Pyramids and Mezcal

Bright and early (aka 6:30 a.m.), we headed out to Teotihuacán, the Meso-American city (map below).  Having been to the Anthropological Museum yesterday, we were intellectually prepared for today.

On top of Pyramid of the Sun

The museum has a reproduction of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (ref previous post).  The Teotihuacán people covered the temples and carvings with stucco and painted them bright colors.  Something terrible happened before the Aztecs arrived, and this stucco was destroyed, thus losing much of the history.  The carvings are still quite impressive.

This temple has just under 30 steps.  They were a difficult 30 steps, probably because of the altitude, 7000+ feet.  

What goes up, must go down.

We were both a tad worried about the Pyramid of the Sun.  In full disclosure, it looks harder than it really was.

However, we did Peyrepertuse in southern France just three months ago and forged ahead.  For reference, this is Peyrepertuse.

Also, my parents did these pyramids on the Grand Hatfield Tour of 1971 and, if parents can do it, so can I.  Only later, did I do the actual math and realize they were in their mid-30's.  It has been a long time since either John or I were anything near 30-something.

Probably more impressive than we Baby Boomers, were the three nuns in their habits who also climbed to the top.

Next stop: The Pyramid of the Moon.  This one has fewer steps because it is both shorter and tourists are limited to the first half.  But, those steps are quite a bit steeper and the rise of each one significant.

It is important to add, during the Grand Hatfield Tour of 1971, there were no handrails or cables to hold on to.  My sister was just three and Helicopter Parents did not exist.  We scrambled and climbed pyramids across Mexico, British Honduras (now Belize), and Guatemala.  It's a miracle we all survived.

Since our tour started so early (more on that at the bottom), we stopped at a obsidian workshop and mezcal/tequila distillery where we had tastings of four different kinds.  It was not quite noon.  Yes, there was worm, but another person in tour got it.  (As I type this, John is fast asleep, recovering from the day. He says it's the tequila.)

The prickly pear grow like trees here.  These looked to be about eight feet high.

The drive out took us through a large area of Mexico City slums.  The colors of the homes are typical of Mexican houses.  It did seem odd to have them so fresh looking.  Our guide said they were all painted last year in preparation for the Pope's visit.

Apple Health says we climbed about 22 stories today.  Even with a margin of error, that is probably close. 

Notes on our tour:

We did a lot of research on how to get out to Teotihuacán, about 50 km from Mexico City.  I investigated taking public transportation, thinking we might not want to be limited to a tour schedule.  We talked about hiring a driver, but then again, were not really certain how best to do that. What we did learn was you want to be out at Teotihuacán early before the crowds.  Most of the tours leave Mexico City around 10:30, getting you there about noon.  We found a tour that leaves by 7:00 a.m.  It was excellent.  Our guide was very informed, the pacing was just right, and we enjoyed the ancient city without being too crowded.