We met the New York girl and her companion Bruce at the “Cafeteria Alex” before spending a frustrating hour trying to cash a traveller’s cheque. The cashier continued counting his float of money, apparently oblivious to the steadily growing queue of customers.
From the bank we went to the 2nd Class Bus Station to find a bus to our next destination, San Cristóbal de las Casas, which is a city and municipality located in the Central Highlands region of Chiapas. We discovered that the only bus ran from the 1st Class Bus Terminal on the other side of town.
A van with a loud public address system broadcast the virtues of Pepsi Cola as we trudged along the grid of roads to the north of the city. We found the bus station on a wide road with large American-style gas stations (petrol stations).
There was only one bus a day which departed at 07:00 hrs. for the 12-hour journey, so we purchased tickets for tomorrow at almost 14,000 Mexican Pesos each. We then stopped off for couple of delicious “Noche Buena” beers, a cerveza especial brew made to celebrate Christmas. It tasted like a sweeter version of the English Newcastle Brown Ale.
Back at the hotel we did some sunbathing on the hotel roof until the early evening when we walked around the covered market and Declan bought an excellent leather belt for 7,000 Mexican Pesos. I invested in a small leather pouch (coin purse) to keep my many coins in and save my pockets from undue wear.
In the zocalo we met Mary Trigger at our usual haunt in the corner. “You must be psychic”, she said, “I have just left you a note to say I’d meet you here.” We found the note which started “Dear Pommie Bastards” when we got back!
We went on to meet the Outward Bound Volcano Climbing Party for a jovial meal. At 22:00 hrs. we all split up and walked around the town. It was pretty dead, so we had a coffee with Courtney and Mary before returning to bed, leaving Mary to see Courtney off at the coach station on the 23:00 hrs. Express to Mexico City.
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