Settling In

Sunset from Kinoki Tea House and Independent Cinema

Saturday, November 22^nd, 2014
San Cristobal de las Casas

I’m in San Cristobal now.

Today, I rode from the outskirts of Acuyan to San Cris.

I wasn’t prepared for the climb up to here. San Cristobal is on a high mountain. I took the road that ascends from Tuxtla Gutierrez, a large, prosperous city.

As the road climbed it grew cool, and the air felt easier to breathe. Maybe because of the altitude, maybe because of the temperature. I don’t know.

Coming into town, a nice woman and her friend offered me a flier for the hostel they own, Hostal Luna Nueva. I took the flier and followed the directions there.

The bike started making a noise the day after coming out of Mexico City. A whining noise like bearings or something as part of the drive train. I can’t figure it out.

At the hostel, I met a musician from San Francisco named Raul. His aunt owns the hostel, so he spends time in San Cristobal. I’m going to see him play a style of music called San Jaracho, tonight.

~*~

Sunday, November 23^rd, 2014

The sun has risen on a beautiful and pleasant day here in San C.

I went to the park and practiced guitar.

It’s very nice here. It reminds me of Antigua, Guatemala. I miss you painfully.

I think I will stay a little while. I want to practice guitar more than I have been able to do on the road, and maybe learn more Spanish (formally), but definitely practice it in any case. Then after all of that, maybe on to Pelenque and beyond.

~*~

Pedestrian Promenade Real de Guadelupe

I’m sitting at a café having just having eaten a pork and egg dish with rice and black beans. The eggs and pork were mixed.

As I sit, I’m watching the park square in front of me and the two young girls at the front of the restaurant trying to get people to eat here.

I came in because one of the girls looked me directly in the eyes and approached me confidently.

I find her confidence and charisma attractive as I watch her approach strangers and invite them to dine.

~*~

I’m at café Entropia, now. Raul is about to come on with his band. I also heard him play last night.

Listening to the band sing in Spanish makes me want in on the language more than anything else, except maybe to speak to beautiful women. 

I want to specially acknowledge the financial contributions from Alexandre Nguyen, Manny Rangel, Michael Pang, my mom, and my aunt Julie, as well as Kate Phillips and Ian Wheatland for helping make these words and pictures possible!