flower market.  So fascinating to see the places of origin for items we see in our supermarkets in the U.S.

Weaver, with daughter contemplating using a small shovel to dismount the rider of the three-wheeler in top left.

We bussed up the mountains to San Cristobal de las Casas, where we wore jackets and pants again for the first time since leaving…I don’t know, probably central California. As you will see, the Christmas spirit in San Cristobal is phenomenal! I’m talking streets festooned with lights, explosions around every bend, wandering giants in the plazas, accordion musicians on the balconies, Christmas Batman and shit. No kidding. It was INCREDIBLE! I saw the Grinch and Santa hugging in an alley. Go Christmas!

The Christmas Batman of Chiapas.

A Christmas giant in a blue light bubble awaits company.

Christmas giant.

A boutique pox (posh) bar with maize hanging from the ceiling. Pox is a traditional corn-based alcohol drink of the indigenous people and is used in religious ceremonies.

Santa and the Grinch, getting their courage up before the hug.

Chapulines - grasshoppers.  A snack you munch on with lime, salt, and chile while you wander.

 I wasn't lying about musicians playing accordions on the balconies.

                         

We returned to Marina Chiapas after our great holiday excursion. We would only be back on the boat for a day or so until we traveled again - this time each of us going to different places to visit our parents. It was a low moment when, upon our return, we realized that our refrigerator wasn't cold. It wasn't working. Luckily we'd eaten down a lot of the food because we'd been gone and knew we were about to leave again. But now what? Through contacts from the marina, I was able to get in contact with a repairman who came out and tested the system. His verdict was that I would need a new compressor.  I searched the internet and ordered it to my parents' ranch in OK because the shipping time looked to be incredibly long and expensive to get it to Mexico. I would need to carry it back. That's all just standard stuff for the cruising sailor though!