Zapatista New Year and Leaving Isabella to continue the Adventure this Summer.

Thats right ladies and gentleman we going to the Zapatista New Year Party and we are all so stoked. The group that is going is up near the 20´s as far as the amount of people from this hostel. Crazy Italian circus and there friends. We will be taking as little as possible up to Oventic then comming back down for probably a day to take what we need from Isabella and give her a big kiss goodbye and take two long ass bus rides. One to Mexico City and the next to Tijauna. This has become our best option because the parts are not on their way and time is running out to successfully drive back. This way I mail the parts and a money order. to pay Armondo our trusty mechanic here in San Cristobal, then whoever wants to join me this summer to continue the adventure can. I will be buying a cheap flight to Mexico city early summer and then bussing it to this beautiful city. THen the return trip is ready and we drive up the coast or maybe keep going south who knows the possibilities are endless. I feel bad about leaving her but our options have run dry and school starts very soon and the three of us still have no idea where we will live. This way the adventure is on pause awaiting my return to pick it up and continue again. We should be back in the country in about a week and a half. If anyone wants to pick us up in Tijauna or San Diego let us know, would love to be greated by great friends or family. Be well and have a Happy Happy New Year My lovely friends and family. Peace from the road

Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Playing in the coffee. What fun we had. Makes a great bed for a noonday nap.

The holiday Season and waiting for Isabella

This magical city has harbored us for almost a week now. Through birthdays, Christmas potlucks with the whole world present, nighttime singalongs and wonderfull smiling faces all around us. The group now is Nick, Devin, Roberto, Helena (What can I say german women love the three of us.), and Linh from SB too. We have been making big meals in the kicten, laughing, sleeping well, watching an ocasional movie and most of all sharing this kick ass experience with eachother. The process with the car is a bit unsettleing because the amount of time we have to get back is getting smaller by the day. All great adventures have their slips, and spins then you find yourself pushing a huge car full of stuff over the Mexican Border and you smile contently wondering how the hell did I get here. The parts are being compiled and mailed to us from SB in the next couple of days as everything moves a little slower during the holidays. We will awaite our package that will bring us home and try to make it before the 10th of January. Thats a really rough estimate because of how far we are from home. Its a beautiful thing that she broke down when we were at our farthist point of the trip. Its almost as it Issabella doesn´t want to leave Mexico. The new year is on its way with wonderous new plans and adventures. I hope it treats all of you well and you treat it well as well. Peace from the Road.................

Lulu I love you!

Lulu I love you!
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Me and lulu. This bird would try to bite you then mimic a laugh it heard one day, sinister and devilish. Moments of great friendship were attained and I will never forget you buddy....

Atitlan

Atitlan
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

The lago treated us well untill the sweat end and waved good bye for miles and miles....

Shade grown coffee

Shade grown coffee
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Beautiful coffee grown around the lake. Red berries waiting to be havested and dried in the sun to turn a golden brown..

Do we have enough stuff

Do we have enough stuff
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Issabella full of love and a lot of stuff. Two germans, three califonikans and on beautiful volkswagen. I love you Isabella....

Its time to write a paper man...

Its time to write a paper man...
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Ok what are you writing about.
I am going to tell the story thats all I can do...
I agree we will tell the story from begining to end..
damn right...

Heaven is beckoning

Heaven is beckoning
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Wowzer....

San Cristobal never felt so good!!!!

Well today was crazy! After over a week of Isabella being disasembled we finally got out of Guatemala and rolled our way into Mexico. We started the day calling a tow truck. The idea was to pay for the somewhat expensive tow to the border, then push the car across the Mexican border and call another tow truck through our insurace to San Cristobal de las Casas. Things went absolutely flawless... The push over the border was more like a coast down hill for over two miles. We rolled our way in with a full van, no motor, and semy decent breaks. It was wild. THe call to the insurace agency was like a baby walk to a solution. The tow truck showed up less than two hours later and we were on our way to a mechanic that actually knows what he is doing. We arrived late and had already called ahead and organized a place to park. We have been to this mechanic three times already and he came recomeded by Pedro Cafe our local Zapatista enthusiast. The family greated us at 10pm with open arms and smiling faces. We all pushed the car in together as a team assembled in one random moment. We gathered our things and headed for the door with tantos, muchas gracias´s, and began our walk to a nearbye hostel. Halfway down the street two bicycle´s come speeding up to us and it is the two boys of the family. Everytime we have come to the mechanics we usually spend a good amount of time with the two kids. The poor guy has almost hit the ground hard trying out the skateboard. Well I told him earlier that I it was my birthday and he had come to give me a gift. It was a hand crafted slinky stick snake. Equiped with carved rattle to protruding metel tounge. It was absolutely touching and I walked on to find a hostel and enjoy a hot shower. Its nice when things work out huh......

Sunset loveliness

Sunset loveliness
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Once again we are humbled by the sights around us. Thank you la Pancha Mama.

Towing our way back to Mexico

Here we are still in Xela Guatemala. The car is in pieces and we are opting to tow her back to San Cristobal to get a real Mechanic to work on her. The adventure starts tomorrow. We have been in this city for absolutly way to much time. We have met a bunch of amazing travelers in the hostel that we are staying in. The traveling kind are a speacial bread of humans. The talking parrot has been good company as well except for his huge mood swings, I think he is bi-polar. Have you ever heard of a bi-polar parrot. Little fucker bites hard! The women left us today for their trip to San Cristobal and we should be there tomorrow night so that I can spend my whole birthday in a beautiful city. The story is getting more and more interesting each moment and we are hoping that we will actually make it home with Isabella. I love her and do not want to leave her here. She has to come home with us it is imperative. This city is quite interesting because there is really nothing to do here! Except pine over our broken car. Its not that bad we are safe and happy, just would like to be back in Mexico and on our way towards California. Wish us luck tomorrow and everybody say a prayer. Its going to be a crazy day. Peace from the road.

The Germans

The Germans
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Our great German friends, Kaya and Hellena. Two bright shining stars that fill our days with laughter and great joy. They joke, teach us words and most of all go with the flow as is the most important attribute to find in a traveling buddy. Kaya liked riding on the top of the car so much that she did not sit inside for two whole days. Then we got pulled over because she was us there. Nothing big we talked our way out of it like we do.

This is how you sell a shirt.

This is how you sell a shirt
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Balancing a big bag on her heard, negociating prices, fingering through the next item she wants to sell you and checking out whatever is happening to her left all at the same time. That is good sales. People in the states do not know what work is. These women work there fingers off everyday and then do it again the next day.

The Mercado at Chichicastenango

Flowers
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

This was in front of the Church in Chichi. We stayed in a parking lot the night before. I slept in a tent on the ground and the rest of my crew slept in the van, all four of them. It was a great night and we were helped out by some really nice locals. Sweat Guatemalan hospitality.

The Beard Roberto and Devin

What are we so excited about
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

This is a great picture of the beard that has taken over my face. I am growing attached to it. I think it likes me too. Hey Devin what are you looking at?

Skatemonk

Skatemonk
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

This is a sight that is never seen. The dreaded skatemonk. He attacks midday and takes out old ladies with snowcones. Its something you do not want to be around for. This dress we bought in a everything is ten pesos store. There were huge piles of clothes that we jumped around in for about 20 min until we got bored and moved on. We did get Nick this beautiful dress though.

Do your pants hang low..

Do your pants hang low..
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Do your pants hang low, do they wobble to and frow, can you see the volcano, can you see the rainbow. Beautiful Lago de Atitlan with volcano surrounding. This is me walking backwards up hill to lighten the load for Issabella. It was a nice moment for a walk.

Issabella que paso?

Well day two of car dose not want to work comming to an end. We are lucky because it happened in such a great place where we have some contacts through the hostel owners. If we had been on the road it would have been terrible and rough. So tonight Issabella is having a sleep over with some other VWs. She said she was going to check in in the morning and gave me the number of were she is staying. I am a bit protective over her and feel scared about her first sleepover. She growing up so quick. Seriously, she has not started in two days and most of the mechanics are scratching their heads. We are staying positive and hoping for the best. We should be returning already but we have been set back a few days. The hostel is cheap and the family who runs it are so sweat. They have been absolutly wonderful to us. Helping in any way they can. The son of the family walked me personally to three different mechanics. That is Guatemalan hospitality. Today Isabella go towed through town by a rope while we were stearing her behind another VW bus. It was crazy. So we are checking back in the morning to see how she is feeling. We are safe and the car is getting looked at. It could not have happened in a better place. Thank you to the universe and all of you sending us good thoughts. Keep um commin!!!

The lovely land of Guatemala

The lakes, volcanos, intricate clothing, colors, huge markets and most of all the continuous smiles on the street. Guatemala is truely a pleasure to be in. We are now in Quetzeltanango which they call Xela. Charming coloniol towm with cobbled streets and big puffy clouds above. We have been to lago de Atitlan as well as the huge market in Chichicastenago. We will be here for one to two more days depending on the car. Issabella is a little sick. Just a little she won´t start at the moment but she was fine yesterday so it has to be something minimal. We are now fininshing up of school semester abroad and compiling our papers to turn in. So much to talk about. Farmers in San Muguel de Allende, Organic food stores, recycling or lack there of, the accumalation of trash on the streets, the amount of young growth in the forests and jungles, the life of corn from north to south, and the hearts and spirits of the people of these Americas. We have a lot to write about! We will be in Oaxaca soon and taking easy on the beach trying to surf. We did make a trip to the Guatemalan coast recently and got absolutly pummled by the waves. It was so nice to see the Pacific again. Wish us luck and be well everyone.

Zapatistas taking over the Streets

Zapatistas taking over the Streets
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

This was a day of protest in Chiapas where all of the local Zapatistas took to the streets and stopped traffic. It was powerfull. They all had masks and it was an intimidating site.

Agua Azul

Agua Azul
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

One of the biggest waterfalls we have ever seen. WOW!

Beautiful Children near the Waterfall

Beautiful Children near the Waterfall
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

This was the most beautiful waterfall we visited. Behind the kids on the left is the biggest one. The little guys led us all the way to a tree that sits on top of the waterfall. Then another one took us all the way under the falls into these crazy caves. It was amazing!!!

Isabella enjoying the View

Isabella enjoying the View
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

We often leave Isabella for a moment by herself. SHe gets quite annoyed with us. You would too if you had to live with three young crazies and whomever they pick up. This was her favorite spot to sit and relax. We would let her enjoy the view as long as she wanted. Its this kind of friendship that has gotten us this far. I love you Isabella

Palenque

Palenque
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

The Ruins at Palenque were absolutly magical. We did not leave the grounds the whole day. We stayed and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings as long as we could.

Agro-Ecologia promotores displaying neem tree-lings

Agro-Ecologia promotores displaying neem tree-lings
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Promotores, or teachers, of Agro-Ecology display donated neem tree-lings.

Promotor de agro-ecologia, Campesinos, & Scientist

Promotor de agro-ecologia, Campesinos, & Scientist
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

As usual, the gringo is gesticulating wildly, acting the fool, while the zapatistas calmly look on. You are looking upon one of the final scenes of our trans-genetic corn play.

Zapatista corn mural, Oventic

Zapatista corn mural, Oventic
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

A beautiful mural in the community of Oventic, Chiapas. There have been many gorgeous murals in every Zapatista community that we have visited.

Rb & nico con la Junta, Oventic

Rb & nico con la Junta, Oventic
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Robert y Nicolas in the office of the Junta de Buen Gobierno in Oventic, Chipas. Spirits are high and everybody graciously agreed to have their picture taken. This is after our introductory meeting that outlined what we planned to do in the community.

Devin, kids, van

Devin, kids, van
Originally uploaded by binobitz.

Devin and some wonderful kids.

My impressions of San Cris

the quickness, skating slides down cobbled streets,
mashed meat meets taxis in narrow streets
and the people stare and point, laugh and mutter
as wheels stutt-stutter avoiding gutters and cracks
and gringo sized holes

a shanty, scantily clad construction sites
never seen by inspectors' eyes
regulation-free paradise, jungle tangle, warren
stoop, step, shimmy. looking for the crowded bench
beckoning aromas, and overwhelming condiments

exotics, commerce languages commence
under blue tarp tents
the colorful pyramids and bulging sacks
a square block with stacks of food
pursuit of life's facts

gone are murals of revolutionaries, past and present
simple names in bubble letters, are rivaled by popular demands
free the political press, stop oppression in oaxaca,
support the national socialist front
and stunning stencils smatter streetcorners, elegant and expressive

by Nico

Todo esta bien

Well after a shaky begining to the week all has gotten better imediately. The camera was stolen on monday and a window broken. Tough day. There were still two more plays to perform and the show must go on. Show one was in a Community called Babalonia. The whole town showed up. About 50-60 people in the courtyard all watching us perform the corniest play. All pun intended. It was remarkable. THey loved the theatero de gringo Zapatistas. They laughed and learned. Test packets were passed out for transgenetic corn and they were so appriciative. Then disscusion went on in three different laguages for over an hour and a half. They each said something about themselves then talked about how the milpas were doing. It was the most amazing amount of information about farming in Mexico. They we sooo eager to talk and listen. Absolutley the kindest people. THe kids surrounded us for about even second we were there. I meen two or three at all times then sometimes around eight. Sweet little kids though. The project is over for now with possibilities for the future. We are on our way to Guatemala just getting the window fixed on the van as well as the mysterious noise checked out. Spirits are high and laughter in often. Ciao