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The Journals from the Road
April 16: The Ruins Adventurers - Behind Miguel's roadside stand, Chiapas The site, at first, seemed very out of the way and uninteresting. We walked about a km to the entrance. I was happy when I realized that today was Sunday because all ruins sites are free on Sundays. Tonina is like no other ruins site I have been to. First, you see a ball court like many other sites but then, as you walk toward the main acropolis, you come into a labyrinth symbolizing the underworld. If you walk it without artificial light you recieve good luck. Jon and I received good luck but also found more. As a matter of fact, it was in this very labyrinth that we undercovered the secret of the Haunted Corridor. You will have to wait a bit for the footage but our exclusive Haunted Corridor Project is a scary but true expose of what happens to travelers who drink too much bottled water and get lost inside the ruins of Tonina. After this filming we scaled to the top of the ruins stopping at tombs, altars, Earth Monsters, and underground passages along the way. This ruins, for me, has been the most fun to explore. We came back to the hotel and packed up and then cajoled PeaceForce One down a narrow flight of stairs. With all this cajoling we had worked up an appetite. We went unknowlingly to a restaurant that serves you everything you enquire about. You get it whether or not you wanted it. Jon and I both inquired about beans and rice before deciding on some other dishes. The waiter must have been on automatic because we got all of the above. We ate it all and paid for it too. Oh well. We climbed uphill and coasted down but didn't get too far before dusk. We stopped and asked at small homestead if there was a place we could put up the tent. A man said he would talk it over with one of the town leaders who was playing soccer. In a few minutes they came back and showed us a place behind this roadside stall. It was close to the road but also close to the others' houses. Miguel, one of the town leaders, said all we needed to do was yell and he and his brothers would be at our side. At night we cooked up some rice and vegis. Jon asked me if I wanted some natural spices and in a moment of temporary insanity I agreed to add one tiny, little Habanero chili. Long story short I didn't taste a single other flavor that night and my mouth burned til the moon went down. I tried to sooth the pain by pouring honey down my burning throat but the relief was short lived. I vowed never again to agree to such foolishness. We had an audience as we fumbled through a dinner of pain and that seemed to help a bit. We learned that the Tzetzal name for moon is Ooo. The Ooo glowed, round and bright! With my mouth hot, my heart warm, and new friends all around, we went to sleep. TAD |