Cañon del Sumidero

Yes, we have been too busy...or too lazy...to update the blog.  Our days have been full of practicing Spanish and walking "las calles" of San Cristóbal. We discover new places and better ways to say things every day. Last Saturday we went on a little excursion around Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Tuxtla Gutiérrez is down the mountain, so you know what that means? Pam and Dramamine, with Ruth as the chaperone. This day involved many forms of transportation - combi (small bus), to taxi, to another taxi, to an antique volkswagen bus without doors, to a lancha (boat), to another combi, to another bus, then a walk in the POURING rain, rescued by yet another taxi and home again. We love drugs (Dramamine).

Our goal was to see the highly praised Zoo as well as visit Cañon del Sumidero. First stop - the Zoo. It is known as one of the best zoos in Latin America and houses only animals from Chiapas. (Click HERE to see some images from the web, as we didn't take very many). Next stop - Chiapa de Corzo for a boat ride to see El Cañon del Sumidero. It was a 2 1/2 hour ride in an open air boat with 30 of our new best friends.  We slathered on the sun screen, secured our hats, and hoped for the best - wondering if we had made a mistake when we realized how long we might be on the water, and in the sun during the heat of the day.

But as with all days here in Chipas, the weather changed quickly. Clouds appeared from nowhere, sheltering us from the heat and sun.

Ruth and I luckily were seated in the very front! ¡Que suerte!" We had the best seat in the house and once again were the only "gringas"  on the river. The canyon reminded Ruth of the river shots from the Lord of the Rings movie. It was that spectacular and beautiful. 

Half way through the trip it started to rain. Our "lancha" found a shallow cave-like enclosure to protect us from the downpour and we were soon joined by 5 other boats, tucked into the cove and touching each other.  It finally stopped and we set off again. As we neared the end of the journey, the rain came again, and this time we had no cove for protection. The captain threw us all a huge plastic tarp to hold onto overhead while he high tailed it home. Ruth and I had a very important job up front holding it down, protecting ourselves and the others.  

We took tons of pictures but none really compare to what you can find online HERE. See our Cañon del Sumidero slide show to the right. And that Ginormous Crocodile you see above was one of two we saw that day. 

El Cumpliaño de Isabel

It was Isabel's birthday on Friday. We knew we'd be coming home from school to a celebration, but I had no idea how big it was to be. Her sister, Marta was there upon our arrival from school, and the guests kept flowing in starting around 2pm throughout the afternoon. Ruth immediately was captured by Isabel's grandson's to play a marble game, "No Te Enojes"- "Don't get mad". . .  I think she won!

Ruth playing, "No te Enjoes" with Luis y Ramón, and Elias waiting to join the game.

Isabel made the meal-- Posole (pork & harmony soup, topped with shredded lettuce, radishes, oregano, lime and hot chile). There is "Posole Blanco o Rojo" and she made el rojo-- it was amazing-- my personal favorite, next to chiliquiles. The surprise mariachi band entered the house as we were sitting down to eat, and in the middle of it, Hector asked Isabel to dance-- see video link HERE. We were very welcomed guests and had a great time with all.

It was a milestone in my Spanish acquisition, as I remember my first large family dinner party I was invited to in San Miguel de Allende, I hung in there for 1/2 the time and only understood a small portion of the Spanish-- this time I understood most and was very comfortable contributing and being a part of all of the festivities and conversation-- Hector and Isabel also make it really easy to feel included.

Enjoy the slide show on the right.

La Casa de Isabel y Hector & Su Familia

I can't believe we are already on Day 6 of our time here in San Cristóbal. We are having a fabulous time with Isabel and Hector. She is a fantastic cook, as you can see in some of the photos in the slideshow. We come home from school each day at 2pm for "La Comida" con la familia. Recently three of their eight grandchildren have joined us, Ingrid, Ángel y Elias. We sit together, enjoying her meal and talking for over an hour-- the best part of our "clases de español".

Today, we were talking about different foods and chapulinas (grasshoppers) y hormigas (ants) came up and before I knew it, Ruth was taking her first taste of ant! I said I needed a couple more cervezas before I could do it. Go to the slideshow to see Ruth her devour her first hormiga!

Introduction to Chiapas - The Ride of My Life!

July 2, 2011

I’ve had many rides from the airport, but this one beat all – hands down.

Guadalupe, my driver, met me at the Tutxla Gutierrez airport at 4:30 pm as arranged by the school. He was smiling and holding a card with my name on it. I usually look forward to these drives as an opportunity to dust off my Spanish and take in the scenery of beautiful mountainous Mexico.

As we started the hour plus drive to San Cristóbal, he seemed preoccupied with trying to make a phone call. Turns out the school told him my flight arrived at 3 pm and he had made an important appointment with others for 5pm. Clearly he would be late and he was trying to contact someone to explain the situation.

I guess Guadalupe is not the kind of person who likes to be late. Either that, or he is a frustrated Formula One race car driver. Holy cow – whatever the posted speed limit was, I swear to you he was going double. I don’t usually pay attention to the speedometer when others are driving, but I had to verify that what I was experiencing was not my imagination. I stopped looking when the speedometer read 110 km and the speed limit sign read 50 km.

Then I thought of poor Pamela. Guadalupe picked her up earlier in the day for the same trip – and that girl gets seriously carsick. There is no way she would have survived on these curvy mountain roads at this speed. I was hoping he wasn’t in a hurry with her.

Mexicans in general have a very carefree approach to bodily harm. But this was ridiculous. He would pass cars, around blind curves! I finally stopped talking to him altogether, as he would look at me and swerve every time he answered.

We passed a billboard that read “Mas vale una hora tarde que un momento de silencia.” Translated, “Better one hour late than a moment of silence.” I couldn’t make this up - truth is better than fiction! It’s as if the billboard was speaking directly to us. As casually as I could muster, I commented on the billboard warning to Guadalupe. We discussed the dangers (in general) of driving on these roads and that it is not worth it to drive recklessly. He began to slow down…for about 3 minutes.

Besides praying to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for protection, I included the Virgin de Guadalupe. I stopped looking at the road altogether and tried to enjoy the scenery. Here was a clear situation where I had no control, and it was best not to look and not to think about it.

I have never been so glad to reach a destination in my life! I was so happy to see Pamela and meet Doña Isabel. When Pam and I had a private moment she asked if I had received her text? At that moment, my phone finally received her message -  “Hold on to your knee socks! Guadalupe drives muy rapido."

¡Estamos en Chiapas!

July 2, 2011

Ruth and I are in Mexico once again, this time in San Cristóbal de las Casa, a colonial town, high in the mountains, in the state of Chiapas, the most southern state of Mexico, near the Guatemalan border.  Click on the map and find Chiapas at the bottom of Mexico in purple. San Cristóbal is one hour into the mountains due west from Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Ruth and I will both be contributing postings and pictures of our experiences here and we hope you come back and visit,

Map of Mexicoleaving us a comment or two.