Villahermosa to San Cristobal de las Casas

This trip was only a little more than 300 KM so I figured it would take about four or five hours, tops. It took us a full seven hours! The road is pretty good most of the way except for some construction and some landslide damage that was being worked on in the Mexican way. The big problem was switchbacks every time we changed elevation. We started at sea level and ended up at 7000 feet above sea level. The highest part of the road is even higher than that because we dropped down quite a bit into San Cristobal which is in a valley.

We checked into the Hotel Santa Clara, an Historic Monument, which was recommended by the Lonely Planet Guide to Mexico. We found out right away that you do not use credit cards in San Cristobal as the room was $700 Pesos with a CC or $550 without. The room is OK, probably "good" by Mexican standards. There are two beds, a shower but no hot water. We asked at the desk about the hot water and they assured it would be on by the time we got back from dinner and it was. I suspect they only turn it on if someone asks for it.

San Cristobal is a very International City. Many locals speak English and we ran into tours from France and Germany and some backpackers from Australia and Great Britain. I am not sure what the draw is as the temperature is more like Lower Mainland Vancouver than Mainland Mexico. It is raining and cold. I had to buy a cheap jacket to keep the chills off as we walked the Centro Square. We stopped at a nice restaurant where I had a fish fillet with garlic and Norma had some part of a pig. It was all very good and we finished off in the downstairs bar where there is a Mexican singer. Our room is right above the bar so we will be serenaded into the late hours.

I am not feeling in top form today and have spent a great deal of time in the banos. I will try an Imodium tonight and will probably feel much better tomorrow......