By Staff Writer: Grace Anders
Twinkling lights rained down overhead, interspersed with multicolored flags dancing lazily in the soft breeze. Melodic percussion poured out from the gazebo centered in the plaza and cradled my senses in a warm embrace.
On the stone patio surrounding the gazebo, couples stepped slowly in rhythm with the music as though they had been dancing in the same place every night for decades. One couple, whose faces bore deep lines yet glistened with an eternal youthfulness, sported tiaras and sashes naming them the Marimba King and Queen.
From the moment I set foot in Parque de la Marimba nestled in the center of Tuxtla, Chiapas, I was overcome with the vibrancy and tradition that make this Southern Mexico border state a place you will want to keep coming back to.
Tuxtla is the bustling capital city of Chiapas that overflows with unique and memorable experiences. The majestic Sumidero Canyon cuts through the city, plunging into a river where boats filled with tourists navigate sharp bends. Limestone, moss, and slow drips of water create a stunning collaboration of colors and textures etched on the canyon’s vertical walls. Artisanal markets with handmade crafts and traditional, floral embroidered dresses are scattered throughout the city. From a lookout point at night, the cities’ glittering lights seem to stretch endlessly into the surrounding mountains. But the place that rivals all others in memorability and captures the essence of Tuxtla’s rich culture, is Parque de la Marimba.
The marimba is a percussion instrument, whose wooden bars make a deep, melodic sound when struck with mallet, amplified by resonator pipes that hang below the bars. The marimbas place in Chiapas culture dates back to the sixteenth century, when the instrument was brought to the region by enslaved Africans and developed into the modern marimba over the centuries. The marimba has been woven into the tapestry of Chiapas tradition, setting the tempo for ceremonies and festivals to modern ensembles. In accompaniment with other instruments and vocals, the marimba is the pulse of the iconic marimba bands of Chiapas.
“Every night of the week they play here.” My father-in-law and unofficial tour guide told me as we strolled through the plaza. “And every night people come and dance.”
Standing there on the cobblestone, listening to the harmonic reverberations, gazing at its creators on their gazebo stage and feeling the presence of the people who know the steps better than their own heartbeats, I realized: a piece of my heart will remain there, beating in rhythm with the soulful music of the marimba.