Mexico: State of Chiapas (2014)
(This banner shows a typical
woman cloth pattern in the highlands of Chiapas.)
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The adjacent states
of Oaxaca and Chiapas share many characteristics. They are two of the most
interesting states in Mexico, with major archeological sites, thriving folk art and culture, famous
food, and gorgeous coastline. Both states are rugged and mountainous, somewhat
isolated from central Mexico. Traveling through them takes time, even for short
distances. Their people are perhaps more independent-minded than in other parts
of Mexico, as illustrated by the numerous demonstrations occurring in Oaxaca
city and by the Zapatista movement in Chiapas. Click here
to see access the page on Oaxaca.
San
Cristobal de Las Casas:
San Cristobal de Las Casas is a rather large
town (over 150,000 inhabitants) located in the highlands of the state of
Chiapas at an elevation of 2200m. Most of the population, especially in the
surrounding villages, is indigenous Maya.
View over the town from Cerro de
Guadalupe (a small hill on the eastern side of the town).
Real de Guadalupe (one of the main
streets) with Cerro de Guadalupe in the background.
Women with their children in from of the
side entrance door of the cathedral on Plaza 31 de Marzo.
Street vendor.
In the market.
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Colorful hamacs.
Church of Santa Lucia.
Mural illustrating La Rebelion de los Colgados (The Rebellion of the Hanged), a novel by Bruno
Traven about the struggle for freedom in tropical Mexico.
Decoration of the portal of the Templo de San Juan in San Juan Chamula,
a few kilometers from San Cristobal de Las Casas.
Tonina:
Tonina is a major Maya ceremonial center from
the 6th to 9th centuries AD. It is located about 100km east of San Cristobal de
Las Casas, near the small town of Ocosingo. Less
famous than Palenque or Tikal (Guatemala), but nevertheless quite spectacular,
it attracts relatively few visitors.
Views of the main step pyramid structure
rising 71m above its base. It is believed that only a fraction of the site has
been explored and that many structures still remain to be excavated.
Views during the ascent of the pyramid.
View from the top.
Opening in the Palace of the Underworld
(constructed in the 6th century) in the first level of the pyramid.
Stucco carvings on the 5th terrace of
the pyramid, believed to have been created between 790AD and 840AD:
- Frieze of the Bird Dancers.
- Two portions of the frieze of the
Dream Lords, also called frieze of the Four Eras, discovered in 1990 (4m high
and 16m long). The photo on the left shows the central part of the frieze. It
represents a head that is ringed by feathers and positioned upside-down in the
frieze. Four lines of feathers radiating from this head divide the frieze into
4 triangular areas representing 4 distinct scenes. Large parts of the frieze
are missing.
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Temple of the Earth Monster located on the
6th level of the pyramid. The photo shows the sculpted altar that represents
the gaping mouth of the Earth Monster. It is not known what the sphere inside
the mouth may represent.
Relief sculpture with Maya glyphs
(copy). It shows two players (the kings
of Tonina and Calakmul?)
playing ball. The original sculpture found on the site of Tonina
has been moved to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
Statues in the local museum.
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Sumidero Canyon:
This is a
beautiful canyon, but it is impossible to ignore the disgusting trash that
floats on some sections of the river.
View from a boat on the Grijalva river that runs through
the canyon.
Crocodile sunbathing on a small beach.
Garbage on the Grijalva
river. This is only the most visible part of the
actual garbage. Most of the solid waste is hidden underneath the surface.
Chiapa de Corzo:
Parachicos (boys and men impersonating
conquistadors by wearing blond wigs and masks with light skin and facial hair)
during the Fiesta de Enero on January 4-21. For more
information on this tradition see here.
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Young women in traditional chiapaneca dress during the Fiesta de Enero.
Street vendor of raspados
(shaved ice with fruit syrup).
Decorated street.
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