Thursday, December 31, 2009

Mexico: San Cristobal de las Casas

We loved San Cristobal! It was a great time and 5 days wasn't even enough time to see it all. 
Our days were lazy and unplanned. We wandered the streets and had no schedule. Here we're taking a mid-morning snack break under a bronze statue near an old colonial arch. 
A typical morning at a cafe with some coffee, breakfast cookie and cards. 
Dancers performing a traditional ceremony in the plaza. 
Enjoying the empty streets early on Christmas morning and hoping some place is open for breakfast. 
Another view of one of the pedestrian streets (we seemed to take all our street photos in the morning when there weren't many people out but from noon to midnight the streets were literally packed with people).
Mexico has a nice selection of decent beers. We enjoyed sampling them all and having them from a can, a bottle and even on tap as I happily demonstrate here. (Also, stay tuned for Nic's blog posting reviewing and rating all the Mexican beers.) 
Superior, one of the many Mexican beers has a VW Bug for the company car. 
Nic's glasses reflecting sunset on the face of the cathedral and me taking a photo of him. 
Nic and I walked to a cathedral on a hill near the edge of the city for sunset. Here's a view near the top of the stairs. Notice the flags over the main street.
Checking out the view from the cathedral.  
Mexican flags cover at least a mile of a main street. 
A saint stands guard, if not handless, at the cathedral. 
We loved the bright colors of the storefronts and restaurants. 
One of the many pedestrian streets decorated festively. 
Christmas Eve and we're ready to hit the town! Mexico puts out a seasonal beer called "Noche Buena", Christmas Eve. As such, we partook in some before heading out.
The streets were full with people all night. Nic and I had a great Argentinian meal and then jumped from cafe to bar until Midnight when fireworks were set off and everyone celebrated. 
Like any good tourist city there are women and children wandering the streets pestering visitors and locals alike to buy cheap souvenir items. 
A booth in a market that sells typical and colorful Mexican sweets. 
In Latin America there are manger scenes as well, called "Nacemientos". Every house, restaurant, hotel and park has one. They can get a little creative, placing elephants, tigers, buffalo in the scenes along side baby Jesus.  This place claimed to have the biggest in San Cristobal and I think they may be right. 

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