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A long overnight bus trip but thankfully we can check into our hotel rooms straight away. A quick shower and breakfast is the order of the day followed by an orientation walk. San Cristobal seems very typical of most Mexican towns with the distinct difference that it has a large indigenous population which makes it quite different to other places we have been. It is also home to the Zapitista revolutionary movement which is generally supported by the indigenous people. Again cathedrals feature pominently here but we decide to visit a church in San Jun Chamula. This is a church of the indigenous people who follow a mixture of traditional beliefs plus some Catholicism. The interior of the church is quite different and photos are strictly forbidden. The floor is covered in a grass like material and candles dominate the interior. When we arrived it was pouring rain and we were quite wet by the time we got to the church. There were so many candles burning we could feel the heat inside. Literally hundreds and hundreds. The floor is covered in wax from the burning candles and there was a team of worshippers who were scraping and washing wax off the floor. An unusual way to pray and worship. The rain had intensified whilst we were inside and we emerged to a virtual flood. By the time we got back to our collectivo van we were drenched. It rained all the way back to San Cristobal and we then had a very wet 20 minute walk back to our hotel. That night we got together on the hotel's rooftop terrace and pooled our collection of mezcal and nibbles and ended the night in a very social way. Thank goodness mezcal does not seem to haunt you the following day!!
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