We began another beautiful warn day here in Mexico City by heading down into the market area, crawling through narrow streets jammed with vendors selling fruit and vegetables, colourful cloths and a dizzying variety of things I could only imagine, cabs and motorcycles weaving in and out with horns honking and the constant aroma of fried food mixing with diesel and gas fumes overwhelming. We were off to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, joining thousands of old and young worshippers and the curious to view the most important image (the Empress of America) not only for Mexico but for much of Roman Catholic America. It has been a powerful symbol of belief since the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to an Indian on Tepeyac hill in 1531. This is also the church where Cesar and Rosalia were married and Cesar's parents are buried. From there we drove by the Square of the Three Cultures, where three distinct periods of the city's cultures fuse - pre-Hispanic, Colonial and today.
After leaving downtown we drove across the mountains and down into the valley to the religious complex where the pyramids at Teotihuacan basked in the hot sun. We strolled down the Avenue of the Dead to the first of the two - the Pyramid of the Sun, measuring 65 meters in height and 225 meters along each side of its square bases. Marie was too hot to make the climb up the 700 odd steps but the rest of us made it to the top and were rewarded with a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside and the smaller Pyramid of the Moon. We picked up a few souvenirs from the many sellers who approached us every few yards, each promising us a better deal than the one before, then, tired and footsore, stopped at La Gruta for a late lunch.
n
This was a very special place, located in a natural grotto, quite cold after being outside, but a one of a kind place for lunch! Then a long drive home and into bed, more adventures ahead tomorrow....till then,
gws
