Road to San Cristobal, Thursday 10th September

Last night was another night to remember. I made a bee line to La Casa de Abuela, a restaurant whilst being able to listen to live music from the band in the square outside who were playing for a dance class in the open.in the zocalo.
 

 

It had to be this particular restaurant as it served a local delicacy which I wanted to try, called chapulines, made from grasshoppers.

Everybody tried the dish and despite the main infgredient everybody ate their taster. L to R Tracey, me, John, Clare, Zoe and  Seb.

It was a very early start the next morning, back locker at 4.45am, depart at 5am as it is a long way, nearly 600kms plus gradients for Betsy to get up, plus stops for the passengers. The target is to get to San Cristobal, a major city (the former regional capital of Chiapas state but it was moved in 1892 to Tuxtla Gutierrez which only Mexicophiles would know) and not to arrive in the dead of night.

The first couple of hours was in the dark but we were going through mountains and the views would have been worthwhile but it was a long way.

We also passed some agave aul cacti but these would be destined to be made into mescal rather than tequila.

There is a noticeable military presence throughout the country but it became more intense as we approached the Oaxaca - Chiapas border.

The scenery was also becoming more sub tropical as we headed out of the mountains to the coastal plains.

Not all transport is modern, an old beetle, an ox cart and one of the many tuk tuks.

The main trans American Highway which we were following from Oaxaca to the coast at lunch time.

We stopped for lunch at a road side restaurant or comodor which had its own wildlife..a pair of friendly parrots.

Out progress was halted by a demonstration. There were tuk tuks parked across the main road causing a tail back. There were demonstrating against government regulations that would mean that they have to sell their tuk tuks and buy expensive modern taxis. They would delay the traffic for an hour and then let it pass. There were police there but everyone seemed relaxed and there was no feeling of confrontation.

Regular taxis were busy collecting fares from people who walked though the barricades to continue their journeys the other side. Others were busy making money by selling icecreams pictured below from the back f their car and soft drink sellers.

Sure enough after an hour we were allowed through and we were back en route despite the delay. We were soon leaving the coastal plain and heading back into the mountain to climb up to 2,250m and down to San Cristobel and our hotel for the night.