Valladolid

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Boys had a 3-day weekend so we went to Valladolid. Here's the Cliff's Notes:

  • Founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1543
  • Built over the ancient Maya city of Zací, and relocated in 1545 due to mosquito complaints, using stones from Maya structures.
  • Significant Maya revolts in the 1700s
  • Pivotal role in the 1847 Caste War, where it was besieged and temporarily lost to Maya rebels before recapture
As U. Utah Phillips used to say, "The past didn't go anywhere." The Maya stones are still part of the Convent of San Bernadino de Siena that you see behind the guys in the photo below.


The convent was built next to a really deep cenote. They came up with a very clever pump system to get the water up 60 feet to the surface.


We went to Mass next door. It was standing room only because it was the first Sunday of Advent and everybody had brought their advent wreaths to be blessed. 



All of the streets in Valladolid are numbered except this one: Calzada de los Frailes (Friars' Road) which leads down from the city center to the convent and is absolutely adorbs.

This fellow below is interesting. His name is John Ventador and he and his late wife rebuilt this crumbled mansion and filled it with the largest collection of Mexican folk art in the country. You can tour it for free and tips go to charity. There are a thousand more photos here.















I kind of want one of these scary jaguar warrior Cabbage Patch Kids.


Here we are back at the Parque Principal.


And here are the boys on the way out of the fun and funky little place we had dinner one night. You let them know when you're ready to order by honking a rubber chicken, they leave a little ring toss game on your table with a shot of juice (for the kids) or something stronger (which surreptitiously ended up in the bushes) for the winner. You're welcome to autograph the bathroom. Permission to write on the walls? Don't have to tell my boys twice.



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