They say when you fall in love, it's like fireworks. But falling in love isn't always bright fiery lights and explosions, sometimes it is subtle and grows like stepping inside after walking home in the snow to curl up next to a blazing fire; comforting and more like an easy defrosting. Our love for San Cristobal de Las Casas has been some of both.
Our initial freezing cold visit to Las Casas was filled with brilliant food, warm colored, well lived in buildings and maze like meandering streets. The native people draped in brightly colored weavings reminded me of Guatemala, a place very special to my heart. The city's center felt hidden from the rest of the world as you turned off the busy streets of the new growth to skim by pastures and twist and turn your way into the old worn stone streets at the heart of this high elevation gem. Perched overlooking the tile roofs from our hotel, there was no way to glimmer the treasures hidden below, the streets being so tightly tucked in you couldn't dream of the lively lights that welcome pedestrians down below.
Each doorway seemed to hide a unique world within the world of Las Casas, a curious journey into Alice and Wonderland or for those familiar with it, Meow Wolf... only without the psychedelic influence of either. You stroll down the touristy main street with it's competing music screaming from bars and choose a random seeming door flanked by potted trees and fall into an elegant multi-level sophisticated mini neighborhood with a bakery and cafe, several wonderful restaurants boasting flavors from around the world, beautiful jewels sparkle in shop windows and low and behold, there is even a wine bar. Every new street in Las Casas seems to offer these escapes into wonderful new environments and the discoveries seem to be limitless. A market place full of artistic wonders sprung up before us one day, an amber museum secluded in an old monastery was our delight another day and a specialty wine shop nestled in a forgotten side street enveloped us on yet another day.
It seems strange to chose to return to Las Casas after some of our dazzling hot spots, we know. Spending the bulk of your time in a high elevation, cold climate place when back home IS a high elevation cold place is crazy, but here we are and it is glorious. Our new home for the month is a large stone oasis, a literal secret garden that keeps the entire world a dream away. The brightly painted walls are reminders that we are in Las Casas while the stone and dense wood structure wrap around us suggesting influences of Italy or France. The elaborate gardens encircle the home with exquisite flowers falling over everything while alluring paths tease your imagination into fairy tales. The fire places in each cozy seating area cackle and whisper to you as you start to forget that there is anywhere else on the planet other than right here. Even the constant blasts from the local celebrations filled with fireworks seem dulled in this bubble. We have tried to venture from the property, but the magical spell it has cast is strong and we find ourselves spending day after day simply soaking it in.
Our family has been needing to heal. The depth of pain our daughter was in as she battled deep depression ricocheted into Jesse and I like a silver bullet. The struggle I have had as I come to terms with another life altering disease has felt crushing to our family unit that relies on me to be the pillar. And the strain of it all has driven my husband to take drastic measures...ie this trip, stress reflecting back to us as he worries horribly about his girls. So as we slowly defrost from trauma, we warm ourselves to the curious magic of Las Casas, the fireworks exploding nearby as reminders that a love story has indeed begun.
...to be continued. And as always, don't forget to Wine First!
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