Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Mexico City, Mexico
This was a busy day. We visited Tenochtitlan, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the Zocalo all in the morning. I got to explore the city on my own for a bit during lunch. Wandered around for almost an hour trying to find a place that I wanted to eat at. Tacos had lost their appeal already so I settled for some enchiladas. In the afternoon we visited Tlatelolco, or Plaza of Three Cultures, La Basilica, Benemerito (an LDS High School just outside of the city), and various monuments around the city in the evening.
Just a short briefing on some of the sites:
Tenochtitlan is the Aztec city that was founded when they discovered the prophesied eagle with a snake in its mouth sitting on a nopal. Mexico city was built from and on top of the ruins of Tenochtitlan.
The Metropolitan Cathedral was built between 1573 and 1813 from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan. It was customary for the Spaniards to tear down indigenous religious structures and build churches.
The National Palace has a lot of history that I won't go into but it houses the president of Mexico and the Federal Treasury. It also has amazing murals painted by Diego Rivera.
Tlatelolco represents the convergence of the three cultures of this area: Aztec, Spanish, and modern Mexican. At this plaza resides the ruins of the Aztec city Tlatelolco, The Church of Santiago, and closely surrounding office and apartment buildings.
The Basilica was built on the site where an Indian peasant named Juan Diego supposedly saw the Virgin Mary and had her image miraculously imprinted on his cloak as proof of his vision. It now houses the Cloak of Juan Diego and is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Mexico.
Now for some pictures!
This is a slightly blurred picture of the Monument to Heroes of Independence or The Angel. Pretty much the coolest roundabout I've ever seen. And busiest. Imagine 40+ college students running across this street in downtown Mexico to get a closer view.
The flag at the Zocalo. Huge. And it wasn't a windy day so this picture is kinda boring.
We got to climb to the roof of the Cathedral and watch them ring the bells to call people to mass. There's lots of history associated with the bells and they're all huge but I won't bore ya'll.
These are a couple pictures from the Ballet Folklorico we got see at Benemerito. It was amazing! These were all high school students and I was just stunned at the level of technique and just the energy they put into every performance. And the costumes.
You can sort of see the Monument to the Revolution in this shot. So many monuments in Mexico City. This one was especially fun because there was a group of people doing indigenous dances to the beat of a drum and they let us join them. It was a lot of fun. And then, of course, there was the flame thrower. Pretty much the coolest atmosphere for a night in Mexico City. And I got the dance steps after about 10 minutes of trying.
View of the courtyard in the National Palace.
Me and Covina showing how cold we are, mostly in spite of all our friends back in Rexburg. The rainy season was just starting in Mexico City so the weather wasn't scorching hot but it was definitely still warmer than Rexburg. I did have to wear a jacket though. The real warm weather began a few days later when we traveled south.
A very small part of the Mexico through the Centuries mural by Diego Rivera in the National Palace.
Some tour guide posing for me in the National Palace. This was shortly after I saw the biggest, most ripped man I had ever seen in my life (until a couple weeks ago). I was trying to nonchalantly sneak a picture of him and this guy noticed and was trying to get his attention for me so I could get a picture. Those attempts failed so he told me he'd flex his muscles and I could get a picture of him instead.
One of the bell towers of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
One of the ginormous, ornately carved organs in the National Cathedral. I just stared in awe the entire time I was in there just trying to fathom the work that went into the whole building. So many details.
Me and Vanessa in front of a replica of the Coyolxauhqui Stone (haha, pronounce that!). Workmen digging at the site in 1978 happened upon this stone which soon led to the discovery of the Great Temple.
Me with the ruins of the Great Temple (Templo Mayor) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which was built from the Great Temple, in the background. Notice the jacket. It was a little chilly, I'll admit it.
Chac Mool! He was the messenger of the Gods. This was part of the Templo Mayor at Tenochtitlan that they're still unearthing. I think he looks pretty cool.
And this concludes my brief summary. I have to go finish making bread for a potluck after church today.
Have a great day :)
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