It Is Right Around The Corner - Tlatelolco Pyramids

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On 

Sunday, we decided to go for a walk.  We knew it was going to rain,n but it said late afternoon.  Never trust the weather in Mexico City; it can change on a dime.  We headed out looking for a bazaar that was in the neighborhood with antique sellers.  We left the apartment, turned the corner, and walked two blocks, and there it was.  Tlatelolco!  The lesser Great Pyramid.  

The main pyramid was discovered by an American archeologist whose only job at the time was to dig a pit similar to a well to see what layers, if any,y were under this part of the city.  He hit the jackpot.  

This is a sacrificial pit where children were sacrificed to the gods.  Hmm, great religion, I must say.

The Mexica left the central part of Mexico, Tenochtitlan, and decided to form their own society.  They moved to this area where there was less swamp and more sand, better for building structures and growing food.  The material in the area, tezontle or porous volcanic rock, also used as a lawn decoration today, was easily chiseled and cut into pieces.

When first discovered, there were two very small tunnels that led underneath the pyramid.  From there, they began to discover human remains and artifacts.   You can see the modern buildings around this area.  This was a very controversial project in 1968, creating a huge rift between citizens and government,t where over 200 people were killed, mostly students.  The clash took place during the opening of the 68 Olympics.  Student unrest was suppressed by the government.  Government records say that 32 people were killed.  The buildings replaced older homes and shacks where people had squatted over the years.  This was all for the Olympics and,d of course, modernization.

Back to the history of the Mexica, these pyramids were built in the 13th century, not long before the Spanish arrived.  Life continued as normal until they arrived in 1521.  The emperor Cuahtemoc fled Tenochtitlan and headed for Tlatelolco and hid during the 80-day siege.  That was the final stand as the Spaniards were now taking over.  Between Tehotehuacan and Tlateloloc, these were the largest markets in Latin America at the time, and indigenous groups from all over came to trade goods.

Under this area, during excavation, 210 skeletal remains were discovered.  It is believed that it was once a sacred burial place for those members of the government and hierarchy at the time.  Of those 210, because of the position and way in which they were buried, it is believed that many were Spanish soldiers killed in clashes.

One particularly famous burial site on these grounds was that of the Amantes de Tlatelolco, or Lovers of Tlatelolco, found buried together in a loving embrace.   This is not my picture.

The church in the background was built in 1610 on top of the ruins.  A very common practice over the millennium with all people around the world and all religions.  The structure is huge and made out of some of the tenzontle from the buildings and pyramids that were destroyed.  

It turned out to be an interesting day followed by a great lunch at the Casa de Toño.  A Mexican chain of very affordable restaurants.  The place was packed, and we had a short wait of 20 minutes.   My concuña, or Juan's sister-in-law to me, told us about it. 

A bit of Mexican news.  It was decided just tw weeksagog that the school calendar year would be reduced to accommodate the World Cup. The decision was made at the last minute, leaving parents and teachers in an uproar.  A three-week reduction in the school year would require at least one year to schedule.  The next day it was cancelled.  Imagine the embarrassment on the part of the government.   In Monterrey,y where some of the games will be played, the game schedule was after 7 p.m. and on weekends, ds so there wouldn't have been any interference with school schedules.

You are aware of the Mexican governor from the state of Sinaloa stepping down and being indicted in the U.S. for his participation with the narcos.  Also, the governor of the state of Chihuahua, who used CIA operatives without federal authorization to shut down the largest fentanyl lab ever.  The president made a comparison saying that there was no difference between the two, and the Chihuahuan governor is being investigated by the FGR (federal attorney general).  Comparision?  Are you nuts?  One is involved with the cartels, and the other is trying to eliminate them.  So much for attempting to do good.

We're off to the Zocalo.