AdventuresAboardAvatar: Mexico City days 4 & 5 Teotihuacan Pyramids

On Sunday, Valentina realized she could not go with us, as she is buried in school work, both as teacher and student. But she was so sweet to make sure we got there. The plan was Teotihuacan. We had to go to the far end of the Metro, then get on the one hour bus to the Pyramids. We were North of the city and in almost country side small towns. The bus drops you off, then a taxi guy shows us a map and says the Avenue of the Dead is 4.5 km (2+ miles), he'll take us to the other end and then we walk back here where the bus picks up. OK sounded good! He took us by the shopping area first (hmm) but they had an interesting history lesson to give us on the ancient uses of the Maguey plant, a type of Agave, like a giant aloe plant. They made paper from the skin of the plant and made a needle and thread from the center of the large leaf.
We were lucky that it was Sunday and being Mexican Nationals (or permanent residents) we got in the park for free.
Tourists from every where around the world were there. It is actually unknown who built this ancient city. The Aztecs found it and claimed it, but it was estimated to be originally built in 100BC! They believe over 100,000 people lived there in 250AD, the biggest city know for that early in civilization.
The Pyramid of the Moon is at the Northern end of the Avenue of the Dead. The Pyramid of the Sun is of course on the East side of the Avenue. There are smaller pyramids and living quarters lining the sides of the path. They had an amazing drainage and sewer system the the Europeans copied and took back. The Sun pyramid takes 248 steps to get to the top and it raises 75 Meters (246 feet) high.
We waited for an hour in line just to climb the stairs. We were almost at the front of our group to be let thru, so we had to keep up the pace going up the first set of steps to a landing area. The altitude is about 8000 feet, so I was winded at the top, seeing as how I live on a boat at sea level!! Once my heart rate slowed, we got in line to go to the top. The view from there was forever. Many people were raising their hands to the Sun as tho feeling the energy from Sun itself and sending it into the Temple of the Sun through their feet. After enjoying the view, we stood in line to go down. By the time we got to the bottom, our legs were like jello and our feet and legs were aching. Looking up to the top, all those people just look like ants!
We had to keep walking to the end of the Avenue of the Dead to catch the bus back to the Metro and back to the apartment. Exhausting, but totally worth it!
Monday was the big day. We tried to catch a cab at 8am to make sure we got to the Embassy before our 10am appointment. If we were late, we would have to come back a different day, which would be very costly and inconvenient. The first Taxi guy said he did not know where it was and we should get out and find another taxi. At least he was honest. It was not until 8:30 by the time we got another taxi to stop for us. By that time, I had it on my google maps and he knew just how to get there. We took all back city streets and not on the slow major roads. He dropped us off at 9:30 and got a nice tip! The guard told us we had to have exact change for our fee, so we had to search the street to find change for a 500 peso note (about 30 dollars). After asking several street vendors, a hotel and restaurant and no one had it, finally a well dressed man on the street had just the right change in his wallet. We just made it back by 10am. Then it was sit and wait our turn, as there was only one girl working taking applications. Often French are stuffy and hard to deal with, but thanks to having worked for Club Med, I knew how to deal with them. We had her smiling and laughing because we were going to sail to Polynesia, not like all the others going to France. We had every paper she asked for and she seemed pleased. So we were done, now just the waiting for our passports to go to Tahiti with out us and come back with visas in them. Takes one to two months, and we are exactly two months away from our planned departure date. Fingers are crossed!!
After calming our nerves (mine anyway) at Starbucks coffee, we walked over to the Anthropology Museum, the other Must Do while in Mexico City. The guard say, "sorry we are closed on Mondays" What?!?! Nooooo! I was so disappointed not to get to see the Aztec Calendar Stone! If I had know we would have only had that one hour when we were there on Friday, I would have paid the money, just to see it. Waaaaah! Ok getting over it, we are walking around and become entertained by the professional dog training school. All sitting at first, then when he threw the ball they all ran after it and always brought it back. A nice dressed man saw us come out of the museum with long faces and offered to take us to the only open museum on Monday's, Carlos Slim's art museum. What the hell, what else to do.
Wow! The statues, paintings and carvings were spectacular. Some of it dating back to the 12th century. I thought it was awfully nice of the richest man it the world to share his art collection with us. Did I mention it is free to get in?
After words we walked probably another 2 miles to the closest Metro station down another amazing middle of the road park "sidewalk".

It was an awesome trip, but we are sure glad to be back at our quiet little boat in the bay of La Paz.