Day 3 - Basilica de Guadelupe and Teotihuacan

October 25 – Basilica de Guadalupe and Teotihuacan

We start the day with a visit to the main cathedral.  A mass is going on so we aren’t able to go to the front section of the church but the bonus is that we hear the organ. 

 We're getting the Juan skinny on the cathedral.

 Thought the skull under the cross here was rather unusual.  All the times I've been here, I never noticed it before

 The organ that sounded beautiful.

 From the roof terrace of our hotel

On the way to the Basilica, we go down the beautiful Avenida de la Reforma.  Recently there was a parade and contest of abrijes, the fantastical, colorful animal figures that are best known in Oaxaca. They were displayed along the side of the avenue.  There were also large skulls that were artistically painted.   Sorry, from out of the van window the quality really stinks  

Next stop, the Basilica de Guadelupe.  The old basilica has been stabilized enough after earthquake damage and settling problems to enter.  The floor is extremely uneven so it feels a bit like you’re drunk while walking inside.  Until the newer building, the original tapestry of the Virgin de Guadelupe hung here.  Seems like a more peaceful, appropriate place than the current location where you ride ona slow conveyor belt to view her.  There are so many people who visit the basilica that there is a need to move people like through Disney World. 

It's easy to tell which are the old basilica and which is the new.  

Religious articles of the basilica.  Can you see that there are cases of Corona beer outside the shop?  Hmmmmmm?  A new kind of sacrament?

Mexico City has grown a lot in the direction of Teotihuacan.  It used to be about 40 kilometers from the outskirts and now is about 20 kilometers.  We decide to eat lunch before visiting the ruins.  Along with lunch is an explanation of all of the uses of the agave plant  - Needle and thread, paper type material, fiber for weaving, pulque and mezcal.  Some people did a bit of shopping for onyx and woven objects.  They also have 2 pet hairless dogs.  These were almost extinct but Frida and Diego helped bring the popularity of the breed back.  They are still quite expensive. 

No matter how many times I visit Teotihuacan, it always impresses.  Some of the group climbed the pyramid of the moon and others found a shady spot to wait.  Suga, Switch and Donna climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun.  The rest of us took the van to the other end of the Avenue of the Dead to the pyramid of Quetzequatl.  We had seen a full sized, painted  reproduction of a portion of this pyramid in the museum the previous day.

Our hotel is right outside of the archaeological grounds.  It sure was  nice to not have to drive back into the city.  Helen and Suga took advantage of the pool but the rest of us went straight for the margaritas. 

Colonial Gems Day 2

Sept 24 - Museum of Archaeology, Frida Kahlo’s house and Xochimilco

We start the day with a wonderful buffet breakfast at the hotel with various fruits, breads, meat, cheese, eggs, beans, and more.  There were little things that were wrapped in corn husks which we expected to be tomales.  Turned out they were a piece of white cheese and vegetables.  Very good, just not what we expected.  I had hot chocolate.  Yummmmmmm. 

After breakfast, we headed out to the Museo de Antropologia.  Traffic is bad so it takes an hour rather than the usual ½ hour.  It turns out that the museum is free today!  Nice surprise for me!  But, then I also realized that I had left the tickets to Frida Kahlo’s house back at the hotel.  I always enjoy the museum but I take a taxi back to get the tickets.  The taxi driver was nice and we had a good conversation on the way back to the hotel.  He waited for me while I ran up the 4 flights of stairs to fetch the tickets.  (The hotel elevator could be slow so I took the stairs). 

I have some time at the museum before everyone is to meet.  I decided to go to some of the areas that I usually don’t visit.  The upstairs anthropology part was closed so I visited the Maya section and the section of the Tarascans.    Oh no!  Karen has fallen!  She says it was a spectacular fall.  Luckily, it only knocked the wind out of her and she will have bruised knee and shoulder.  Could have been so much worse!!

We were planning to eat at the museum but the restaurant was also closed for renovations.  Flexibility is a wonderful thing.  Our tickets for the museum are for 1;30 which isn’t time to eat at a regular restaurant.  We have an ice cream snack to hold us over until after the visit to Krida’s house. 

One of the highlights of the visit was the Day of the Dead alter to Frida. 

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the main square of Coyocan.  Such a relaxed, beautiful place where people are enjoying themselves. 

A Mexico City tour is not complete without a boat ride at Xochimilco.  There were several other groups enjoying the afternoon and the mariachis were quite good.  The trumpets quite loud when they are on the boat with you playing with full lung power. 

Another full day! We had thought we would have time to go inside the cathedral today but it was late when we got back to the hotel and we opted for a light dinner at the hotel.

Colonial Gems

Colonial Gems 2018

September 23  Arriving in Mexico City

The Atlanta people have an early morning flight into Mexico City.  Even though we come in different cars, we end up all together in security at the airport.  Good start! 

We are to meet Helen in baggage claim at the Mexico City airport.  She is flying in from Seattle.  Our baggage comes in on a little one carousel room.  Oh dear, this does not look good.  I ask someone and he informs this is a Delta carousel and that United is at the other terminal!  I get a text from Juan.  His airplane has been delayed for several hours!  We meet up with the transportation people.  They take the Atlanta people to the hotel and go over to the other terminal in search of Helen.  Juan will take a taxi to the hotel whenever his plane gets in.  Oh dear, this is not the way for a trip to start. 

We get to the hotel and I’m looking at everyone wondering if they are Suga and Switch.  No one looks like likely suspects.  It’s lunch time so we decide to go out to the zocolo and eat lunch on terazo of the majestic hotel on the zocolo.  As we’re walking to the restaurant, I get a call from the bus driver.  He puts Helen on the phone.  She’s at the hotel and so are Suga and Switch!  Yeah!  Now we’re only missing Juan. 

The view from the Majestic is wonderful.  

Overlooking the zocolo, the cathedral, the governor's palace and the huge Mexican flag.  In the past, the food and service has always been good.  Not so much today.  After quite a long wait, the food came out cold.  Much better after they took it back and brought us new food that was hot.

Since the governor's palace closes at 5:00, I decided that was the one we should go to first even though we didn’t have Juan to give us the history of the Diego Rivera murals.  A guide was standing by the door so we hired him.  Not a Juan by any means but better than a Ginger. 

After the tour, we were all tired so went back to the hotel.  Juan arrives shortly after.  YEAH!  We’re complete. 

On the way to dinner, we walk past the ruins of Tenochtitlan where Juan explains what we’re seeing.  We thought we would visit the cathedral also but it was closed to tourists.  We’ll do that tomorrow. 

For dinner we went to Tacuba which is a well-established restaurant with beautiful tiles on the walls.  They gave us a sample of a cocktail with Jamaica and tequila.  Several us ordered full sized ones.  It was Kathy’s birthday so the mariachi band played Las Mananitas.  They were quite good and Kathy had a big smile on her face. How is it that I don't have a picture of that?

It has been a long day!  Hard to believe we were in Atlanta in the morning!