Mexico City and Taxco Oct 28

 

Oct 28

Another wonderful, full day!

We load all of our suitcases into the back of the van and head to the National Archaeological Museum.  To get to the museum we drive down La Reforma which is a beautiful, modern boulevard.  When it was built in the early 1900’s, it was lined with beautiful private homes.  Now those have been replaced with modern office buildings.  There are several iconic monuments along the way.  At the arch commemorating the revolution there is a special exhibit of huge skulls that are painted as inspired by Frida Kahlo. 

 Serafin, our bus driver manages to pull over, let us out so we can take pictures as he drives a big loop to come back and pick us up.  The skulls are amazing with lots of little details.  One could really study them for a long time and still see new things.  We hustle back across the busy street when we see the bus coming back around. 

We have been in the historic district of the city and it is nice to see the modern part of the city.  There will be a large parade on Sunday for Dia de los Muertos.  Along the Reforma, they are selling marigolds in preparation.

When we get to the museum, we find that due to COVID, it opens at 10:00 instead of 9:00.  We have about 20 minutes to wait until it opens.  We enjoy sitting outside and enjoy the gardens.  

We’re able to get a wheel chair for MaryAnn which makes it possible for her to see much more of the museum.  We visit the parts that pertain the most to places that we will be visiting and the parts of Teotihuacan.  We were able to see representations of parts that we weren’t able to access due to COVID.  During free time, Juan and I visit the special exhibit that highlights Mexico through the years from early habitation through conquest, revolution, modern times.  A nicely currated exhibit.

On the way out of the museum, the voladores from Papantla were performing.  Five of them start at the top of a tall pole sitting on a square that turns.  They turn in one direction wrapping the ropes around the pole.  Then they flip off the roost with the rope wrapped around their middle and a foot.  Now they descend, head first as the ropes unwind.  Would make me totally sick! 

In the van we eat turkey tortas that Serafin bought as we drive to the floating gardens of Xochimilco.  MaryAnn isn’t feeling well and decides to stay on the bus.  I stay with her while the others take the boat ride.  When MaryAnn falls asleep, I go do a little shopping and buy another top.  Everyone comes back laughing and have had a good time.  I’m informed that some of our travelers are taking on new names such as they saw on some of the boats. 

The ride to Taxco is about 3 hours.  Juan puts on the movie Coco for us to watch.  Of course I cry. 

About the time the movie is over, the scenery gets really beautiful as we go over 9000 foot passes.  The sun is setting as we approach Taxco.  We stop for pictures.

Taxco is a quaint town/city that is stacked on the side of a steep hill.  The roads are narrow, winding and steep.  I’m really glad that Serafin is driving!  Our hotel is right on the main square.  We check in and go right to dinner in the hotel.  Most of the people order Salmon.  All of the dishes are delightful. 

After dinner, I take a short walk in the park as I just can’t wait until morning.

Mexico City Oct 27

 

Oct 27 Tuesday

Started the day with another great breakfast at the hotel with the hot chocolate and bread that I like so much.  Julie joined us for breakfast but wasn’t quite up for a long day of sightseeing.  It was good to see her smiling face. 

We met our driver for the next week, Serafin.  He is attentive to our needs and is always right there to help us out of the bus. 

As we’re driving, Juan tells us about the three tragic things that have happened at Tlatlecolco – Plaza de tres culturas.  First was the defeat of the Aztecs.  Second was the shooting of the students in 1968 and the third is the earthquake of 1985 when 2 of the apartment buildings collapsed killing about 1000 people.  We had a quick stop, only long enough to snap a few pictures but it was directly into the sun so impossible to get much of anything.    Aztec ruins in the foreground, church and modern building in the background. 

Next stop is the basilica de Guadelupe.  The crowds are much smaller than usual and they really manage the movement of people.  You can only enter the sanctuary if you’re attending a service and they open it 5 minutes before the service starts.  Somehow, it seems that as soon as we had seen the virgin, everyone scattered in different directions.  Yikes, I’m missing a few!  We did all find each other but I think it was a little scary for all of us as we were all looking for each other.  Sort of like the children’s game of Sardines. 

There are 3 basilicas here plus several small chapels.  The first is on top of the hill.  Then a larger one was built at the bottom of the hill. In the 70's the third, modern one was built.  The large open area accomodates the thousands of people who come on special occasions.  This is where you see the devotion of so many Mexicans to the Virgin of Guadelupe and Catholisism. 

Yes, the older one really is leaning.  This is due to sinking from the weight.  The main catheral on the zocolo is also sinking.  

This is a statue of Juan Diego gathering the roses into his cape. 

This is the small, simple chapel that was for the indios.  It was the only one that was open for us to enter. 

The stairs to the first basilica are decorated.

Since people can't go inside, they gather at this outside place to pray at the feet of the virgin.

On our way to Teotihuacan, Juan told us about some of the background history.  Because of COVID, we weren’t able to enter the palace area with the murals.  We just went directly to the overlook area where one can easily see the pyramid of the moon and the sun.   Down the steps to the lower level where we watched someone demonstrated painting with natural dyes.  It was prohibited to climb the pyramids.  In some ways, this was nice as there weren’t people in the pictures. 

We left the ruins at the pyramid of the Sun and went to lunch.  After lunch we learned about all of the uses of the maguey plant which included trying the pulque as well as the distilled drinks.  That put people in a real mood for buying. 

We left to go back to the site to see the pyramid of Questacuatl. What? They close the parking lot at 4:00 and won’t let anyone in.  It doesn’t matter that it is actually about 3:57.  We’re not getting in.  At least we can see the life size representation at the museum tomorrow.  On the way back to the hotel, Juan puts in a National Geographic DVD of the history of Teotihuacan for us to watch on the good-sized screen in our van. 

We are seeing more alters for Dia de los Muertos.  I know we will see many, many more.

We enjoy our nightly happy hour and then go back to the Magestic for dinner. 

People looking at the view from the restaurant of the zocolo all lit up.