The Pyramids 15/12/09

A reasonably early start at 9pm, we thought it would be a fab day for visiting the pyramids outside of Mexico city. We caught a luxury mini van from the lovely Nikko hotel in polanco, just a short walk from Javiers house.

First stop after picking up our only other tourist from venezuela was the two Basilicas of our lady of Guadalupe. One of the churches was built in the 1500´s and the new Basilica was built in 1976. The original church is sinking due to Mexcio city being built on a lake so most of the large masses are held in the new Basilica. The largest mass in this church was two days ago and brought 7 million people from all over Mexcio to pray to the virgin Guadalupe. Most of these people have walked 800 km some on their knees to make a promise to the virgin for good faith. These pictures show the angle of the church due to the sinking.

A forty minute drive took us to the pyramids. We started our journey up a small temple of only 40 steps which although seemed like our lungs were going to give out would not compare to the pyramid of the sun.

We then drove to the mini bus and travelled to a small display centre which had obsidian stones and showed the making of tequila from pulce and mescale.

We tried the pulce straight from the agave plant (the cactus in the photo above) and then follwed by salt lime and tequila and mescale. The guide showed us some amazing tools which can be built from the leaves of the agave plant. the point of the plant can be used as a needle and thread and the leaves make thin paper that were used for thousands of years for writing and painting.

We were then shown the handcrafting of obsidian stone and then led through the silver jewelry and stone market where we bought a few nik naks.

We had a short drive to a small mexican restaurant where we had a huge lunch out of volcanic stone bowls also used as mortar and pestles. The dish had sausage, pork, beef and chicken with cheese, advocado and cactus to put in tortillas, YUMM . must admit we once again smapled the delights of mexican beer and tequila much to the delight of the waiter.

Then the real challenge began. We stupidly thought that climbing large arrangements of rocks would be great fun so Tiff, Dani and Bel climbed the pyramids of the moon and sun.

First was the pyramid of the moon.

Tiff, Danni and Bell at the top of the moon pyramid.

Kat at the bottom, refusing to come up.

View from the top of the moon pyramid looking across to the pyramid of the sun.

From on top of the moon with the sun in the background.

Next was the pyramid of the sun. Katherine decided that since she had climbed the pyramid of the sun with  248 steps a million times before she would be the ground photographer and bag lady. The rest of the girls began their climb with a time limit of 40 minutes before the bus left, they reached the top and were victorious but very puffed.

We arrived back in Polanco at 6pm after a great day but a leg massage was in need.