First day in a Zaptista capital completed. After a winding, sleepless 4 hour bus ride, I unrolled my mat in the back of a pineapple truck and grabbed a few hours of sleep.
A long drive into the forest, including a part where road and pond were the same. The site of grass thatched roofs finally came into view.
The first thing I saw was a sign reading:
"Esta usted en territorio Zaptista en rebelda aqui manda el pueblo y el gobierno obedece."
Next to the sign stood two masked figures. Behind them a brightly painted building with Zapatista murals. These two masked individuals are the ones we need to convince to let us stay.
We explain our motives for investigation and hand over our passports. We are told to wait in a cabin across the street while a final decision is made.
After some time we are invited in the official government building to speak with the local leaders. Four people, three men and a woman sit behind a desk. Black masks.
The afternoon was spent catching up on sleep, swimming, and then playing basketball with the Zapatistas. While playing basketball, I couldn't but help compare this place to my Aunt's campsite in Massachusetts: sign-ins, latreens, swimming, cooking by fire, and fun activities for the kids at night! The only difference is that this campground is the result of an insurgency and has been declared autonomous territory.
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