Diez Dias en San Cris

I'm taking advantage of this rare internet connection in the new apartment to bring news to the outside world.  This morning, the group that was here for ten days left.  What an intense program!  But it was intensely rewarding.  I made some new friends, and I'm glad I'll get to see them in the fall.  I've learned a lot here in Chiapas so far, and I've been here less than two weeks.  I've been to places I never thought I would ever get to see, and that many others don't get to see.  If you are thinking about doing this program next summer, I think you should sign on without hesitation.

The setback for me was getting sick, which happened around Sunday and is still lingering a little.  I'm on the up-and-up, though.  The four of us here for an extended stay moved into an apartment this morning, which we found yesterday.  We were told it had internet.  We were not told you only get one bar of internet and you only get it when you are in the living area.  Boo!  So I can't sit on my bed and Skype or check email or aimlessly browse the internet.  This makes me angry, even if my anger betrays an ugly addiction to internet.  Don't judge me!  I miss my family and Cliff, and internet is the only way to talk to them. 

Other than these problems, most things here are pretty awesome.  It's hard to describe San Cristobal.  It's really, really laid back.  The streets run for the most part north to south and east to west, but there are exceptions.  There are two main roads which run perpendicular to each other called "andadores" or "walkways," where there are no cars allowed.  The sidewalks are very, very narrow, at some points about a foot across, at the most two.  The streets and sidewalks are cobblestone, and "slippery when wet" is a huge understatement.

The intersections are confusing.  There are red lights that flash the word "uno," meaning only one car at a time.  In theory, this means that the traffic coming from two streets in the intersection (only two streets because most are one-way) weave together.  In practice, it's more complicated.  I've seen three or four cars go before someone from the other street goes, and if someone honks, it seems to give them a pass right through.  And pedestrians are on their own, even though technically they have the right of way.  We kind of weave, too.  But on the andadores there are people walking very slowly, just meandering around talking to people and going into shops and bars.  There is definitely a backpacker vibe here, but not everywhere. 

The buildings are super old and colonial style, but there are businesses in them.  It's a strange juxtaposition of the old and the new.  There are indigenous women walking around in traditional dress selling woven belts or popcorn, and there are Europeans with unruly kids and unruly hair, and there are people dressed modernly going to work or trying to hand you a flyer for a party at a bar later. 

Well, hopefully you have some mental image of San Cris, and hopefully I will supplement that later.  All for now; Natalie (roommate) hears some people downstairs so we are going to investigate. 

P.S. This a Burger King.