Forums > Areas > Southern Mexico

Bubba

Feb 28, 2007, 9:13 AM

Post #1 of 16 (2261 views)

Shortcut

Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

February is extraordinary here. Crystal clear skies and temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s. The town is preparing for UNESCO World Heritage designation by burying utility lines and requiring more modest signage for commercial establishments. JacPowell´s earlier assessment of the notion of compromise of historical integrity hereabouts was a bit overblown. The UNESCO people simply are requiring these modest changes to make the town more reminiscent of its past life. That´s fine. Bubba is in heaven after way too much time spent strolling about degraded Ajijic and is now strolling about the streets of this historically important burg enjoying sights enjoyed by previous generations long departed.

The architectural integrity of this 16th Century town is in no danger of being compromised by the developers intent on turning vulgar places such as Ajijic into Peoria On The Sump. Bubba´s female bartender has classic Maya features and Absolute Vodka. When I walk the historical streets of this beautiful town I know I am where I was intended to be.

More later. If you don´t want to read what I write, don´t open my posts.

hopalog

Feb 28, 2007, 10:19 AM

Post #2 of 16 (2240 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

Bubba; have you ever encountered "Flor de Cana (imagine the tilde)" vodka in San Cristobal? It is from Nicaragua are reported to be most excellent.

Hell's Half Acre

Flickrlicious

bournemouth

Feb 28, 2007, 10:21 AM

Post #3 of 16 (2239 views)

Shortcut

Re: [hopalog] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

We've had Flor de Cana rum - it is amazing, a sipping rum. Worth trying if you can find it.

hopalog

Feb 28, 2007, 10:23 AM

Post #4 of 16 (2238 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

oh yeah. It isn't vodka. It is rum. Doh! (insert red face (but not shitfaced))

Hell's Half Acre

Flickrlicious

esperanza

Feb 28, 2007, 10:38 AM

Post #5 of 16 (2234 views)

Shortcut

Re: [hopalog] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

Nicaraguan Flor de Caña has been my rum of choice since 1994--preferably either the 7 or 12 year old variety. There's a brand-new bottle of 7-year-old in my liquor cabinet, waiting for the right moment. All of you aficionados are invited for a drink.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Gringal

Feb 28, 2007, 11:17 AM

Post #6 of 16 (2226 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

Who could resist opening your posts, y'old cantanker? (That would be the root word, wouldn't it? Or should it be "cantank"?)

A question keeps popping up in my mind about your move to glorious San Cristobal while you trash poor old Lakeside. It reminds me of the way a recently divorced guy with a new girlfriend talks about his ex-wife. Time will tell.

Bubba

Feb 28, 2007, 1:24 PM

Post #7 of 16 (2211 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gringal] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

Ah, yes, Gringal, mon ami, the warts do show up later. For now I am in heaven.

I met an old frat brother of mine from Tuscaloosa here who moved to Chiapas after the Zapatista uprising having bought a San Cristobal mansion for a song because of the unrest but he always was an opportunist. I just happen to like the town which has a small extranjero colony quite different from that which one finds at Lake Chapala. I did not say better, just different. Sort of like Doby Gillis and Maynard Krebs.

Good food hereabouts and splendid architecture. My new neighbors are friendly as are most people in San Cristobal as yet untainted by an abundance of foreigners.

More later.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Feb 28, 2007, 1:28 PM)

Gringal

Feb 28, 2007, 2:05 PM

Post #8 of 16 (2203 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

"as yet" untainted. Here comes the herd of wildbeestes. They will find it soooo cooool. There will be Frappachinos and tequila tastings. They will collect masks and native crafts which they will proudly display in collections. They will wear huipiles to lunch. You will begin to miss your "ex-wife". Giggle.

But for now, have a real nice honeymoon, bud.

Bubba

Feb 28, 2007, 2:55 PM

Post #9 of 16 (2193 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gringal] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

I am off to the Lacandon Forest to await the influx of Peorians with poisoned spear. Tread not on Bubba.

bournemouth

Feb 28, 2007, 2:58 PM

Post #10 of 16 (2187 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

Bubba - now you've told us how to get through Mexico City without problems - we are on our way - please have a guest room ready. I mentioned before, Gringal and spouse are coming with us - so make it two guestrooms.

Bubba

Feb 28, 2007, 3:23 PM

Post #11 of 16 (2184 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

You must go into the city from suburban Santa Fe and take the Miguel Aleman thoroughfare to Ignacio Zaragosa and you will find yourself miraculously upon the Puebla autopista after many trials that will test your soul. I recommend that, after a long and difficult day, you stay at the splendid Holiday Inn in Orizaba, Veracruz. A fine place indeed.

Bubba

Feb 28, 2007, 3:26 PM

Post #12 of 16 (2183 views)

Shortcut

Re: [bournemouth] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

(This post was edited by Bubba on Feb 28, 2007, 3:28 PM)

Gringal

Feb 28, 2007, 3:53 PM

Post #13 of 16 (2172 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

You should be so lucky as to be influxed by Peorians. They're easy.
What's coming your way is another sort of invasion altogether with which you are no doubt already familiar, having lived in whine country and environs. Poisoned spears bounce right off. They'll think they are collectible.

Bubba

Mar 1, 2007, 8:47 AM

Post #14 of 16 (2134 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Gringal] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

You should be so lucky as to be influxed by Peorians. They're easy.

Good point Gringal. I am in such a good mood as a result of living in both Chiapas and Jalisco that I have decided that Ajijic is actually a pretty nice place. No more picking on Ajijic or Peoria. Northern California Whine Country is fair game, however. I can´t believe I actually lived there for so many years and was a banker to those phonies.

We have found what appears to be a really good language school here where Bubba can take some intensive Spanish and his better half is determined to take Totzil. That should blow them away in the indigenous villages. After I have a couple of weeks of Spanish instruction under my belt I´ll report back on the quality of the experience.

I swear there are times when I could choke these obnoxious tourists. In San Cristóbal centro this morning some Dutch tourist asked a poor indigenous kid for a shoeshine and when the kid asked for $15 Pesos, the tourist shouted, "$15 Pesos, that´s outrageous!" as if the kid was a thief. $15 Pesos is about one Euro. This kid is barely surviving and this tourtist doesn´t want to part with a lousy Euro and was personallly insulting to boot.

jerezano

Mar 2, 2007, 8:12 PM

Post #15 of 16 (2058 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post | Private Reply

arbon

Mar 3, 2007, 5:11 PM

Post #16 of 16 (2030 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Bubba] Letter From San Cristóbal

Can't Post |

"I swear there are times when I could choke these obnoxious tourists. In San Cristóbal centro this morning some Dutch tourist asked a poor indigenous kid for a shoeshine and when the kid asked for $15 Pesos, the tourist shouted, "$15 Pesos, that´s outrageous!" as if the kid was a thief. $15 Pesos is about one Euro. This kid is barely surviving and this tourist doesn't´t want to part with a lousy Euro and was personally insulting to boot."

So what is the going price/prices for a "shoe shine" in San Cristóbal centro?

When we were in San Cristóbal, there were plenty of people with out shoes, and there was frost on the ground and the dogs water had ice on top.

And corn was grown on hill sides with the use of a ladder, that would be too steep to plant trees in BC Canada.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(This post was edited by arbon on Mar 3, 2007, 5:23 PM)