Our bus

We had been told that it was such a winding road that we might need Dramamine if we had a propensity for motion sickness. We opted out of the Dramamine and found the journey to be very pleasant. It was one of the most beautiful drives on which I have ever been.. The countryside was stunning with very, very, green hills and many picturesque views.

                  The countryside as seen from the bus

After 2 ½ hours we stopped in the town of Ocosingo for a 30 minute rest stop.

                                              From behind the gate in the bus yard of Ocosingo

Inside the bus station courtyard they were making various hot dishes for sale. Also there was a little tiny convenience store where you could buy drinks and snacks.

                  The backpackers are filling their backpacks with snacks

Off the road from Ocosingo are some other Mayan ruins in the town of Toniná. They are supposed to be well worth the drive, but it would have to be another time for us.

               Time to leave Ocosingo

Finally about 8 p.m. that night (Sunday) about an hour behind schedule we pulled into San Cristóbal de las Casas. We had reservations at Bela’s B&B for the next 6 nights. I had researched it thoroughly on the internet and had found it had great reviews. Bela had sent me directions to her place, so we just simply grabbed a taxi. As he wove through the town we were immediately attracted to it and knew we had made a great choice.

On my next blog I will give a complete overview of Bela’s

 BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

View my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com: Colombia:                                                                             http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/ Mexico:                                                                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/                                                        Caribbean island of Barbuda:                                           http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/                                                                                     San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                                   http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/   

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                                       http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

Musuem grounds, Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

Checking out one of the artifacts in the musuem

Inside the Mayan Musuem in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

We spent the morning at the musuem then caught a “colectivo” back to hotel, checked out, said goodbye to the hotel staff and took a taxi to the bus station in town.

                                                           Checking out of the Chan-Kah Resort Village

The bus station is open air, small, hot, and crowded with locals and backpackers.

    Passengers in the bus station waiting to buy tickets

              From inside the bus station in Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

We had arrived early, so had extra time. I walked down the street, found a little store, and bought us some water and cookies to tide us over on bus.

                Carol waiting to board the bus for San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico

At 2 p.m. we left on the 5 hour bus trip from Palenque to San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Next-the winding road to San Cristóbal de las Casas 

 BTW-If you want to check out some really neat stuff about what is happening on the redesigned Newsok.com then you need to check out Alan Herzberger’s update here

all-night buses to far away destinations that had names I couldn’t even pronounce.  

We found a taxi in front of the station and  agreed on the fare of $4 (40 pesos) and away we went, 20 minutes down the highway through the countryside.   When we arrived at Chan-Kah Resort Village near the Mayan ruins there was only a desk clerk and a security guard, neither of which spoke English, but we managed to get everything set up and get to our rooms.

Chan-Kah Resort Village is set is a jungle like setting with lots of little casitas spread out in the trees.  Here are some photos:

                  Look at the vegetation growing from the roof of our room

                 Our sitting porch outside our room

Here are some pics of the walkway through the property.  You can click on them to enlarge

The room was large and very simple.  We were pleased.  We agreed that we had chosen a wonderful property.   Take a look at their web site:

                                  www.chan-kah.com.mx/eng/      

Since we were traveling so light, the first thing we did was wash our clothes by hand and hoped they would dry in the humidty.  This was all part of the master plan:  travel light and wash our clothes as we went.  Once you get used to this system, you will never want to travel any other way–At least I don’t!!

I have to admit, my biggest fear about this trip was: would Carol be able to stand up to the rigors of traveling light, quick, washing clothes by hand, buses, language barriers, and be able to deal with the uncertainties and challenges of a trip like this?  So far, she had received an A+.  It only gets better from here!

Next-The Mayan ruins of Palenque! Incredible!

See my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:

Colombia:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/   Mexico:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/    
    Caribbean island of Barbuda:                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/     

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/        

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                                http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/

I decided we had better call the hotel, the Chan-Kah Resort Village, and let them know we would be late. I had the phone number but I couldn’t make the call go through on my cell phone. Finally, I asked two guys sitting behind to help me. They spoke no English. In Spanish, I told them what I was trying to do and showed them the phone number. They started crossing out unnecessary numbers and told me to try the new combination—it worked!!

When the hotel answered the phone I could not understand anything they were saying in Spanish. I finally just stated my problem and on the other end I heard “no problema”. I knew I had gotten my point across!

Inside the waiting room was a little tiny convenience counter that sold some snacks. I bought some water and cookies. In the Villahermosa bus station we ate the romantic dinner we had previously planned to eat in Palenque……cookies and water! Life was good!

Inside the Villahermosa bus station-It’s crowded!

Carol went to use the restroom and came back telling me there was a charge of 3 Pesos to use it. I was running low on Pesos so I had to tell her to quit drinking water!! It was time to board the bus.

Villahermosa bus station-boarding the bus

At 9 p.m. we boarded our bus and were finally on the way to Palenque. I immediately struck up a conversation (in Spanish, of course) with the guy sitting across from me and found out that Villahermosa is the city that was almost completely underwater 8 months ago. They have done a marvelous job in cleaning it up. You never would have known.

 Next-Headin’ for Palenque town!

See my other travel blogs on NewsOk.com:

Colombia:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/colombia/   Mexico:http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/mexico/    
    Caribbean island of Barbuda:                    http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/barbuda/     

San Juan with a 5 hour layover:                                  http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/san-juan-puerto-rico/        

Fly around the U.S. for the day:                                                http://blog.newsok.com/thewanderer/category/day-trip/