Today I took a wonderful group tour to Teotihuacan, site of Nahuati pyramids which are well over 1200 years old. The tour also included stops at Templo Mayor, the remains of an Aztec temple in the first settlement of what is now Mexico City, which was destroyed by the conquistadores, then on to the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadelupe, the holiest site in all of Mexico, and then on to Teotihuacan. It was a perfect day with bright sunshine and mild temperatures. I will say that climbing the pyramids was a work out, especially when your body is no accustomed to the thin air at a mile high in elevation.
 |
| The ruins of Templo Mayor. The church at the rear was built from the stones taken from the temple. |
 |
| More of the ruin. The Spanish destroyed all native structures and used the materials to build their own. |
 |
| The original Basilica for the Virgin of Guadelupe, built high on a hill that was the edge of the lake on which Mexico City is now built. |
 |
| A newer (only 500 years old) Basilica, build below the hill on land reclaimed from the lake. Over the last 500 years it has settled over 4 meters at the front. |
 |
| You can see how the front is leaning to the right. |
 |
| Juan Diego's sacred shroud with the image of the Virgin on it. This was what converted the indigenous tribes to Catholicism. |
 |
| Arriving at the pyramids |
 |
| Smaller pyramids line the Avenue |
 |
| The Pyramid of the Moon, where animal and human sacrifice occurred. |
 |
| Looking down the Avenue of the Dead from the Pyramid of the Dead. The Pyramid of the Sun is to the left. |
 |
| More of the smaller pyramids to the sides of the avenue, seen from atop the Pyramid of the Dead. |
 |
| The pyramids were all clad with limestone and painted when they were built. This is one of the few remaining examples of the original painting. |
 |
| The Pyramid of the Sun, the tallest in all of Mexico, and third largest in the world based on its footprint. It has 5 tiers, one for each decade of life. (which was shorter then) |
 |
| Pyramid of the Sun |
 |
| Looking down from atop the Pyramid of the Sun, at the smaller pyramids along the Avenue of the Dead. |
 |
| Looking back towards the Pyramid of the Moon |
 |
| Gringo tourist in a MacKay golf shirt atop the Pyramid of the Sun |
 |
| Another look at the Pyramid of the Moon |
 |
| The South face of the Pyramid of the Sun. What appeared to be buttresses spaced irregularly along this side are actually a solar calendar. |
 |
| Leaving the Pyramid of the Sun |
 |
| This little cutie is the daughter of the native couple that performed for us at lunch |
 |
| The tour group. To my left is a young lady from China, the three to her left are Americans working for RBS, the couple at the end are from Australia and the couple at the front opposite me are from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Everyone spoke English so the tour guide did the whole tour in English. |
 |
| My lunch. I don't recall the name of it, but it was very good. |
 |
| Gringo tourist wearing the native dancer's headdress. |
 |
| The final pyramid was much smaller and was in the Administrative end of the Avenue, where commerce was done. |
 |
| The small platforms are where the commerce judges would decide what was worth what in their goods exchange economy. |
 |
| Looking down the Avenue of the Dead, which is over 2 miles long |
 |
| The Pyramid of the Moon is at the far end of the Avenue, and the Pyramid of the Sun is to the right. |
 |
| As we arrived back downtown to drop off the Australians, we were treated to a wonderful view of the Fine Arts building, bathed in the setting sun. |
It was a tiring but spectacular day.
