Teotihuacan - The Pyramid of the Sun

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The alarm went off at six this morning.  Of course I was awake around 5:15 and watched the WTC building in front of our window.   We had a drink last night here in the room and then found a place nearby for a soup and salad.  Food was great the service stank.

We got cleaned up and headed downstairs for breakfast.   Truly good service here at the Holiday Inn Express.   Quit a spread from fresh fruit, breads of all kinds, an egg dish, refried beans, chilaquilles, cold cuts and cheeses along with all the juices, coffee and milk.  We packed some fresh fruit for our trip along with some granola cookies we had brought and headed out the door.

We walked two blocks to the Metrobus (5 pesos) and took it down to the La Raza station.  Very 

modern and equal to rapid transit we have taken in the U.S. and Canada.  Funny though, everyone had a Kindle, tablet or smart phone in their hands and reading, talking or surfing.   Many people don't realize just how modern Mexico really is.

From there we hopped a pesera for another 4 pesos and made our way to the Central Camionera del Norte bus station.  There we boarded the Teotihuacan bus line which cost 44 pesos each way.   Very nice bus, comfortable and quiet.   Took us about an hour to the pyramids.  As the bus passed the town of San Juan Teotihuacan down the road this appeared before us.

One minor mistake but not a big deal, we forgot our official government ID cards.  We didn't want to carry anything with us but old driver's license and some cash.   Because we are teachers we could have gotten in free.   Oh well, we're not poor or destitute and paying 64 pesos for such a wonderful day was well worth it.

First climb was the Pyramid of the Sun.  From there you get a good view of what was going on in the city.   Teotihuacan was an abandoned city when the Aztecs stumbled into it and brought it back to life.  After, the Aztecs moved on and pyramids turned to grassy mounds so that when the Spanish invaded Mexico they didn't see anything there that was ravaging. 

From the top you see a well-laid out city with streets, buildings and gathering places.   We walked down the promenade to the Pyramid of the Moon.  Not the biggest of the pyramids but very interesting excavations are taking place there and lots to see and learn.   Much of what they are digging up show the original paint and colors on the walls and the images us sacred birds and the jaguar.

One thing we didn't care for compared to our trip here in the 90s was the increase in vendors hawking cheap junk and noise making devices that are supposed to imitate the sounds of the jaguar.  Doesn't sound like a jaguar to me but more like me first thing in the morning.

We spent most of the day on the grounds reading and people watching our way around.   By that time we hoped a bus back to the small town of San Juan Teotihuacan for a stroll through the local market and by chance found a sope and quesadilla with our names on them.   Good food, interesting market and nice people.  

The police are very helpful around Mexico City.   They are open and willing to help.  We don't know how many speak English but because it is Semana Santa tourism cadets, tourist information booths, and police with vests that say Turismo on them are everywhere.

Even though we had sun block, I got a little red on the forehead, a bit dehydrated with lots of water in the backpack and an excellent workout.  Time to head home.   We took the same route back but because this is the last day of work for many and they are getting off early we hit a massive exodus on the MetroBus.   As we got off at our stop at Poliforum and walked the two blocks to the hotel, the rain came.  Made it just in time before a big downpour.