MexConnect.com Forums: Areas: Southern Mexico: Any Chiapas backroad driving experts? : Page 2

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LostAlmost

Mar 4, 2011, 7:22 PM

Post #26 of 39 (6185 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Hi vichil

I understand you are Bubba's wife? My friend Joyce visited with you in San Cristobal a couple of years ago. She didn't remember your names, but knew your husband is Bubba on MexConnect. I will be in SC in a few weeks. I wondered if you are still there. From some of Bubba's posts it sounds like you are in Ajijiic. I tried to send him a personal reply but it bounced, so I posted to a thread and someone else gave me your name. Long route to get a note to the two of you. Joyce said you were both so knowledgeable about the area. My friend John and I will be there around March 28. I hope you are the same people she met. I feel like I'm shooting a bit into the dark. I hope to hear from you. I am really looking forward to seeing Mayan culture and ruins, getting a feel for current life there.

Thank you, Sherry (Lost Almost) from Los Alamos, NM

Vichil

Mar 5, 2011, 6:29 AM

Post #27 of 39 (6160 views)

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Re: [LostAlmost] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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HI
Hound Dog (Bubba) and I are in San Cristóbal- I am not sure if we will be home at the end of March as we are planning to be visiting the Lacandon Forest around that time.

I am sending you a pm

(This post was edited by Vichil on Mar 5, 2011, 8:10 AM)

Mac539

Mar 7, 2011, 12:59 PM

Post #28 of 39 (6075 views)

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Re: [Carron] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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In Reply To

.

Trust me, the state of Chiapas, especially up in the indigenous highlands, is not the Mexico most of us know and love. Even many criollos in Tuxtla Gutierrez feel this way about parts of their home state. That said, the scenery is probably some of the most breath-taking anywhere in the world. The bus trip from Villahermosa to Tuxtla is like the most stomach-lurching roller coaster ride you have ever experienced with the addition of spectacular views. Even more exciting during the rainy season when big chunks of the outer lane of the narrow 2-lane highway have dropped off into the valley thousands of feet below!!

I would personally never try to drive that route. Not even in the daylight during dry season. As in all of Mexico, buses are a superior means of transport. For more personalized touring, taxis are also very affordable and will take you wherever you
want to go in the back country for only a modesdt tarriff.

I have driven the route from Chamula to Villahermosa. The most interesting question is how do they grow the corn on such steep mountain slopes!

chicois8

Mar 7, 2011, 1:35 PM

Post #29 of 39 (6068 views)

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UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Hola, Since my original post in 2009 I have driven many back roads of Chiapas three times ( once a year ) without any problems what so ever...I usually stay the night in Teapa which is south of Villahermosa on Highway 185 and I start the drive in the morning to get to Simijoval mid by afternoon...the next day I cross over to Tuxla and head south to areas with amber mines then to SCDLCasas..

.As I said I have had no bad experience any where in Chiapas,
I love the views from the mountain roads where towns in the valleys look like a postage stamp...I did spent a day with a Mayan artists Co-op and learned how to work amber by hand and it has turned into a fun hobby for this retired expat....

I do feel sorry for folks who are afraid to drive back roads Chiapas.........

Vichil

Mar 10, 2011, 7:09 AM

Post #30 of 39 (5992 views)

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Re: [chicois8] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Your post is misleading.
Just because you have driven a road a few times without any problems does not make the road safe. We live down here 6 months of the year and drive the backroads extensively but also hear the local news. The road with the most assaults on tourists in the country according to the papers down here is the San Cristobal Palenque road which is not by the way a backroad but the main road to go to Palenque from San Cristobal.
There are many assaults reported on the Villahermosa, Simojovel Bochil road as well.
I agree with you these roads are spectacular and peole miss a lot by staying away from there but they are not safe and people should be aware of that fact as well.

chicois8

Mar 10, 2011, 8:23 AM

Post #31 of 39 (5980 views)

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Re: [Vichil] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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I do not know if this is Vichil or her crazy husband,you seem to use each others nicknames at will...

Why is my post misleading? I never said the road was safe, I said I had no problems...I did not mention that the San Cristobal/Palenque road was a back road, in fact I did not mention it at all..

All I was doing was writing an update to my original post and sharing my
experiences...
.
I do know every post you people write starts with: we have 2 homes in Mexico,one in Chapalla and another in Chiapas...I think the whole world knows that by now...

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(This post was edited by chicois8 on Mar 10, 2011, 8:28 AM)

Vichil

Mar 10, 2011, 9:18 AM

Post #32 of 39 (5967 views)

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Re: [chicois8] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Well my English is full of mistakes and my husband´s is not for one. My husband does not post here any longer so you are speaking to me.
I agree with you that the back roads are spectacular but when telling peole they miss a lot by not taking them you should let them know they are not safe as well. It is up to each person to make the decision to take the risk or not.
So you had no problem neither did I so far...
I never speak about my homes ever..so it is another way to know it is not my post. I live in both places and go to school in San Cristobal.
You brag about the house you are building so do not speak to me about my husband. It is between the two of you and leave me out of this one.
Chapala only has one L.

chicois8

Mar 10, 2011, 11:21 AM

Post #33 of 39 (5950 views)

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Re: [Vichil] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Vichi, Please point out or show me where I am bragging about building a house...

remember when you wrote this:

Sorry I have had nothing but problem with my handle Brigitte Ordoquy, so I posted under Hound dog but do not want to be associated with him too closely so I reappeared under Vichil.

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(This post was edited by chicois8 on Mar 10, 2011, 11:24 AM)

Vichil

Mar 10, 2011, 12:34 PM

Post #34 of 39 (5933 views)

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Re: [chicois8] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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That was a long while ago. Show me where my husband posted in the last couple of months.

As for your house you told us about having one on the coast and building another one in Dolores Hidalgo. Frankly I do not care how many you have, I just remember reading about it.
It does not bother me if you post about them so why does it bother you if someone else post about it as well?
Vichil with one L . Both names I used are names people who know me go by . Nothing secret about it. My name is too difficult to pronounce so some of the women I know nicknamed me Vichil.

DavidMcL

Mar 10, 2011, 1:54 PM

Post #35 of 39 (5925 views)

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Re: [Vichil] UPDATE Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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If the two of you wish to continue in this vein, I suggest that it be done via PMs. Your discussion has become personal and has nothing to do with the original intent of the thread.

Thanks

David
David McL
WebJefe

Berynice

Jun 1, 2011, 7:25 PM

Post #36 of 39 (4940 views)

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Re: [Carron] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Dude! San Juan Chamula is the scariest place you've ever been? That is sad. Try south central LA - hah! There is now a new toll road to Villahermosa from Tuxtla and it's great. There is also a good toll road from San Cristóbal del las Casas to Tuxtla, but people drive recklessly. I know nobody who's ever had any problem on any of them, ever. I've lived in San Cristóbal de las Casas for 20 years, 24/7. I'm not sure what you think a "criollo" is. Here people who aren't indigenous, but speak Spanish and have some Spanish ancestors, are referred to as Ladinos. It sounds like the middle-class people from Tuxtla aren't happy with the uppity Indians, or "pinche indios" as many refer to them. Is the "Mexico you know and love" kind of like a suburb of San Diego, only with lots of cheap labor and with some warm friendly Mexicans?

BTW, Chiapas is the Mississippi of Mexico - the poorest state in the republic and I've known it to be incredibly safe.

Berynice

Jun 2, 2011, 8:42 PM

Post #37 of 39 (4855 views)

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Re: [Berynice] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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Well today I was corrected by a sociologist friend - Ladino may be a perjorative term, depending on who is using it and with whom. Criollo are the Mexican born children of Spaniards. It's all a class thing evidently. So Mestizo is the proper way to describe 80% of Mexicans, those who are a mix of European, mostly Spanish and Indigenous peoples of America. It is not perjorative. Got that straight.

Re: [Berynice] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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I was told by a local person that I should say mestizo and never use the word ladino.

Berynice

Jun 2, 2011, 9:26 PM

Post #39 of 39 (4847 views)

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Re: [Vichil] Any Chiapas backroad driving experts?

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It does depend upon who you are speaking with and referring to. The gal that works with me refers to all Spanish speaking people who are not Indigenous as Ladino and it is not pejorative. She's Indigenous and I talk a lot with her and her women friends, so it depends on context. Rich people of the dominant culture don't want to be called Ladino, but they can kiss my ass. Jaja.

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