
San Cristóbal’s ‘Green’ Museum; Na Bolom
Na Bolom’s homepage caught my eye. Stating that it was museum as well as a hotel, each of Na Bolom’s unique rooms were filled with museum artefacts; from the clay decorations on the mantelpiece to the furniture in the room. Having an affliction for bohemian-style travelling this place intrigued me… Never in my years of travel have I slept inside a museum.
Na Bolom’s rich an interesting history is apparent in every corner. The place has the feel as if a famous person had once written a book here. Incredibly peaceful, within a setting which is simply inspirational. An extensive blooming garden, every piece of furniture an antique, screaming with stories from a long time past. If you want to stay in an interesting place that will surprise you at every turn, this is it. Casa Na Bolom would be a perfect place to stay if you are interested in Mexican history, archaeology, anthropology and antiques or are wanting a quiet getaway. The Wifi is fast, and the centre of town only a short walk away, albeit uneven and cobblestoned. Almost all rooms have a cosy wood fire and a desk to work at. Perfect for escaping the cold mountain air.
Essentially this is the Museum of Frans and Trudy Blom – two exceptionally interesting explorers who spent their life protecting the culture and heritage of the surrounding Mayan regions – and the work they did. The museum also supports an inspiration of projects within the communities including Heritage and Culture, Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Community Health programs. And to top it all off – any profits made by Na-Bolom go straight back into the local communities. This is eco-tourism at its most impressive.
I strongly advise that upon your arrival you learn more about the history of the surrounding area and immerse yourself in the Blom’s story, after this Casa Na Bolom becomes all the more magical. If you decide to stay here, you can either have a quick tour of the grounds with one of the Spanish speaking staff. Or, if you speak only English, request to watch the 15-minute DVD about Frans and Trudy Blom.
History
A snippet of the mesmerising history of the Bolms below:
Frans Blom
- Hailing from a rich aristocratic family but essentially a floater, Frans ended up in Mexico working at an oil drilling company, where he came across a love for leading the drillers not to new oil, but to archaeological sites
- After impressing a series of people he was “discovered” and due to the immense need for his skills, he was fast-tracked through Havard and immediately employed
- He had a reputation as being the Indiana Jones of Tulane, and was very impressive in the field. He excavated the Maya archaeological site of Uaxactun in Guatemala and wrote many well-regarded books
- Due to pressure from his work to raise more and more money for expeditions, he developed a drinking problem, was fired from his job and his wife left him. A friend went to his apartment one day and only found a note from Blom staying “back to Mexico, the jungle finally got his beast”
- A short time after returning to Mexico he decided he would marry Gertrude Duby after meeting her in the jungle covered head to toe in mud
- They fled the smog of Mexico City and bought the abandoned and decrepit building that is now Na Bolom and restored it
- Fans spent most of his life fighting to preserve the culture and way-of-life for Mayan people who live traditionally in the Mexican rainforest
Trudy Blom
- Gertrude, a Swiss journalist and photographer, started life with a bang when at age 16 she was a feminist left-wing socialist. Later she began to work as an anti-fascist organiser and speaker, women’s rights representative and journalist reporting on the Nazi war
- She is thought to have married her best friends brother Kurt Düby to free him from jail from the outside. She then went on to marry six more times for similar reasons
- Due to her journalistic reporting she became known to Hitler by name. Around that time her best friend was murdered in the street while Trudy was walking with her
- Trudy travelled to Paris to join the International Movement against Hitler’s Germany. She was captured there, spent time in a concentration camp and deported back to Switzerland
- She ended up in Mexico after following along a mass emigration of pacifist, communists, labor leaders, artists and Jews
- Trudy was impressed by the Mexican revolution, which came from a place of need, not intelligence. She worked alongside revolutionary people, documenting them. She was especially impressed by the Lacabon people living in the jungle near Palenque because they had never been conquered by the Spanish and lived a wholly traditional life
- She made several expeditions to visit and photograph the Lacabon people on one of which she met Frans Blom and married him
- Trudy became quite famous due to her photographs
- She lived 30 years more than her husband Frans and continued with their work of preserving the local culture in Chiapas
- In 1989 Trudy won the 500 UN award as the first conservationist
What to do in San Cristóbal
– A church that encourages smoking and drinking inside!
While you’re in San Cristobal try to organise with the Museum to head out to one of the communities to see some of the ways the Mayans live traditionally. A local well-known anthropologist, Walter F Maurice Jr (AKA Chip) and I headed out to Chamula (20-mins from San Cristóbal) where in the Church of St. John the Baptist you will be transported back to medieval Catholicism from the 1400’s mixed with a Mayan twist that is practiced every day. The church is quite magical. On the day we were there (a Monday) there were many Curing Ceremonies being practiced with Shamans. Families sat on the floor amongst pine needles (not a pew in sight) with carefully arranged candles, burning. They will offer to share a meal with the gods where they drink a strong alcoholic white-rum called Pox (pronounced Posh), eat snacks and sacrifice a chicken that will later be made into soup and shared with friends and family. If you’re interested in getting involved it’s a good idea to buy popcorn to give to the children. Many of the families will happily share their Pox with you as they are supposed to drink the entire bottle before leaving again. All of this is especially cool because you can not only drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes in the church, but it’s fine for you to interrupt the prayers – because after all everyone is just sharing a meal. The whole vibe is only complemented by the mass of merry, drunken church attendees.
To view more photos of this incredible hotel check out my Flickr Gallery.
Info
Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish
Currency: Mexican Peso MXN
$1 USD = $16.97 MXN
I was here: November 2014
It would be so cool to stay in something like this. I would be a little afraid though because I don’t want to mess anything up or touch anything. I would be in awe and you are right it’s great to learn the history of places before you go
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It was really cool! It was fine to touch everything, ha ha. They weren’t essential pieces of the museum.
What a facinating read! I am trying to imagine actually having this experience. Sleeping in a museum and attending church with a “mass of merry, drunken church attendees” sounds like a vacation I’d like to take.
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Finylla! This is just what I was looking for.
Wow! What a wonderful experience and an awesome blessing to be able to stay at a place that has such a rich history and cultural. I love how detailed your pictures are and I am glad that you provided the history to the home. I never heard of this place I am glad to know its on my radar now.
What an amazing place to visit I have never heard of this before. It looks an amazing hotel to stay at. I love that you wouldn’t have to go far to find things to see and do there.
tammileetips recently posted…Yellowstone National Park Travel Tips
Oh my gosh! I would so love to stay in a piece of living history…a museum! Wow. The whole area is so beautiful and full of culture, I’m sure it was quite an adventure. Adding it to my bucket list!
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What a cool adventure. The church is surprising that your actually encouraged to interrupt and free to express. I feel like it would leave you a little speechless yet craving that kind of free feeling. Gertude being married 7 times is pretty amazing but yet what a selfless heart she must of been. She is so lucky to not have been killed by Hitler so her story can be told. Thank you for sharing. I loved your adventure.
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This place looks amazing, Crystal! I always love staying in places that have some ‘background’ because that always leaves them with a lot of personality and character. Now I haven’t been to this part of the world yet but you bet that I’m itching to!
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Wow this place looks amazing! I love your photographs too 🙂 One day I will travel the world and see things like this, its always been a dream of mine. How awesome though that you got to stay at something so cool and historical!
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Historic hotels are always fun to visit. There’s just something about them that adds another dynamic to the experience. I’m a history lover, so this type of place is right up my alley. I like that you included information about the explorers who inspired the museum and an interesting place to visit nearby. Great post!
Erin recently posted…Chua Say Tevoda: A History of Angkor Temples
It’s always a memorable experience visiting historical places. Aside from learning, you’ll get to discover new things. Going back to history is an important thing to learn especially the young ones. The place that I like most is the room with fireplace. It looks bright because of the windows.
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In 1968, I visited the place together with three other Swedish ethomusicologists. When we asked where in San Cristobal we could live, Trudy Blom answered us: “You can live here, but please remember that THIS IS NOT A HOTEL.” The terminology seams to have changed after her death…
Oh fantastic, I can`t believe I never heard about this place before! I need to take my mum there, she will love it. I suppose it is just slightly far away however… Do you reckon places like this exist in other countries too? In this case I do not mind if someone attempted to copy the concept…
Big help, big help. And suteilaprve news of course.
What’s the author supposed to do? There isn’t anywhere that the idiots would read it, expect maybe if there’s a new version of the Bible – I think there’s value in donuemcting what’s going on anyway, if only for the historical record. Maybe if enough people keep saying these things, the So-called liberal media will pick up on them, and stop giving politicians who practics idiocy a pass.
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