A view of our hotel in Palenque.
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John takes a refreshing swim in the river next to the hotel.
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Jen finds a tree to hug.
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The ruins of Palenque are beautiful and the energy peaceful and enveloping.
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Looking at some of the main structures.
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Another view of the ruins.
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Listening to a little history on Palenque from Alonso on the alignment of the structures with the sun and moon.
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Another view.
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The inside part of the main palace.
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The doorways are beautiful.
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There is a lot of underworld mythology here.
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Getting in a quick group picture!
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More views of the ruins!
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We stopped at a quaint restaurant along the way. Who would have thought that egg
padding made a great seat cushion?
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Bonampak is a quite and remote ruin.
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More views of Bonampak!
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More doors.
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I would not argue with this warrior!
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Approaching our hotel near the Lancandon.
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Jen is making her rounds to make sure all the dogs are wormed and have no fleas.
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The Lancandon Mayans are beautiful people.
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The young gentleman who kept us company during our ceremony with Antonio Hernandez.
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The ladies stop to take in a little shopping.
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On the Lancandon lake
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Antonio Hernandez takes a pot of Balche from the canoe where is has been brewing and fermenting for 3 days.
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Yum says Alonso. This is pretty serious to drink.
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There are many steps to the ceremony. This is a tray of copal which will be feed to the Gods which each have a God-pot.
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I think Jen would make a good medicine woman.
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Karen is doing her best to aquire a taste for balche.
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The balche ferments in this canoe.
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These are the God pots and are very sacred to these people.
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Enjoying the ceremony and drinking together.
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John is learning to drink upl!
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The copal is put by each pot.
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The drinking vessels are hand decorated.
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The copal is lit so the Gods can partake of the ceremony and be fed.
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When a shaman dies his pots are retired in a sacred spot.
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The underworld is everywere and artistically depicted.
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Tonina is a grand but not often visited ruin.
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Beautiful art.
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More underworld
art.
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Karen, Vee and Tammy bought God pots to take home after our ceremony with the Lancandon Mayans.
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This is an amazing set of tunnels.
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More of Tonina.
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The waterfall at Misol Ha.
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We stopped in an amazing set of caves that went on forever.
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Something got lost in the translation of this sign!
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Vee and Jen at the one of the beautiful cemeteries in the area.
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The people have an active role with their dead
ancestors.
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The church at San Juan Chamula. The people dismissed the priests here years ago and do their native ceremonies here. The energy in this church is extrememly intense.
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Life is hard but people love their children.
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In the market around the San Juan Chamula church.
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Los hombres in native dress.
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What is Mexico without chiles?
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The back-strap loom is a staple of weaving in this area.
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The churches in San Cristobal are wonderful.
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Our hotel in San Cristobal.
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This colonial town is colorful and engaging.
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Pretty isn't it?
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Jen bought this sweater and hat to wear back home. A bit bright I think?
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The colonial churches are all beautiful.
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After our fairwell dinner - the whole group!
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A fairwell romantic dinner together!
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