Taking in San Cristobal de Las Casas

Taking in San Cristobal de Las Casas San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico

San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico Arrived by bus at 7AM. The journey from Oaxaca is a 10-hour roller-coaster like ride. Very windy roads! San Cristobal de las Casas is a valley surrounded by hills and mountains. Streets are cobble-stoned. Elevated sidewalks are built with huge slabs of stones. El Hostalito Took me nearly 30 minutes to get to El Hostalito where I booked one night. Stores were getting ready to open. I was therefore in time for the 7:30AM reception opening hour and met Ana, the host. She gave me a single occupancy discount. I was expecting to pay around M$260, but I only had to pay M$160 a night. Awesome! After a tour of the place, I immediately decided to extend one more night. I have a double bed private room with the toilet and shower just right next to it. Hot water is 24 hours. Opposite the room is the kitchen, next to which is the dining and the lounge room with TV, free DVDs, books and comfy couches with fireplace. I realised it gets cold in the evening. Wi-fi is fast and free. Mercados Around 1:30PM, I decided to goo for a walk. The town is small and compact, organised in a grid. The churches are in the north, south, east and west ends, three of which are all uphill. Uphill along Independencia ave. is the beige coloured Sto. Domingo church with very intricate design. Unique. I was feeling hungry so I didn’t stay long checking out the Artists’ Market right in front of the church. In the labyrinthine markets further uphill, I found cocinas that serve lunch. I was so proud of myself when I was able to order outside the menu and have excatly what I wanted: fried fresh fish with rice, salad, frijoles. Didn’t even touch the warm tortillas. Cafes, Cakes and Chico Along Real de Guadalupe, I came across this French pastileria. Bought a freshly made, still warm crema con chocolate pastry, and devoured it with the freeflow great coffee at El Hostalito.
A couple of doors from the hostel is Entropia, a cafe bar. I finished my day with a chocolate caliente (hot chocolate) while watching the free movie at the cafe bar, a Cuba animation (Oscar awarded) Chico Y Rica. Awesome movie, sensual, vibrant, as cuban-as-you-can-get scenes and music, very different kind of animation.
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