And so the journey continued. We took an overnight bus from Oaxaca to San Cristóbal and eleven hours of winding roads later, we found ourselves in the San Cristóbal bus terminal. We headed to our hostel for a bleary-eyed 6am check-in, fell into our bed for a two-hour nap before heading out to explore city. San Cristóbal is a highland town that has gained great popularity among tourists and ex-pats along with being surrounded by many an indigenous community giving the city an interesting mix of modern luxury and ancient tradition. San Cristóbal was put on the map in 1994 when the Zapatistas took over the city to take a stand against globalization and raise awareness of the ever-growing gap between the rich and poor of Mexico, their message being one of solidarity with the indigenous. Today the city is tranquil, boasts beautiful weather (welcomed cool temperatures and sun), and has more coffee-shops than one can shake a proverbial stick at, i.e. my kind of place.

Our hostel was cozied up to the right side of the hillside supporting the Iglesia de Guadalupe.

We were so close to Guatemala that it started appearing on all the maps. There were even tour companies that advertised shuttles to Quetzatenango (where we are studying now in Guate, in fact) that had a box lunch included!

Catedral de San Cristóbal de Las Casas

Carajillo Café

Climbing up the Cumbre Guadalupe for views of the city

Long day, and this girl is le tiiired

Because every city should have an ANABANANA

The other lookout point, the cerrito hosting the Iglesia de San Cristobalito

The church Iglesia de Guadalupe atop our hill is the white dome off to the left.

Giant clay pigeons were perched here and there throughout the city

Day three we went on a day-tour to visit the nearby Cañón del Sumidero, a canyon formed around the same time as the Grand Canyon and with cliff sides that rise up over 3000 feet in some places. But first, getting there. The signs in the background say Vehicles without brakes, follow the red line which leads, eventually, to a sand ramp to slow down brake-less vehicles. I could just hear my sister saying “vehicles without brakes should head straight to the mechanic!”

Cañón del Sumidero

I almost didn’t believe this crocodile was real until it clapped its mouth shut

Croc-babes!

This area was nicknamed the Christmas Tree for the curious vegetation that sprouted out of the wall with the help the mini waterfall that trickled down the cliff.

Look at these two fashionistas!

An upward glance with the GoPro

Click here for a little boat ride in the Canyon de Sumidero

Back in San Cris; a charming after-dinner walk home, complete with an outdoor movie projected on the wall to the left.