Exploring the Mexico City area, Teotihuacan, Part 2

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:23:25 +0000

Next stop on your tour is the Avenue of the Dead. It is the main axis of the city. It stretches to the north from the Citadel all the way to the Temple of the Moon. You will see the “Edificios Superpuestos”, where excavations have unearthed living quarters below the present level, which were filled in with rubble in order to build the second stage. On either side of the Avenue of the Dead are residential palace compounds (probably occupied by noble families). Each is a square, 200 feet on a side, and is surrounded by a wall. The pedestrian would have seen only the high walls facing the streets, pierced by inconspicuous doors.
Then we come to the famous Pyramid of the Sun. It is one of ancient Mexico’s largest structures, with nearly 200 feet of heights and 700 feet wide. It was constructed in two phases. The first construction stage, around 100 A.D., brought the pyramid to nearly the size it is today. The second round of construction resulted in its completed size, making it the third largest pyramid in the world behind the Great Pyramid of Cholula and The Great Pyramid. The Pyramid was built on top of a cave which was discovered in 1970. This cave is over 100 yards long and ends in the shape of a four-leaf clover, with four chambers. According to many beliefs, in ancient Mexico, the caves actually were passageways to the underworld. If you can plan your visit to Teotihuacan, try to come there on the days of the fall and spring equinox. Then Teotihuacan is crowded with people who are dressed in white and climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun. On the top they are receiving the special energy of the site. If 250 stairs is not much for you, you should definitely climb up and at least enjoy in the magnificent view.
When you get enough of the Pyramid of the Sun, move on to the Quetzalpapalotl Palace. It is situated on the way to the Pyramid of the Moon. It is assumed that this was the residence of Teotihuacan’s ruler. Next you will see the Patio of the Quetzalpapalotl Palace. The name Quetzalpapalotl is Nahuatl for the “Quetzal butterfly” and it was applied to this building because of carved images like this one which appear on the columns surrounding the courtyard shown above. Some of these images are thought to represent the quetzal bird, which was revered by pre-European peoples living throughout Central America. Some of the images show a creature which is a combination of the quetzal and a butterfly, hence the name. The pillars that surround it are made of stone blocks carved with images of birds. Some of them are shown in profile and others are facing forward. Going on you will come to the Patio of the Jaguars. It is placed behind the Quetzalpapalotl Palace and it is a rectangular patio surrounded by rooms with jaguar murals. The jaguars that are pictured here are holding conch shells in their mouths. The figure in the five-pointed stars above the jaguars is the rain and maize god Tlaloc, probably the most powerful god in ancient central America. From this palace you can enter the subterranean Temple of the Plumed Conch Shells which has murals of shells, perhaps outfitted as musical instruments, together with birds spouting water, painted in green, blue, yellow and red.

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Visiting other cities in Mexico? Visit Guadalajara

admin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:12:22 +0000

The second largest city in Mexico is Guadalajara. Among the local people and some well-informed tourists it is also known as “the Pearl of the West”. It owns its popularity to the Mariachi music since this is the place where it has been born. It is located in the center of Mexico, in the state of Jalisco. Guadalajara has a humid subtropical climate, featuring dry and mild winters and warm and wet summers. The highest temperatures are usually reached in May averaging 32°C, before the onset of the wet season. The name of the place comes from the Arab word “Wadi-al-Hajara”, meaning “Valley of stones” and it is named like that in honour of conquistador Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, who founded the Mexican city in 1531.
In the tourist sector the cultural wealth of Guadalajara has taken on an important role. Many of the main cultural events in the country is held right here. The culture is a key factor in the development of Guadalajara that is why it has been approved the construction of the Guggenheim Guadalajara, the sixth Guggenheim museum in the world. Guadalajara also hosts music festivals and open-air art and photography shows. It is a city with a great number of contemporary artists in dance, theater, music, photography, cinema, design, architecture, etc.
Like in every town or village in Mexico, here you can also see and do interesting things. You should visit the Government Palace and attractions such as the Institute of Jalisco Handicrafts, the Museum of Archaeology of Western Mexico, the Jose Clemente Orozco Museum, the Museum of Huichol Indian Handicrafts and the Museum of Journalism and Graphic Arts. There are also day trips. I would definitely recommend to all to take a ride on the Tequila Express and visit the town of Tequila and learn everything about this famous drink. Not to forget to mention, there is plenty of tequila for you to taste and also mariachi music to make the real impression on the journey.
Shopping is also one of the attractions of Guadalajara. It is renowned for its glass-blowing workshops, its ceramics and leather-work. Nearby there is also a village that ha san abundance of crafts studios and shops. And you mustn’t miss the Mercado Libertad, which is Latin America’s largest enclosed market.
When it comes to the nightlife, you should start your evening with the Nocturno walking tour if you are in the town on Saturday. There is also La Maestranza Cantina, a bar with the bullfighting museum that includes also restaurant service and live music. If you are not a fan of the bullfights and you want to spend your nights dancing, than you should definitely go to El Mito, a disco for the over 25 crowd where you can enjoy in the music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. On the other hand, if you don’t want to spend your nights in Mexico listening to the pop music and if you want to hear some latin rhythms, such as salsa, merengue and cumbia you should go to Tropigala and let the rhythm overtakes you.

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City In Mexico » tourism

Exploring the Mexico City area, Teotihuacan, Part 2

Visiting other cities in Mexico? Visit Guadalajara