November 19th - Mexico City

We had decided to drive the 50 kms out of the city to visit the ancient ruins at Teotihuacan. I always find it fun driving in foreign cities. The rules of the road are nearly always different from those that apply in the UK. Here people are pushing and changing lanes at every conceivable opportunity. Because the Mexicans are used to such driving everyone seems to accept it and always gives way. I have seen no examples of road rage at all. Quite a contrast to driving in London!

Anyway, the drive took us 40 minutes, going fairly quickly on the autopista north of the city. Teotihuacan is a vast archeological site. They do not know exactly how large the city was, but it covers many square miles. It is dominated by two huge pyramids, one dedicated to the Moon and the other to the Sun. Entering the city you walk down a wide roadway known as the Avenue of the Dead. Apparently the name came from the Aztecs, who when they first came to Teotihuacan they thought the rooms on either side of the roadway were tombs of the dead.

Beneath the Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world.

The city was started in 100BC and deserted in the 8th century. The inhabitants built a very structured and well designed city that was influenced by religious beliefs. At the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead stands the Pyramid to the Moon, a tiered structure that originally had a temple on the top. The larger of the two pyramids, dedicated to the Sun, stands halfway along the Avenue of the Dead on the eastern side of the roadway. We decided to climb the 248 steps to the top. The view over the ancient city is magnificent and hopefully the photos below will give some indication of the size and magnificence of Teotihuacan, as well as proving we made it to the top!

The great pyramid site of Teotihuacan, just north of Mexico City, with the Avenue of the Dead leading to the Pyramid of the Sun on the right and the Pyramid of the Moon in the far centre.

Standing on top of the Pyramid of the Sun, having climbed 248 steps at an altitude of 7.560 feet.

We stayed for a couple of hours and then drove back into the city. On the way we had hoped to visit the Basilica of Guadalupe, but a combination of horrendous traffic and then rain made that impossible.

We arrived back at the hotel in time for a late lunch. With a very early start needed tomorrow, to get out of the city before the rush hour traffic makes travel virtually impossible, we packed our main bags and stowed them in the car. A short walk from the hotel and we were able to visit the museum where Diego Rivera´s famous 50 metre long mural hangs. It is a very impressive mural depicting dozens of famous Mexicans.

This evening eleven of us are heading for an Argentinian restaurant to say farewell to a wonderful city that has surprised us all. I´ve said it before, but I´ll say it again ´we will return´.