I know I have left out a lot about San Cristobal de las Casas. We did so much. The last couple of days were full. The Kakaw Museum. Told the history of chocolate and how it is and was used. Chocolate or cacao comes in three types but they all have that hard outer shell which was one of the first vessels used for food and drink. The beans and flower images were used in earrings, necklaces and other jewelry made out of jade in ancient Mayan times for those who could afford it. The beans were used to trade for whatever you needed from rabbits to jade.
We ordered a chocolate drink which was delicious but way, way too much chocolate. We didn't eat again until 8 pm.
Yesterday, Thursday, our last day, we went on a trip to the Sumidero Canyon and boat ride. We first looked down into the canyon from two view points taking photos, of course. Then we drove down to the canyon floor where the river (lake now because of a dam) flowed. After donning the required life preserver, we hopped in a boat along with about 10 other people.
It was spectacular with crocodiles, egrets, herons and we saw spider monkeys. A geologist would just love the canyon sides. Many colors and stripes of different rocks. Some unusual formations from what might have once been a very large water fall. The trip one way was about an hour. The canyon walls were almost vertical and were about 3000 feet high. We had loaded up with sun screen and needed it. Also put on bug spray and didn't need that. Bugs love Pete. Riding back was fun because we went really fast. On the way back the van stopped for what we thought was food, it was about 3:30, so we went and ate a little chicken mole. Thank goodness we shared because that was not what was said. The little town we stopped at was "mexican typical" and some of the people wanted to walk around the square, which was very large, and shop and look. (First time our Spanish failed us.) After stopping once again, this time for comida for real, so we ordered quesidillas and guacamole and limonada. We weren't very hungry. No one on the van spoke as much English as Pete spoke Spanish. It worked out.This was the first tour that we took that had other people on it. All the other tours 5 or so we were the only participants.
Came back to the hotel and packed. Also began to obsess about our illegality. More about that later. Checked out this morning after breakfast, drove through more mountains, up and down and around. We drove at about 60 miles an hour for 45 minutes and there was constant windmills. The wind was blowing so hard and constant it was sometimes difficult to stay on the road but those windmills must produce a huge amount of electricity.
We are now in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca for the night
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