We stayed at the Casablanca hotel in Mexico City. Well maintained and beautiful hotel. It’s so central. We leave the hotel in the morning to visit the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.. On the way, we stop by a center where souvenirs are sold.. Souvenirs such as local wooden masks, various stone objects and local weavings are all more beautiful and interesting than the other.. Even if the morning is a bit harsh, we do not refuse the offer.
Again, in the same center, they are showing a cactus-like cactus genus called “Maguey”, which is unique to Mexico.. The membranous part of this plant is just like paper, thin transparent but very strong.. They were already using this sheet as paper.. They also produce a local drink called culta (hulta) from the juice of the Maguey plant.. The name they call it is “Mexican Viagra”. They also offer this drink.. The taste is quite different, but good.
Maguey is a very important plant for Mexicans and is abundantly available everywhere.. Apart from making paper and liquor, it is also used in soap and shampoo production.. They also make use of their fibers in the textile industry.
Leaving here, we come to the sun and moon pyramids.. This is located approximately 50 kilometers north of Mexico City. The region is called “Teotihuacan”, that is, “City of the Gods”.
The first life in this region is BC.. dates back to 2000. MS. 6. It continued to exist as a center of religion and astronomy until the 19th century.. In its heyday, 30,000 people lived here.
A 5 kilometer road cuts through the center of the city from east to west.. This road is known as the “road of the dead”. At one end of the road is the Pyramid of the Moon and at the other end is the Pyramid of the Sun.. The difference between these pyramids and the Egyptian pyramids is that they do not have burial chambers.. They are hollow.
These pyramids were built to observe the astronomical developments of the sun and moon.. They are very advanced in astronomy.. The Pyramid of the Sun is 90 meters high and sits on an area of 220 meters by 225 meters.. There are 223 digits in total, we have 192. We’re going up to the step. When we look around from here, we see that the city is a very large complex spread over a very large area. The Pyramid of the Moon, on the other hand, is 43 meters high and sits on an area of 140 meters by 150 meters.. There is quite a level difference between the two pyramids.. However, from a distance, it looks as if the two are at the same height.
The structures here are decorated with sculptures.. Colored marble stones are used. The use of white, black, red, pink and yellow marble is predominant.
Then we make a canal tour of “Xochimilco“. In these 150-meter-long canals, there are 2,000 restaurant boats used with sticks for 20-30 people.. These boats were painted with yellow, red, blue, green colors and decorated with various flowers.. The canal tour gives us a festive atmosphere with its colorful boats.. The meal also includes tortilla and chicken or pork.. While we are eating, the peddlers in the boats approaching us with small boats are trying to sell us something.. Local musicians with wide hats accompany us.
We stop by a botanical garden from here.. We wander among beautiful and diverse flowers. This tour pleases our eyes and our souls.
Then we come to a local restaurant to have our dinner.. In addition to our local drink called “Hulte”, we eat a wide variety of meat and seafood, as well as grilled cactus.. They called it “Montezuma’s revenge”.. “Montezuma” is the last Aztec King. I can happily say that we did not incur the wrath of Montezuma after this meal.