Another virtually sleepless night led to an another early bird start for us today...went out at around 6 in the morning to and walked around the neighbour hood..was still dark and quite an uneasy feeling was sinking into me..however we could see police men at every corner and cars flashing the lights in almost every street...and the fact that im sharing today's experience is proof that we made it to dawn..this was when we started our walk back to the hostel, when we heard TRUMPETS and we saw the military police walking in formation at the beat of drums and trumpets..a nice experience..
..now it was time for one of the most awaited tour for us..plan for the day: visit Theotuacan pyramids..however along the way there we made a couple of stops. The first stop is the 'Plaza de tres cultur
as', thats Place of three cultures for us. This is known like this because in one place you could see The ancient ruins of the aztecs, to the right side of it was the Spanish church built by the Spanish conquerer Hernan Cortes, and on the left you could see the 'modern' i.e. concrete flats...the ruines and the church of course are the attraction of the place..however unfortunately enough Cortes made the aztecs build the new chruch by using the rock from the old ruins..so not much of the ruins still remains (and the new buildings cover many other remains)..
..now it was off the the Lady of Guadalupe shrine...this is the second most visited catholic pilgrimage place after the vatican and believe me - the sight just give goose bumps...we actually went into both the new and the old church and could admire live the actual Poncho on which the miraculus iprint of the madonna has appeared...a mystical thing especially when you see it from a couple of meters away..
and now off to the highlight of the day (without taking anything from the others) however on our way to the pyramids. As we were cruising the highway..off in the distance against the mountians we had already spotted a majistc pyramid..the anticipation was building...as we were making our way towards our destination we however made another stop.
Here we were welcomed by a family of locals who explaind to us some traditions and home about their home made drink: the Mezchal (Tequilla)..Ohh yeahhh baby - we had this in a variety of flavours: with honey, with almond and of course..the reall taquilla - with lime and salt..and believe me when i say this but im sorry - the tequilla we drink back home TASTES LIKE SHIT compared to this...especially if you consider that we were drinking this at around 12:00 local time...too good...however in our minds we were all still thinking about the pyramids which were sitting in our background. After some local food tasting and some folk singing and dancing off we went to the so much awaited pyramids..
..our guide started us out from the back entrance walking from the small pyramids, where while she was explaining we couldnt resist the temptation of taking a 'few' pics of the bigger pyramids: the one of the Moon, and the biggest one the pyramid of the Sun..which upon arrival at its feet you realise 'Holy crap, that is high' but yet again we have come all this way to see this...a few s
teps are nothing...and UPPPP we went...BREATHLESS both from the stairs and mostly from the view..more and more pictures and silence..one of the few moments I ever saw my friend silent..we spent a couple of more minutes here...and we set off to the next area and the other pyramid which even dispate it was closing time we climbed it to the permitted area..but this wasnt enough for steve who decided that the signs saying 'No entry' were just there for a little colourful decoration..and up he went while i was taking his picture..oh yeah..we got proof to get his ass in jail...
...In all this excitment and glamour i have failed to mention the new friends which we made today. Apart from the danish couple which we had met yday today we met another couple this time from london..what a sweet couple and nice people and also we met two young ladies also from england but native from India (but born in Kenya) [insomma pastardjati wahda A1]. Im not sure if i have already mentioned the russian fellow which we met yday but telling you his stories would be a whole new different blog...but we all were trying to avoid for most of the trip..lets say that his character is too special for our(everyones) likings.
...I think that is it for today from the Centre of America..managed to kill some time while writing this and sipping on the Margarits..hope that tiredness wins over the mind clock and we manage to grap some sleep tonight as tomorrow we are off to Oaxaca and we could use every little energy we can get...
Hasta la mañana.
..now it was time for one of the most awaited tour for us..plan for the day: visit Theotuacan pyramids..however along the way there we made a couple of stops. The first stop is the 'Plaza de tres cultur
as', thats Place of three cultures for us. This is known like this because in one place you could see The ancient ruins of the aztecs, to the right side of it was the Spanish church built by the Spanish conquerer Hernan Cortes, and on the left you could see the 'modern' i.e. concrete flats...the ruines and the church of course are the attraction of the place..however unfortunately enough Cortes made the aztecs build the new chruch by using the rock from the old ruins..so not much of the ruins still remains (and the new buildings cover many other remains)..
..now it was off the the Lady of Guadalupe shrine...this is the second most visited catholic pilgrimage place after the vatican and believe me - the sight just give goose bumps...we actually went into both the new and the old church and could admire live the actual Poncho on which the miraculus iprint of the madonna has appeared...a mystical thing especially when you see it from a couple of meters away..
and now off to the highlight of the day (without taking anything from the others) however on our way to the pyramids. As we were cruising the highway..off in the distance against the mountians we had already spotted a majistc pyramid..the anticipation was building...as we were making our way towards our destination we however made another stop.
Here we were welcomed by a family of locals who explaind to us some traditions and home about their home made drink: the Mezchal (Tequilla)..Ohh yeahhh baby - we had this in a variety of flavours: with honey, with almond and of course..the reall taquilla - with lime and salt..and believe me when i say this but im sorry - the tequilla we drink back home TASTES LIKE SHIT compared to this...especially if you consider that we were drinking this at around 12:00 local time...too good...however in our minds we were all still thinking about the pyramids which were sitting in our background. After some local food tasting and some folk singing and dancing off we went to the so much awaited pyramids..
..our guide started us out from the back entrance walking from the small pyramids, where while she was explaining we couldnt resist the temptation of taking a 'few' pics of the bigger pyramids: the one of the Moon, and the biggest one the pyramid of the Sun..which upon arrival at its feet you realise 'Holy crap, that is high' but yet again we have come all this way to see this...a few s
teps are nothing...and UPPPP we went...BREATHLESS both from the stairs and mostly from the view..more and more pictures and silence..one of the few moments I ever saw my friend silent..we spent a couple of more minutes here...and we set off to the next area and the other pyramid which even dispate it was closing time we climbed it to the permitted area..but this wasnt enough for steve who decided that the signs saying 'No entry' were just there for a little colourful decoration..and up he went while i was taking his picture..oh yeah..we got proof to get his ass in jail......In all this excitment and glamour i have failed to mention the new friends which we made today. Apart from the danish couple which we had met yday today we met another couple this time from london..what a sweet couple and nice people and also we met two young ladies also from england but native from India (but born in Kenya) [insomma pastardjati wahda A1]. Im not sure if i have already mentioned the russian fellow which we met yday but telling you his stories would be a whole new different blog...but we all were trying to avoid for most of the trip..lets say that his character is too special for our(everyones) likings.
...I think that is it for today from the Centre of America..managed to kill some time while writing this and sipping on the Margarits..hope that tiredness wins over the mind clock and we manage to grap some sleep tonight as tomorrow we are off to Oaxaca and we could use every little energy we can get...
Hasta la mañana.
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Sellilna ghal-Maya :)
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