July 17: Strolling the Market

Today is our first official day off on our trip, and the day has passed at a leasurely pace.  The rain in Cuetzalan finally stopped this morning as we made our way out to the markets for which this town is known.

What have I noticed?

Like many farmers markets, this is a place for the senses.  The smells, the waves of people passing, and the voices offering prices blended together.  Rows of herbs and vegatables tempted me with their vibrant colors and crisp, fresh smells of mint, pepper, cilantro, and something I can't name.  I forced myself to walk past carts of more sweet bread and fried bananas.  Women walked past us with bouquets of the fresh flowers from the bundles sold on each corner.  I instinctively stepped back from the tied up turkey vultures, the carts of chickens, and the head of the pig hanging from a string.  My favorite moment happened as I was purchasing my first tortilla cloth.  I turned around to see a man inches from my face begin singing.  He grinned at my two friends and I and sang, ''Ellas mas bonitas del mundo.  Ellas mas inteligentes del mundo''. (Most beautiful girls of the world.  Most intelligent girls of the world.)  I couldn't stifle my giggles, and I couldn't resist giving him a few pesos. 

On to watch the Women's World Cup in a restaurant...

The Streets of Cuetzalan

Fresh fruit and veggies at the farmer's market

July 16 - Cantona Climb

I am at an internet cafe where I can't load my pictures, so for now my words will need to be enough. 

What did I notice?

Cantona (a recently excavated site that was inhabited between teh years 600 and 1000): Cantona might be considered the athlete's choice for an archeological site with 24 different ball courts in a sophisticated city layout.

We ambled our way up hallway-like rock paths, the walls of rocks standing firmly on each side of us.  We passed ball courts with stadium style seating.  At the end of each ball court we climbed the steep steps, reaching the summit of the pyramid only to find another ball court stretching out before us.  Standing on top of each pyramid we looked out to the desolate, city skeleton.  The expansive paths and courts sprawled out over the land, sprinkled with Dr. Seuss style tress sprouting up like mushrooms and an occasional tourist hiking up another set of steps.  Fields covered the land between the edges of the anciet city and the mountains in the distance.

Jennifer and Kate climbing at Cantona

Cantona

A little group yoga after our climb

Next: Cuetzalan

What did I notice?

For the archeological site we made our way to Cuetzalan.  I think the Lonely Planet Guide was right when they called this drive exhilarating and dramatic.  Several members of our group reached for the dramamamine as we bumped our way over potholes and swerved our way from one sharp turn to the next in the rain.  Our bus driver, Benito, is amazing.

We landed at our cabin-style hotel.  It feels a little bit like we're at camp with the rustic wood-filled room.  The rain continued to poor, so my new friends Christina, Kate, and I grabbed our umbresllas and ventured into the hilly streets.  As the rain started to pick up we took a risk, trying the next restaurant we saw.  We walked inside a gated area to find a large restaurant beginning to fill with people.  The tables were decorated in brightly colored table clothes, rustic art was on the walls, and the rain continued to pound down outside of the windows - simply squares cut out of the walls.  We enjoyed a ight meal with Coronas while a musician played guitar and sang.  It was clear that we were the only non-locals as everybody else knew all of the words to all of the sons.  After enjoying our enchilads and quesadillas, we raced back to our hotel in the rain, satisfied with our first night in this town tucked in the side of the mountain.