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Teotihuacan (Monday 27/08/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Teotihuacan (Monday 27/08/07)

For reasons of traffic you should visit Teotihuacan in the morning. For convenience, we endorsed one of the many taxi drivers affiliated with the hotel, and it was good.
As a first step took us to the place of a cooperative living by making Obsidian objects and multicolored fabrics made of cotton and agave. They shown us the working of obsidian, how to build cord from the agave and how to extract the Pulche, agave lymph, which can be drunk as it is slightly alcoholic (not bad after all).
Subsequently, the driver took us to the Pyramid of the Moon and he waited us at the end of the Way of the Dead, but only after making a long introduction to the site and having us hear the cry of an ancient extinct bird, a strange acoustic effect produced clapping in the middle of the squares of some archaeological sites (also at Chichen Itza).

Teotihuacan where "men become gods"

Lying forty kilometers northeast of Mexico City, the city is located in a huge valley in the middle of the arid mountains, it was the largest city and capital of Mexico's largest pre-Columbian empire.
It is one of the most important archaeological sites. In its period of maximum splendor, the place where “men became gods”, was inhabited by 250,000 people. It was founded in 150 BC in a strategic position, by the excellent climate, capable of controlling the traffic to the Gulf of Mexico. From farming town soon became a manufacturer of obsidian and trade center.
Today is one of the most visited sites of Mexico and the local population continues to live on the production of obsidian, manufacturing beautiful pieces based upon models collected in different sites of the country.
In the seventh century began its decline. I Its inhabitants abandoned it in 750.
Entering you see the Great Sacred Way, Avenida de los Muertos, the main axis, is flanked by wide platform for the celebration of religious rites.
The Great Sacred Way leads to Ciudadela, built in the classical period, reaches a considerable length of 400m. It consists of four platforms and preserves the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, whose facade has fine examples of Teotihuacan tablero. The steps of the temple is flanked by numerous alfarda with huge heads of plumed serpent.

Avenida de los Muertos

Head of plumed serpent

On the left rises the gigantic the Pyramid of the Sun: a square base with 225m and 63m high, 365 steps.
Get ready for a long, steep climb (in the whole site there are also steps on the road in plain …), but from the top the view is remarkable.

Pyramid of the Sun

At the north stands, in the Plaza de la Luna, the Pyramid of the Moon: 46m high, formed by four superimposed levels, with 112 steps. This ascent was certainly easier to accomplish than the climb to the Pyramid of the Sun, also because it was limited the first steps, as you can not climb to the top.

Plaza de la Luna

Pyramid of the Moon

The Plaza de la Luna includes other buildings such as the Palace of the Butterfly or Placio del Quetzalpapalotl, with a patio that has several columns with depictions of the Quetzal Butterfly, the Patio of the Jaguars with traces of paintings and the Temple of the fledged shells dating back to second century.

Patio of the Jaguars - traces of paintings

Guadalupe, Our Lady India

Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe

In December 9, 1533 the Virgin appeared close in a cloak embroidered with gold, to the Indian Juan Diego in the woods, on the Cerro El Tepeyac, where once stood the Aztec temple of the goddess Tonantzin, mother of the gods. Our Lady asked him to build a chapel in her honor, but the bishop, Fray Juan de Zumarraga, gave no regard to the words of Juan Diego. The Mother of Christ, then clear again, imprinting his image on the white mantle of indium and telling him to gather the roses that grew in that place and to bring them along to the mantle, to the prelate.
The coat is hung above the marble altar of the new Basilica.
Since then, Our Lady of Guadalupe was the saint patron of Mexico. Thus the work of conversion of indigenous peoples was also facilitated by this prodigy, used instrumentally by Spanish clergy.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The new basilica

⇐ Day 2: Mexico City

⇒ Day 4: Mexico City

Travels, Mexico, Mexico City, Teotihuacan, Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mexico City - Puebla (Wednesday 29/08/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Mexico City - Puebla (Wednesday 29/08/07)

After the largest urban area in the world, we wnet to the magnificent colonial cities, several pre-Hispanic sites (Aztec, Zapotec, Mixtec Maya), the stunning scenery and indigenous regions still preserving their traditions.

Cholula

Located 10km west of Puebla, this small farming village is mainly specialized in the cultivation of flowers.
Cholula is one of the largest pre-Columbian ceremonial centers and enjoys of a terrible reputation: it seems that when the Spaniards arrived there, its walls were covered with the blood of sacrificial victims. The conquistadors, terrified, completely razed to the ground, killing all its inhabitants, and built in its place a new city with 365 churches, one for every saint in the calendar.
Remains the Great Pyramid of Tepanapa, taller than 120m, the highest in the Americas, in which the tunnels have been restored (8km) and the summit of which there is the basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, which is accessed by strenuous steps.
From his yard the view is incredible and in clear day you can see the snow-capped Popocatepetl volcano.

Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

Cholula

Popocatepetl volcano

Puebla

Capital of the state, it was founded in 1531 under the name “Ciudad de los angeles” in a very fertile valley. At 216 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by high mountains of which the best known and the “Cerro de la Malinche”. Towards the middle of the nineteenth century, Puebla was the scene of fighting between the Mexican armed forces and the United States agents who seized the city in 1847. On 5 May 1862, the General Laurence commander of French troops failed in his attempt to seize the city, having been defeated by General Ignacio Zaragoza (thanks to this victory 5 May has become the day of national holiday in Mexico).
Today this city has developed significantly, with its 3 million inhabitants, is square to the 4th place of the national ranks. Puebla is famous for its colorful colonial architecture through the use of multicolored glazed tiles, which are used in the majority of the domes of churches, as well as in wall coverings, roofs, bell towers. The decorations are inspired by the pagan myths as the artists was the direct descendants of the builders of temples and pyramids.
We must not forget the renowned gastronomy with the famous “Plobano mole” (sauce composed of many ingredients, among them the cocoa).
In Puebla there is the largest German community living in Mexico and it organize, in August, the festival of beer, which has nothing to envy to 'Oktober Fest' in Monaco of Bavaria.

Puebla

⇐ Day 4: Mexico City

⇒ Day 6: Puebla - Oaxaca

Travels, Mexico, Cholula, Puebla

Campeche - Uxmal - Merida (Friday 07/09/07)

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2019-01-19T16:07:07+0000

Campeche - Uxmal - Merida (Friday 07/09/07)

Uxmal ("Three times built" in Mayan language)

Uxmal is a site notable for the delicacy of its architecture and the end working of stone (do not forget that this civilization did not use metal to build) its peak is dated around the year 600 of our era.

Inside you can admire:

The Temple of fortune-teller, on which stands the Temple of Chenes whose entrance is the mouth of a huge animal.
The Quadrangle of the Nuns richly decorate.
The game of pelota.
The House of Turtles.
And the Government Palace.
The Great Pyramid where the view is superb. The name Maya is “Och Mal” (three buildings).

Temple of the fortune-teller

Temple of Chenes

Quadrangle of the Nuns

The game of pelota

The House of Turtles

Government House

Great Pyramid

Uxmal

Along the way we have always been accompanied by iguanas, Uxmal seems their reign.

Iguana

Merida

Founded in 1542 the area of the Mayan city of Tiho, by Francisco de Montejo, called the “ship's boy” is often also called the Ciudad Bianca, the white city.
After the glorious era at the beginning of the century with the production of “Sisal” agave, Merida knows the difficult times during the revolution of 1910. Today, Merida is back to being the main center of the region. It's a university town, agricultural, industrial and with the birth of Cancun 30 years ago, has found a new momentum to position itself among the most urbanized city in the country.
Do not forget to visit the zocalo, the murals on the first floor of the palace of the governor, the Hall of marriages (beautiful style Porfiriato “inspired by the French at the beginning of the century), the market (on the corner of routes 56 and 57), the Paseo Montejo and the Archaeological Museum (closed on Mondays). Check with your hotel on the cultural activities taking place on different squares of the city according to the day of the week. You can do after the Zocalo of carriage walks (beautiful at night).

⇐ Day 13: Palenque - Campeche

⇒ Day 15: Merida – Chichen Itza - Cancun

Travels, Mexico, Uxmal, Merida