By Clay Larroy
The preparation
for a vacation is almost as exhilarating as the vacation itself. I love
printing out the tickets and confirmations while thinking about how much fun I
will have on vacation. I enjoy researching all the sights at the location I
will see once I arrive at my destination. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Attractions
in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
San Cristobal de las Casas is, more than anything, a cultural hub, and there are many wonderful cultural
attractions: the Na Bolom Cultural Centre is a wonderful place to learn a bit about the Lacandon people in a
colourful and charming compound full of interesting artefacts and personal effects (it is even possible to spend the
night in the centre if you fall in love with it); the Museo de Trajes Regionales, a museum of Mayan textiles, is also a
fantastic cultural experience; and the highland villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, home to the Tzotzil
people who are descendants of the ancient Mayans, are nearby, but travellers should be very respectful and it is
best to go with a local guide.
Other attractions worth seeking out in San
Cristobal de las Casas include the Orquideas Moxviquil, a botanical garden
sheltering more than 450 indigenous plant
species, including some stunning, delicate specimens; and the Museo del Ambar,
the Amber Museum, which is also fascinating. Santo Domingo is the town's most
beautiful church and although it is a little rundown it is still definitely
worth a visit. The main archaeological site in the area is the impressive
ancient Mayan site of Palenque, the remains of a city dating back to the 7th
century, which many consider the most remarkable ancient Mayan site.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the most beautiful of San
Cristóbal's churches, with a pink Baroque façade that is especially impressive
when lit up at night. The interior is richly decorated and shimmers with gold.
The ornate pulpit and golden altarpieces are the main focus of this
16th-century architectural monument. The highlight of the church is the
intricately carved façade which is worthy of close examination. Santo Domingo
is sadly a bit run down at present and the opening hours have become somewhat
erratic, but it is certainly still worth a visit for anybody interested in
churches and religious art work.
Visitors are welcome at services but should prepare
to be scolded by local worshippers if they don't show proper respect for the
place and religion. The area in front and around the church is filled each day
with craft stalls and village traders and is a great place to find Mexican
souvenirs like
woven blankets and shawls and amber jewelry. The
market is so popular that it spills almost into the church when at its busiest,
which frustrates some visitors seeking peace for prayers and meditation, but it
is a fantastic place to do some shopping.
Address: Lázaro
Cardenas Street
San Juan Chamula and
Zinacantan villages
These two highland villages are the home of the Tzotzil
people, descendants of the ancient Mayans, and some of Mexico's most
traditional indigenous communities. Each village has a distinctive highland
dress as well as a weekly market and numerous festivals honoring their patron
saint and other special religious days. Visitors should respect the local
traditions and customs and be especially sensitive when taking photographs.
Villagers can be unfriendly and are wary of tourists - understandably they do
not appreciate being regarded as tourist attractions. The best way to visit the
villages is with a local guide.
San Juan Chamula is a center for religious
festivals. The main attraction is the church on the plaza where, every Sunday,
the village comes alive with streams of villagers.
There are men in loose
homespun white woolenponchos and women in embroidered finery, who pour
down the hills into the candle-lit, incense-filled church, and then congregate
together for the weekly market. Their religion is a fascinating mixture of
Catholic and traditional Mayan rituals. The most colorful fiesta in the region
is the Carnival for which Chamula is famous. The typical dress of the
Zinacantan villagers is a red and white striped poncho decorated with tassels and
a flat, round hat decorated with ribbons. Geranium is a revered plant that is
used in ritual offerings and the countryside is dotted with crosses and
offerings dedicated to their ancestor gods or the Earth Lord. Photography is
forbidden in the village.
Palenque
Opening time: Daily 8am to
4.30pm.
The setting for this spectacular ancient Mayan city
is splendid, a hauntingly beautiful site engulfed in the endless tropical
jungle that bristles with the shriek of insects. The architecture is fantastic
and for many Palenque is the most remarkable of the major Mayan sites. The city
was at its peak in the seventh century, and was an important ceremonial center
and the provincial capital. The buildings that are visible today form only a
small part of what it once was, and only a few of the remaining buildings
have been properly excavated. The reason for the city's decline is still a
mystery. Early morning is the best time to capture the setting at its most
photogenic, when swirling
vapors encircle the temples and the jungle.
The slippery jungle paths climb steeply past
waterfalls and between trees, past ancient settlements scattered around the
jungle-clad hillsides, and rewarding views from the temple tops take in the sweeping
plains in the distance. The highlight is the tallest and most important of
Palenque's buildings, the magnificent Temple of Inscriptions. Constructed on
eight levels, there is a steep central stairway of 69 steps leading to the
rooms at the top. The rear interior wall is decorated with panels of Mayan
hieroglyphic inscriptions describing the history of Palenque and the temple.
There is a museum near the entrance of the site.
Getting there: Frequent
minibus services from Palenque town.
Address: Four miles
(6.5km) from Palenque town.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
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