Highlights of three days in Mexico City

Mar 6, 2012

Hotel Catederal in the midst of  the excitement of Old City was a great place to stay with all it's old charm, breakfast included so an easy start to the busy days.
Temple Mayor is incredible, seven temples built on top of each other over time, representing nine underworlds and thirteen overworlds. These ruins were discovered under the city in the 1950s and have been excavated and restored ever since. The accompanying museum has artifacts which are undescribable.

Zocalo excitment

taxi anyone?

corn pancakes

big time interview. JK

The Zocalo ROCKS, especially on Sunday. Dave was stopped and interviewed about his visit to the big city. Food vendors introduced us to some new tastes. YUM!

Bascilica Guadaloupe on the northen end of the city is the most visited site in all the Catholic world, 23 million visitors a year. The story begins on Dec 12, 1532 and each century has had a new bascilica raised to honor the Lady of Guadaloupe. The 20th century one may be the last as they had run out of room on the site and it was built to seat 12,000 people. The design accomdates the air flow and the acoustics. There is a mass every hour from 6am to 8 pm every day of the year.
Of specila interst for us was the ceiling , made from BC cedar. The organ was made in Montreal so a little bit of Canada on site.
The original cloak is on display, now 500 years old made of a fabric that usually lasts 40 years. that part of the mystery is compounded by the fact that all research into the paint in the drawing on the cloak cannot be identified as plant, animal or chemical blend. The mystery continues and the celebration grows.

Next stop was the site of 3 cultures, very well represented--pre Hispanic, old culture and modern day.

Then to the pyramids...  Dave climbed the Pyramid of the Sun and then the Pyramid of the moon. I took photos from the base!!! Walking through the city of ruins still being restored was enough of a jaunt for me in the heat of the day; therefore recommend a morning visit out here as we need to take into account the altitude of Mexico City as well.

Present day 20th century bascilica

17th century rebuild

17th and 18th rebuilds with the 19th century one to the right and the original one built in the 1500s on the hill behind.

Now at the Pyramid to the Sun, north of Mexico City

Pyramid to the Moon in the distance

One of us climbed all three pyramids, the other one chose to walk among them instead!

Absolutely amazing!!! and nobody knows who built this city.