peace out.: May 2014

James Taylor anyone? After finishing with Peace Corps I was hankering for a trip (some change, some perspective, you know the story). So for Easter week Rene and I headed off to Huehuetenango to see his family and then ship off to Chiapas, Mexico for 72 hours (the amount of time Mexico allows Guatemalans in their country).

Before we left, I read a book called Uprising of Hope: The Zapatista Journey to Alternative Development by Duncan Earle and Jeanne Simonelli. It was a FACINATING read, especially as someone super interested in what is development and how different communities envision progress (and who was planning on going to Chiapas). Anyway, it helped me understand or at least start to understand a little bit of the history of Chiapas and the Zapatista movement. (I bought the book at a used bookstore in Chagrin Falls, Ohio for $1, when my friend Katherine was visiting Ohio last summer).

Anyway, my 72 hour Chiapas experience was great! We took all public transportation and I was blown away by 1.) how efficient their system is and 2.) how terrible Guatemala's transport is in comparison. Rene had a great time (once we made it through the border crossing from hell). Highlights were: 1.) A taxi driver saying 'Sorry, I'm lost. There are a lot of streets in this city'. 2.)We didn't have a lot of time, so we each picked one place/activity and Rene chose an orchid nursery! Which was super cool and something I would have never done. I chose a long walk to the cemetery. 3.) One day we took a road trip to Aguas Azules, Misol-ha and Palenque and it was 12 hours of car time and it was so fun! 4.) Lots of cools stuff to buy that you can't get in Guatemala, Rene bought a leather wall hanging and I got some amazing weaving (guipil, wrap, and another embroidered wrap). Wish we'd had more time, definitely going back in the future!