We didn't have much success. It turns out that on a Saturday morning in the central area, even the breakfast places don't seem to open up until after 8:30am. I'm quite certain it's different Monday to Friday, but on Saturdays things are definitely a bit slower.
So we finally spotted a cafe breakfast spot, and we were pretty much already sat down when we realized that it was associated with another hotel! Oh well... we were running out of time by now and we needed to eat. So we stayed there. The hot chocolate was delicious, and the eggs were okay, but the refried beans were terrible. Neither of us finished them. Still, for 150 pesos ($10.00 CAD, $8.00 USD) for the two of us with tip included, it wasn't too bad.
We met the group, and everybody boarded the bus. First stop was the Basilica Santa Maria de Guadalupe.
This is the most important Catholic religious location in the world, next to the Vatican. Or at least, to the Mexicans, it is!
The "new" Basilica was built in 1976.
The old church beside it dates to 1750.
Pilgrimages to the shrine have been ongoing almost uninterrupted since the year 1532.
From Wikipedia...
The Basilica of Guadalupe claims to possess Saint Juan Diego's mantle or cloak on which an image of the Virgin is said to have been impressed by a miracle as a pledge of the authenticity of the apparitions. These apparitions and the imparting of the miraculous image are the basis of the veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is ubiquitous in Mexico, prevalent throughout the Spanish-speaking Americas, and increasingly widespread beyond. As a result, the Basilica of Guadalupe is now the world's major center of pilgrimage for Roman Catholics, receiving 22 million visitors in 2010. Juan Diego was beatified in 1990 and canonized in 2002.
A service was ongoing inside.
This is what everybody comes to see.
The original church is sinking.
Many older buildings in Mexico City are continuously sinking. This church is obvious. When you are in it, it seems like you are walking uphill. Even in the picture above, you can see the stone on the right side, which is not visible on the left side.
Hmm. Things look a little crooked!
Probably more interesting for people who follow that religion, however we are always intrigued by the architecture and the culture.
By the time we left, it was after 10:00am.
Time to head to the ruins of Teotihuacan.
Hard to take decent pictures out of the bus.
Too much reflection. The suburbs of Mexico City.
Before the ruins, we stopped at an artisans co-operative.
Some really neat stuff. Check out this Jesus carved into a living tree...
Now this is art.
So is this.
The artisans make replicas of some of the artifacts that have been found in the ruins around the country. The work is amazing. The stuff is not cheap... in fact while in the store, I searched out the most expensive piece... priced at 225,000 pesos ($15k CAD, $12k USD). And then I got sidetracked and forgot to take a photo of it!
We had a really good buffet lunch, and then it was off to Teotihuacan...
Beautiful sunny day.
The Pyramid of the Moon.
Ruth and I ran over and climbed up!
View from the Pyramid of the Moon.
The Pyramid of the Sun.
Zoomed in.
It's pretty busy here on a Saturday!
Some of the smaller structures.
Ruth, holding on to the rope on the way down.
Third largest pyramid in the world.
Getting near the top.
Ruth, with her new $2 hat!
Ruth had forgot to bring a hat. They sell a variety of tourist trinkets, and Ruth found a sun hat for 30 pesos ($2.00 CAD, $1.60 USD)!
Looking up at some girls at the top calling for the sun god!
Looking back at the Pyramid of the Moon.
Our group in front of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Today is another travel day. I always wonder what adventure is coming up on a travel day. We're headed to the beach on the Emerald Coast. Our interior days are over for a while and we'll be following the Gulf coast down to Campeche and Merida over the next few weeks.
Stay tuned!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coleman's most popular screen house is back on sale... almost a record low price. No more bugs!
And in Canada...
She appeared to Juan Diego
ReplyDeleteLeft her image on his cape
Five hundred years of sorrow
Have not destroyed their deepest faith
And who am I to doubt these mysteries
Cured in centuries of blood and candle smoke
I am the least of all these pilgrims here
And I am most in need of hope
Tom Russell, "Guadalupe"
What a beautiful poem!
DeleteGoogle "tom russell guadalupe", the whole song is beautiful.
DeleteTom says he considers Mexico City to be the Rome of the western hemisphere.
We will have to check out that song, thanks Creigh.
DeleteWhen I was there, I climbed the Pyramid of the Sun. Didn't have much energy left to try the Moon, for some strange reason... :c)
ReplyDeleteWell at least you did the Sum, it's the biggest one. :-) We did both, Kevin knew that the view from the Pyramid of the Moon is about the best view in all of the Teotihuacan site.
DeleteFor all the times I have been to Mexico I've never gotten to Mexico City, have to make it there one day
ReplyDeleteI guess maybe one day you will have to plan a trip there, it is a very fascinating city. :-)
DeleteWow that is quite the climb. Do not think we could have walked up to the top. Absolutely beautiful however. We saw Tulum when we cruised the Caribbean several years ago that also was quite impressive. Lovely pictures thank you. Enjoy your travels.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is quite the climb but if you take your time and aren't too worried about heights most people can do it. Eight people in the group climbed up and ages ranged from 52 to 78.
DeleteWe have never seen Tulum. I have seen pictures of it and it looks like a beautiful setting but way to crowded for us.
Very impressive pyramid! We have been to Palenque in Mexico and Lamanai in Belize, but not this one (or Mexico City at all). I love doing the big climbs too. I really like the pastel "ice cream" colors of the Mexico City suburbs -- I had no idea those colors were used for the houses there, as they are in the Bahamas and some other spots. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteYes, very impressive in did! We love Palenque, it is our favourite so far and we have been to a lot of the ruins sites here in Mexico and we can't wait to see it again on this trip.
DeleteHouses are all kinds colours, they actually look quite pretty when you look up into the hills around Mexico City and see all of them.
A friend of mine had four daughters. Her husband wanted a boy (another part of the culture). She went to the Basilica in Mexico and prayed for a boy. She said she promised the Virgin de Guadalupe that if she had a boy she would crawl up the steps on her knees every year of her life on his birthday. She gave birth to a boy and made good on her promise. She passed away three years ago at the ripe age of 88. The only thing she changed was the location to the local basilica here in Monterrey because of her age. True story.
ReplyDeleteWow, cool story! It is funny, we have heard a lot about people crawling up on their knees but out of all the people there we didn't see or notice anyone doing that. Sure did see lots of little children in baptism outfits though.
DeleteLove the bright colours of the houses.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. I would be holding the rope coming down too. That's quite the climb.
I like seeing those bright colours too, it just adds a like something to the hills around the city.
DeleteYep, I need the rope or Kevin's hand!
Paul and I didn’ attempt to climb the pyramids when we were there.....it was a sweltering 30C and we had walked around the ruins for a good hour already. So we just admired the view and was content to gaze at the climbers. Haha.
ReplyDeleteWe generally find that if you go to some of these sites early in the morning it is cooler and less crowded. Not everyone wants to climb the pyramid and there's nothing wrong with that. At least you got to see it which is more than most people. :-)
DeleteThat is some amazing history! Great pictures:)
ReplyDeleteIt sure is and Mexico City has has lots of it!
Delete