10/02: What's up at the Iguana?
Our hostel receives good reviews on the internet and we got 91% at hostelbookers 
At the moment there are 2 amazing girls working with us.
Jessica is German who lived in Barcelona. Extremely positive and chatty person. She talks in a very spectacular way - like on a stage. As soon as she gets up (usually very late) she organizes going out by night and then with our guests they all come back in the morning. Then she wears sun glasses whole day.
Yoon is a Korean and as long as Asian girls are known for being sky and modest, Yoon has nothing to do with that. She makes jokes - especially of herself - drinks a lot, dances, smokes when she's drunk, swears - especially in Spanish - and is first to talk to guys. We call her Dona Juana. Everybody loves her.
One day she called a tourist agent to book a tour for our guests. First they didn't understand her in the agency. I don't know if they couldn't get her accent or just didn't speak English. Then they asked her many times and details about whether she works for us.
- Rudy is not a problem? No problem for you? They asked me many things if I work here... - poor Asian girl working illegally
Next day she wanted to ride one of our bicycles.
- They are too big this bicyclers for me
- You can lower the seat, says Rudy
- No, they are still too high. I have very short legs. I can't reach the ground.
At the moment there are 2 amazing girls working with us.
Jessica is German who lived in Barcelona. Extremely positive and chatty person. She talks in a very spectacular way - like on a stage. As soon as she gets up (usually very late) she organizes going out by night and then with our guests they all come back in the morning. Then she wears sun glasses whole day.
Yoon is a Korean and as long as Asian girls are known for being sky and modest, Yoon has nothing to do with that. She makes jokes - especially of herself - drinks a lot, dances, smokes when she's drunk, swears - especially in Spanish - and is first to talk to guys. We call her Dona Juana. Everybody loves her.
One day she called a tourist agent to book a tour for our guests. First they didn't understand her in the agency. I don't know if they couldn't get her accent or just didn't speak English. Then they asked her many times and details about whether she works for us.
- Rudy is not a problem? No problem for you? They asked me many things if I work here... - poor Asian girl working illegally
Next day she wanted to ride one of our bicycles.
- They are too big this bicyclers for me
- You can lower the seat, says Rudy
- No, they are still too high. I have very short legs. I can't reach the ground.
For this day all inhabitants of Zinacantan wear their best traditional, richly embroidered clothes. Approaching main plaza one see all colours like a carpet of flowers. Processions, music, eating and drinking and some funny competitions (e.g. men dressed as animals climbing a huge tree!) are a way to celebrate.
First we visited Rosa’s house to present her Emiliano. When Rudy takes tourists to Zinacantan, they visit Rosa’s modest house, where they can learn how to make tortillas. Rosa produces and sells textiles. She asked if I want to buy a skirt, she gave us very good price and we bought it and then she gave me a kind of scarf with which women cover their shoulders. Me dressed as Zinacanteca and Rudy with a baby in his arms (in indigenous culture man never carries a baby!) we gained attention of the whole village! This day we were the top attraction of the festival!
First we visited Rosa’s house to present her Emiliano. When Rudy takes tourists to Zinacantan, they visit Rosa’s modest house, where they can learn how to make tortillas. Rosa produces and sells textiles. She asked if I want to buy a skirt, she gave us very good price and we bought it and then she gave me a kind of scarf with which women cover their shoulders. Me dressed as Zinacanteca and Rudy with a baby in his arms (in indigenous culture man never carries a baby!) we gained attention of the whole village! This day we were the top attraction of the festival!
Chiapa de Corzo - one hour drive from San Cristobal -from 8 to 22 January transforms in a huge festival. It is the biggest festivity of Chiapas that its origins take from invasion of the Spanish and inhabitants of the village preserve its tradition with proud.
Central Plaza fills in with Merry-go-around and stalls with drinks and food while the streets are swept by colourful and noisy parades of different themes.
The festival starts on the 8th with Chunayes – men disguised in traditional women’s dresses. Where does this idea come from?
When the Spanish invaded Chiapa de Corzo, a woman named Maria de Angulo was defending indigenous inhabitants of the village. These respected and loved Maria and in her honour the parade of "Marias" walkes the streets and since few centuries ago women were not allowed to participate, men used to disguise in Maria's dress. And it is so until nowadays. Then the story goes that Maria’s son got very ill and indigenous habitants of Chiapa were visiting Maria's son to make him laugh and feel better and in order to do so they disguised as the Spanish: wearing white masks and white ugly hats imitating bright hair. That's how Parachicos came to life. Today Parachicos are the greatest attraction of the festival. And beautiful Chiapanecas, women of Chiapa de Corzo, wear traditional colourful dresses for the festivity days.
This year we went with Rudy to see Chuntayes and the parade of men of all age dancing like in trance seems kind of madness but observing you appreciate the confidence and good humour they carry while dressed as women.
Inhabitants of Chiapa gather in their houses with family and friends and since it's very hot, even during night, their houses are opened and you can see huge Nativity scenes
Central Plaza fills in with Merry-go-around and stalls with drinks and food while the streets are swept by colourful and noisy parades of different themes.
The festival starts on the 8th with Chunayes – men disguised in traditional women’s dresses. Where does this idea come from?
When the Spanish invaded Chiapa de Corzo, a woman named Maria de Angulo was defending indigenous inhabitants of the village. These respected and loved Maria and in her honour the parade of "Marias" walkes the streets and since few centuries ago women were not allowed to participate, men used to disguise in Maria's dress. And it is so until nowadays. Then the story goes that Maria’s son got very ill and indigenous habitants of Chiapa were visiting Maria's son to make him laugh and feel better and in order to do so they disguised as the Spanish: wearing white masks and white ugly hats imitating bright hair. That's how Parachicos came to life. Today Parachicos are the greatest attraction of the festival. And beautiful Chiapanecas, women of Chiapa de Corzo, wear traditional colourful dresses for the festivity days.
This year we went with Rudy to see Chuntayes and the parade of men of all age dancing like in trance seems kind of madness but observing you appreciate the confidence and good humour they carry while dressed as women.
Inhabitants of Chiapa gather in their houses with family and friends and since it's very hot, even during night, their houses are opened and you can see huge Nativity scenes
17/12: Emiliano
I try to coordinate work at the hostel with my work in translation – I found some good customers and it pays off – with being a mum and a housewife. And it’s not easy. Emiliano seems to be the most absorbing, capricious and canny child in the world. He doesn't want to stay on his own, he doesn't want to lie down, he doesn't want to sleep – if so, only with my breast in his mouth – he wants to watch the world, he doesn’t want to lose anything of it, he gets bored quickly, he screams when he wants or doesn’t want something, all together he tries to terrorize us. So we keep telling him: wait till you are older you understand everything, you gonna get what you deserve!”.
As for now one of his smiles is enough to make our hearts melting.
As for now one of his smiles is enough to make our hearts melting.
17/12: Puting our hostel in order
Time is flying. Lots of running and work with the hostel . One month of our absence with supervision by our friend was enough to make hostel a rundown paradise for hippies. Our friend was great as a friend, unfortunately it turned out that he has no manager skills at all and no feeling for running a business and although he has no bad intentions, we had to work and pay to put everything back in order. Well, we are disappointed with his carelessness and lack of responsibility and professionalism, we had different image of him, too much bitterness and resentment, and it looks that we lose our friend...
The other thing is that a strict supervision by a pedantic Virgo was missing. First of all I changed a cleaning lady. Then I put administration back in order. I made a balance of costs and incomes and unfortunately although our guest were happy with extremely family atmosphere, they come back and recommend our place to others because of a competition who cuts prices down making the whole business a joke a voluntary work.
Luckily, with initiative of the owner of the most popular hotel in San Cristobal, Posada Mexico, the Association of Hostels in San Cristobal de Las Casas was established. The principal goal of it is to fight this absurd reducing in prices and making a minimal price for a bed in dorm at 100 pesos/person. So far it works, especially that a high season starts. With this Rudy eventually gained faith that it is better to have less guests at a higher price and be able to improve services and standard than plenty of guest at rate close to nothing who steal cutlery from the hostel. (That's what happened under supervision of our friend!!!).
The other thing is that a strict supervision by a pedantic Virgo was missing. First of all I changed a cleaning lady. Then I put administration back in order. I made a balance of costs and incomes and unfortunately although our guest were happy with extremely family atmosphere, they come back and recommend our place to others because of a competition who cuts prices down making the whole business a joke a voluntary work.
Luckily, with initiative of the owner of the most popular hotel in San Cristobal, Posada Mexico, the Association of Hostels in San Cristobal de Las Casas was established. The principal goal of it is to fight this absurd reducing in prices and making a minimal price for a bed in dorm at 100 pesos/person. So far it works, especially that a high season starts. With this Rudy eventually gained faith that it is better to have less guests at a higher price and be able to improve services and standard than plenty of guest at rate close to nothing who steal cutlery from the hostel. (That's what happened under supervision of our friend!!!).
17/12: Back in Mexico
Emiliano did very well during his big trip, no problems with taking off or landing, cried no more than usual and he was fascinated with everything that surrounded him. Certainly he go a bit stress with all changes: new house (actually two!) climate and temperature (from 5 to 30 C degrees!), new family but all together as for me he did very well. Not surprising at all: he’s a little great traveler, since he was conceived... as his mum!
It’s been one week that we are in our final house, in San Cristobal, all three of us together. The weather is great, sunny day time but not too hot. Luckily we have great staff at the hostel at the moment so we can enjoy walking the streets of San Cristobal. At the beginning I had trouble with gating used to Mexico again. Now I came back not as a tourist but to live and after this long absence – 3.5 month in Poland - I see differences even more acute – chaos in the streets, rude drivers, noise and people relaxed up to being lazy.
San Cristobal? I’m smiling when walking in the streets, how many hippies live here, paradise for foreigners who don't like rules and order of their Western countries. I like it here because nobody cares about superficial values and appearance - in contrast to ordinary Mexican town - you can wear and do whatever you like, nobody will be surprised.
It’s been one week that we are in our final house, in San Cristobal, all three of us together. The weather is great, sunny day time but not too hot. Luckily we have great staff at the hostel at the moment so we can enjoy walking the streets of San Cristobal. At the beginning I had trouble with gating used to Mexico again. Now I came back not as a tourist but to live and after this long absence – 3.5 month in Poland - I see differences even more acute – chaos in the streets, rude drivers, noise and people relaxed up to being lazy.
San Cristobal? I’m smiling when walking in the streets, how many hippies live here, paradise for foreigners who don't like rules and order of their Western countries. I like it here because nobody cares about superficial values and appearance - in contrast to ordinary Mexican town - you can wear and do whatever you like, nobody will be surprised.
17/09: After Emiliano was born
Our son decided to come to this world the same night when we took into account Emiliano as a name for him. He was born on 9/9/2010 and gave him name he chose himself - Emilek (in Polish).
So me, a constant traveller, afraid of monotony and routine of everyday life that seems to be related to settling down and ordinary family life, with fear of labour, sleepless nights after that and that I will never regain my usual figure - I am becoming a mother.
And after the first shock, I felt in an immense love with my son. I can't take my eyes off him. Now I know what maternal instinct is and how a mother can love.
Emiliano is sweet. It seems that the only thing he needs is to feel his parents tenderness and love and his mother's breast. Then a blissful look comes on his face. We sleep during nights. Within 4 days I lost 8 kg.
My dear readers, you who followed my adventures and were proud of me that I did not surrender to standard of family-children-home, you for whom I was a heroine and authority, maybe you will feel betrayed now, because to sum up my adventures and travels I will tell you one thing:
Never in my life in no place and at no time was I as happy as now, with my two men, searched for and awaited for a long time: with my son and his father.
So me, a constant traveller, afraid of monotony and routine of everyday life that seems to be related to settling down and ordinary family life, with fear of labour, sleepless nights after that and that I will never regain my usual figure - I am becoming a mother.
And after the first shock, I felt in an immense love with my son. I can't take my eyes off him. Now I know what maternal instinct is and how a mother can love.
Emiliano is sweet. It seems that the only thing he needs is to feel his parents tenderness and love and his mother's breast. Then a blissful look comes on his face. We sleep during nights. Within 4 days I lost 8 kg.
My dear readers, you who followed my adventures and were proud of me that I did not surrender to standard of family-children-home, you for whom I was a heroine and authority, maybe you will feel betrayed now, because to sum up my adventures and travels I will tell you one thing:
Never in my life in no place and at no time was I as happy as now, with my two men, searched for and awaited for a long time: with my son and his father.
The Polish girl came back to Poland. Back for a while, some three months. Because she missed her family and friends and... there is no better place than your mum's.
After a long journey I landed in Warsaw and it was great to meet all best friends. Since during my absence all my friends gave birth to their babies I was introduces into the babies word - the secrets how to take care of newborns. Which nappies, which creams, I got the smallest clothes for my baby and I got mad on sales at Warsaw's shopping centre. I have never thought I will get involved into this so much!
My family expected me with extreme joy and happiness. I went shopping with my mum and my sister to get ready for arrival of the smallest family member. My baby accumulated a huge pile of things. We are all anxious and look forward to arrival of another new family member, Rudy. Soon I will write about a Mexican guy in Poland
The baby and my tummy are growing incredibly fast now. The hostel stayed behind, far far away... Now I am a mother-to-be and although all my family and friends are still in shock (they lost hopes that I will make a family)... I am very happy
After a long journey I landed in Warsaw and it was great to meet all best friends. Since during my absence all my friends gave birth to their babies I was introduces into the babies word - the secrets how to take care of newborns. Which nappies, which creams, I got the smallest clothes for my baby and I got mad on sales at Warsaw's shopping centre. I have never thought I will get involved into this so much!
My family expected me with extreme joy and happiness. I went shopping with my mum and my sister to get ready for arrival of the smallest family member. My baby accumulated a huge pile of things. We are all anxious and look forward to arrival of another new family member, Rudy. Soon I will write about a Mexican guy in Poland
The baby and my tummy are growing incredibly fast now. The hostel stayed behind, far far away... Now I am a mother-to-be and although all my family and friends are still in shock (they lost hopes that I will make a family)... I am very happy
18/08: The end of partnership
Last week everything turned upside down.
Our partners realized that the hostel is absorbing and they are not able to run it along with their other business in another town 4 hours away from San Cristobal.
First they said they are considering quitting the hostel. Ok, whatever they will decide will be good for us.
One week later they said they decided: they are quitting. But with some unpleasant discussions, one day after that they said they want all the money they invested back immediately. Of course, we don't have this money.
The situation got awful and nervous. Few days were really stressful. Luckily, we have great friends and one of them lend us money to pay our partners and buy what our partners took with them from the hostel.
There was one day when we had no money to buy food but we felt a great relief and we are happy.
NOW THE HOSTEL IS ALL OURS!!!
Our partners realized that the hostel is absorbing and they are not able to run it along with their other business in another town 4 hours away from San Cristobal.
First they said they are considering quitting the hostel. Ok, whatever they will decide will be good for us.
One week later they said they decided: they are quitting. But with some unpleasant discussions, one day after that they said they want all the money they invested back immediately. Of course, we don't have this money.
The situation got awful and nervous. Few days were really stressful. Luckily, we have great friends and one of them lend us money to pay our partners and buy what our partners took with them from the hostel.
There was one day when we had no money to buy food but we felt a great relief and we are happy.
NOW THE HOSTEL IS ALL OURS!!!
18/08: Too busy to write
It's been a long while since I wrote last time. The hostel takes all our time and absorbs us a lot. The business is going well, our guests always leave happy, they all make friends among them and with us and we are happy that we managed to create this friendly atmosphere - that is what we wanted! But then we almost live in the hostel, we cook and eat here. We only sleep at home.
I miss a lot my family and friends, my town and home. Especially that now, being pregnant I became very emotional and sensitive. I decided to fly to Poland for few months and I booked my ticket. Rudy will join me to wait for birth of our son in September. My family is mega happy. Time flies and my departure is coming soon!
I miss a lot my family and friends, my town and home. Especially that now, being pregnant I became very emotional and sensitive. I decided to fly to Poland for few months and I booked my ticket. Rudy will join me to wait for birth of our son in September. My family is mega happy. Time flies and my departure is coming soon!
