México with new eyes!

Thanksgiving was really different for me this year. Here’s a Big Shocker: Thanksgiving isn't a holiday in México, just a normal working day. My friends here talked about doing something for the holiday, but it would have been a bit difficult to cook a Thanksgiving meal, since it was a work day. So, instead, I took a couple days off, and toured around the area I live.

On Thanksgiving Day, a friend and I went to the Cathedral in the downtown. I had never been too impressed with the building, but going with a friend made it a new experience again. We wondered around, took photos of the light streaming from the windows, and admired its unusual alter. Next we toured Jardin Borda; a garden built to look like a French garden. Its original owner had been a Frenchman that came to Mexico and made a fortune on silver mining.
This is an outdoor theatre where I have enjoyed seeing live music and dancing for free on Sunday afternoons and evenings.
On Friday, I succeeded in climbing the mountain to reach the pyramid in Tepoztlan. I had heard of the pyramid Tepozteco, but I had no idea it was on top of this mountain. See if you can find it in this photo, it is on the on top of the mountain, on the right.

The climb was steep, but very fun. We loved every turn and step as we climbed our way to the top. We watched young and old climb beside us all the way.

The Tepozteco pyramid itself is small, but quite impressive.

And the views made the hike up well worth it!

After the pyramid, we went to the church, Lady of Annunciation, in Tepoztlan. This Domincian church was built in the 1500s, and the architecture is amazing. Here are photos taken from outside and inside this ancient building. This is a Dominican Shield.


Saturday was a new adventure: México City and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in Teotihuacan, which is just north of México City. We left from México City around 1:30 and were on the Metro to the bus station. The metro on weekends is supposed to be less crowded in the most populated city in the world, but when I went, crowded would describe it well. Men, women and children packed into the Metro while vendors would squeeze by with the chocolate, sweets or music and movies blaring from the speakers they carried on their backs.

After transferring through 3 different Metro stations, we were at the bus station. Buses in México are impressive with their low cost and quality service. Unfortunately, this time was an exception. With the excessive traffic, the bus ride was long and slow, stopping in the city every minute to pick up someone new. The time was passed by the guitarists that had joined us, playing in the aisle of the bus along our route. After over an hour, we started getting anxious due to the fact that the pyramids close at five, and it looked like we may not get there in time. Around 4pm, we could see the pyramids out of the window in the distance, and we noticed how the bus kept pushing forward, pushing us past our destination. Something was wrong. We asked the bus driver what was happening. He told that he passed the stop at the Pyramids, thinking that no one on this bus was going there. He apologized, stopped the bus, and gave us the fair to get on the bus heading the opposite direction. As soon as we jumped off the bus, we could see the other bus coming, after waving it down while running across the highway; we were soon on the right path.

The adventure of the ride there was well worth the experience of the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. The pyramids are impressive. The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan is the 3rd largest in the world. This city existed between 200B.C. and 800 A.D. At its peak time around 150 A.D. with around 200,000 residents, Teotihuacan may have been the largest city in the world.

Reaching the top of the Pyramid of the Sun was beautiful. It was amazing to look out on the ruins of this ancient city. Touring around the area, we saw paintings and incredible carvings in the rock. I was impressed by the different colors and beauty of the walls.

After the Pyramids, we went back to México City. When we arrived at the Zocalo (Main Square) it was alive and crowded with people. This was the night of the lighting of the Christmas tree. The square was filled with Christmas lights, music, and even an outdoor skating rink!

On the edge of the Zocalo is the Cathedral; we quietly stepped inside, and observed a wedding party leaving, a mass taking place, and several tourists taking photos. Next to the Cathedral, incense smoke filled the air. We stopped to watch an indigenous ceremony as they danced and prayed.

We walked around for hours, enjoying the closed off streets and excitement in the air. We walked past several historic sites, including the Palacio de Las Bellas Artes.

On our way back to the hostel we walked by many venders selling food, hats, handmade crafts, and other fun things. We stopped to listen to a small music group from Ecuador.

The next morning, I had breakfast at the Hostel, and peeked inside the Cathedral again. The city was alive again on this Sunday morning. Police started to fill the streets, and the chant of a protest could be heard. Another day in the life of México City.