We spent a couple of days driving through the mountains, with some interesting views and rocks.
Stopping at a carpet weavers where they use only natural dies and wool with some very striking designs. He showed how starting with cochineal by adding lime juice, powdered marigold and charcoal ash he could make a range of colours. They are mixed on the hand and as everyone has a different natural ph rating all the colours vary slightly between the weavers.
We passed through an area with more windfarms than I've ever seen and most of them working!
We also stopped at the Sumidero Canyon for a boatride, some stunning scenery
a heron
and we decided a plastic animal!
Allegedly some of the local indians jumped off the highest part rather than be subjugated by the Spanish, fairly deadly.
San Christobal is at the centre of many groups of indigenous peoples who live in the surrounding villages. They come into the town to sell their wares at the local market. It has a lively zocola (town square) and pedestrianised area full of bars and restaurants for the evening.
A fine church, great stone work
and some pleasant views.
We visted one of the villages, San Juan Chamula, where the church
was very special, photography is frowned upon and certainly none allowed inside it. The floor was covered in rushes and lit solely by candles, family groups clear a small space in the central area, set up their own thin candles in special patterns and say their prayers. There is no priest and they come at any time of the day or night throughout the week .It had real reverence inside and it was difficult not to feel rather intrusive. We were there on a sunday so the square outside had groups with musicians and were having food and drink mainly coca cola!
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