The last two weeks I spent in a mountain town called San Cristobal in the state of Chiapas. This is the most southern state in Mexico, and arguably the most beautiful! Many people I met on my travels told me I needed to visit San Cristobal, and I am so glad that I did.
The town itself feels very small, with everything being easily accessible and in walking distance. However, in fact there is a quarter of a million people living here, and yet somehow it feels as small as my hometown which holds a mere 20,000 inhabitants. The architecture of the town was heavily influenced by the Spanish, and the roads and sidewalks are still cobblestone and very unique to the region. I would get lost on purpose every day and just admire the beauty and simplicity of the city.
The first week I spent at a hostel named “Posada del Abuelito” where I would meet old friends, and make many new ones. The hostel itself was super cute, and gave you a very comforting vibe. It was run by a Mexican family, and it had a very homie feel to it; which we all grew to appreciate. The first person I met was Hugo, a French traveller who was backpacking his way through Mexico. We did a walking tour together, and would spend the next few days bumping into each other throughout the city.
Blair was a massive surprise! This was a guy I met in Oaxaca who is travelling on his motorcycle. I definitely anticipated him to be further along his way, but I wasn’t upset when he checked in. He is an Irish-Canadian, and a very unique soul. Very hot and cold, but a good guy to have around on a night out.
Next friends I made were named Ella and Maud, two girls travelling from Mexico City and working there way down the Americas. Maud was from the Netherlands, and Ella was from Australia. They were together when they arrived, but soon separated when Maud would leave 3 days in, and Ella stuck around for the next 2 weeks. Every day Ella and I would be the first up for breakfast, and we would just enjoy the silence of the morning before the chaos would begin around 8:30. This is when everyone would rush for breakfast and get on their ways with the tours. While Ella and I just sat back and enjoyed countless coffees in the morning sun.
After the week at this hostel, we all got “kicked” out when a group booked the entirety of the hostel for a weekend. We all found ourselves booking in at a new hostel named “Puerta Vieja”. This was on the other side of the spectrum from Abierto. It was much more a party hostel, something I was relatively unfamiliar with. There was an abundance of more people, however it didn’t take long to make friends. One thing I learnt is that if you stay at one hostel long enough, you see how different things can change, and how quickly. Most people only stay 2-3 days. Therefore, every 2-3 days the entire vibe of the hostel can change. It is something I definitely don’t enjoy. It is hard getting close to people and then they just disappear, and you never know if you will ever see them again.
During my time in San Cristobal I had a fair few highlights. Walking around the gigantic street market everyday was always a joy. Seeing how the locals interact and how cheaply things can be bought when it’s sourced locally. Next, I would enjoy finding the local churches, and having a prayer in each of them; and yes there is a lot! I went up to Chamula one day to witness the local carnival celebrating the lost days of the Mayan calendar. During this experience we saw bulls being ridden in the town square. Someone even died. I’m still not entirely sure of the significance of this event, but it was truely special to be a part of. I enjoyed the cheap Tamale place, the 7 pesos street tacos, and the cheap yet delicious ice cream. Oh, and I can’t forget the Wine Bar “La Vina de Bacco”, which sold glasses of wine for 2$ Cad, free tapas, free popcorn, and guaranteed live music. This place was a staple for the entire city, and a staple for the Hostel crew. The Hostel also had its fair share of events, which I definitely took part in. There was Salsa night, Karaoke night, arts and crafts, free cocktail night, and many more events which I enjoyed. It was a great way to meet new people, and for the price I paid… it felt like an all inclusive resort.
I was also blessed to have been able to spend my 27th birthday here with the friends I had made. Ella took me out for Ice Cream. Rene and Nelly took me out for Wine. Blair and Matthew also took me out for wine. The entire Bar turned to free shots for everyone, which happened a lot anyways. And I was just blessed to have been able to spend it with amazing people in an amazing place!
It was super hard to leave the city of San Cristobal. The big kick in the arse was when I looked around the hostel on the last day and noticed only Ella and myself were the last ones left from when we had arrived. It was at this time I knew I needed to leave. Thankfully for me, due to my lack of biking Rene was able to catch up. So he is with me now in Palenque, and we take off towards the Guatemala border, which should take us 2-3 days to reach. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in San Cristobal. It won a piece of my heart. I hope to return here one day and enjoy the city once again. But until then, I guess I had better continue my journey!