Independence Monument, downtown Mexico City
Our next stop was the National Palace in Plaza de la Constitución (El Zócalo). There we received a thorough tour of the Diego Rivera murals. The first one, from 1928, in the stairwell contains approximately 900 faces encompassing an incredible amount of Mexican history.
Diego Rivera mural in the stairwell of the National Palace
There were several other murals through the hall which depicted various iconic Mexican cultural themes. The last painting was done in 1952. Diego Rivera was the husband of famed Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.
After the palace, we continued on to the pyramids of the Aztecs. This was what I was waiting for the entire trip! We arrived and I was amazed at the sheer size of the archeological site. It had to have been a good mile to mile and a half until we reached the base of the Pyramid of the Sun. The site has two pyramids: Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid of the Moon was the first built but it was closed due to work being done on the site. Apparently they found evidence that there were sacrificial ceremonies done on the pyramids by using x-ray devices. These revealed bodies buried within the pyramids themselves.
The base of the Pyramid of the Sun
When the long walk to the pyramid was over, the long hike to the top began. It is 254 steps to the top, not to mention the countless number of steps we took on the journey to the base. The first ten or fifteen steps were not that bad, but the altitude (7,400 feet) starts to get to you when you are not used to it. The first level about killed me, but I continued as it would be a waste to go all that way to stop there. After another 10 minutes of climbing stairs in utter respiratory pain, I reached the top in victory. I had conquered the Aztec pyramid! What a beautiful sight from the top, it was so tranquil.
From the top of the Pyramid of the Sun (with my good friend Mallory)
We then ate at an authentic Mexican restaurant not far from the pyramids themselves. The food was AMAZING and the mariachi band was fantastic! I tried a new cervesa called Victoria...I don't know if you can get it in the states but I am definitely going to look. You have to drink it 'michelada' style, salt rimmed with lime juice. It is worth a try!
After lunch, we stopped at a store which sold hand-crafted obsidian sculpture. Although the artisans were producing absolute works of art, it was quite pricy...
We arrived back at Casa Gonzalez in time to go out for another bite to eat and some more cervesa...
Tomorrow is the museum of anthropology...until then...hasta luego!
Oh so excited about the Diego Rivera murals...wish I could have seen them up close and in person. I know that seeing them and all the other wonders...LIKE THOSE PYRAMIDS that almost killed ya...is an amazing experience! HAVE FUN BABE!!! LUV~ Rachel HOllie
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