San Cristóbal

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020

San Cristóbal Poop Fest 2020

When Darrin would travel overseas for work, he and his fellow coworkers liked to sample all the exotic foods. They had a running joke:

“You may die if you eat that…”. One person would say!

And another would answer, “No, you will just wish you had!”

Well, so far, we have avoided corrupt cops, roving armed bandits, a mugging from a group of school kids, and cartel shootouts. We think what finally did us in was a simple glass of street orange juice! The past few days were spent, with our new friend, Michelle (now to be known as Iron Belly because she didn’t get sick!) exploring the town, the markets, museums, and street foods.

Dried crickets, mangoes, rice milk, various tacos, and orange juice. The last 2 days had us trying to rest in the Wee Rover while enduring sweaty chills, freezing shakes, muscle aches, cramps, massive headaches, and the ever present woosh!

Our teeth actually ached!

We pounded electrolyte drinks, took copious amounts of Imodium, and squatted over our pequeño baño, the little blue bucket purchased just for this occasion.

So, the next time someone offers you a fresh glass of OJ…remember…You may die if you drink that…no, you will just wish you had!

Tidbit: Turns out our stomach aches and pains were caused by a good old fashion Danish hex. Our friend and fellow camper Katja wanted us to stay in San Cristóbal until they were ready to leave, she got her wish to the day. I am going to be much more careful around her in the future!

February 25, 2020January 28, 2020

The highlight of San Cristóbal was meeting and spending time with Michelle, an Irish woman bicycling around Mexico, and reuniting with another bicyclist, Rémi, who we first met in Baja.

We wandered through market after market, visited an amber and a cacao museum, ate everything we saw, including a dried cricket, and I bought a new skirt.

We loved the time spent with our new friends in a fascinating city.

For us, San Cristóbal wasn’t about what we saw, but what we experienced and the people we spent time with…a recurring theme in our travels.

February 24, 2020January 28, 2020

Good as New

Shoe shine? Who has their shoes shined anymore? As a child, I watched my grandfather and father shine their good shoes. The polish, the brush, the shine cloth…I’m sure those aren’t the proper terms. But, who shines their shoes now? Doesn’t everyone where Keen boots and sneakers?

When we were in San Migel de Allende, we saw our first shoe shiners (not sure that is the correct term) in the main square. There wasn’t one shoe shine station, there was one on every corner, of every square…and they were busy. So, to answer my own question…I guess the people of Mexico still shine their shoes.

Darrin is a bit particular about his shoes, not how they look, but how they fit, feel and function. A few months ago while visiting Salt Lake City, Utah, he found a new pair of leather boots and they have become his new favorite shoes. Traveling south from Utah, they have met their match with the rocks and dust and have changed color depending on where we were camping. By the time we reached San Migel, and our first shoe shine stations, the boots were quite “broken in” and several of the shoe shine gentlemen tried to coax Darrin into having his shoes done…he declined, much to their dismay.

Today, wandering around San Cristóbal, Michelle finally convinced Darrin to have his shoes shined…perhaps because she offerred to pay the 20 pesos ($1 USD)! Twenty minutes later, the boots look like new.