Day 2 in Mexico city
It's Friday and we headed out to Teotihuacan for a day trip, taking the metro and bus. I read somewhere that it's pretty crowded during the weekend as the local enter for free, so better to avoid the crowd and visit during weekdays.
How to visit Teotihuacan on our own without tour?!
grab a quick breakfast(eat like the local) along the way before head out to the metro. This is Gorditas, cost $15pesos ($0.70USD). It's a corn and bacon bits deep fried skin stuffed with onion, cilantro, cheese, lettuce and salsa (because we like it spicy). People here is really friendly
after breakfast(i'm so stuffed) we walked to the nearest metro station(Ninos Heroes) which is about 10 minutes walked from out hotel. The metro is quite easy and cheap however i read alot that it's not really safe but it's early morning so we think it should be safe to try it out, just be aware and careful no matter where we are. Tickets for the metro is only $5pesos ($0.25USD) for one way. Travel on your own risk! However a safer and more convenient option is UBER!
from Ninos Heroes Station to Potrero Station it's about 6 stops. There is also special compartment just for females. Mostly are local that rides the metro, it was not packed(we were there at 9 am) probably it's already pass the peak hours
from Potrero station we walked about 15 minutes to the autobusess del notre. Morning time it's pretty safe
at the Autobuses del notre, just walked to the other end of the building to gate 8
and tickets can be bought at this counter, the bus depart every 20 minutes so don't think you need to come and bus the ticket in advance....however i'm not sure about weekends. We bought ours for 9:30am. The bus is just behind the counter
price for tickets to Teotihuacan cost $52pesos/ pax for one way. Total for 2 person $208 pesos about $10USD
the bus was alright not the fanciest but for that price it's great! Best to sit on the left side (behind the driver to avoid hot sun....there is no air-conditioning. There was some random person who bus hopping and offer music entertainment, they survive on propina (tip). I find that most Mexican will helped out each other even with small change, simple gesture as buying a rubber band from a struggling vendor or spare some change to an old man shows kindness of the Mexican.
the journey takes about an hour and our bus made 2 stopped along the way to picked up more passengers. The bus dropped us right infront of gate #3 entrance....return trip just go back to the same spot.
Entrance fee to Teotihuacan is $70pesos/oax ($3.50USD) museum included.
once enter short walk to the entrance with shops selling souvenirs, hats, clothes....etc there are also FREE toilet but one can always tip the attendant. Best to go first as there aren't any toilet in the ruin just another one at the museum.
omg!!! we are finally here!
I've seen so much pictures online finally i can see it with my own eyes
welcome to Teotihuacan, the place where men become gods!!
nice souvenirs
this is The Temple of Quetzalcoat or the " Plumed Serpent ", was built ca.150 A.D
Around 2400 years ago, the Valley of Teotihuacan was occupied by various rural communities with population of ca.5000 inhabitants. At its peak the city's population reach ca. 175,000 inhabitants. Towards 200 B.C the southern basin of Mexico, immigrates here resulted in a reorganization of the settlements and a new population center was formed in the Valley. In this way, the 1st planned urban settlement in Mesoamerica was born.
from here we can see the Pyramid of the Sun
there are guides for hire if one wants to know more about the history
Plumed Serpent, it consist of 7 stepped bodies with slopes and panel designed walls on all 4 sides
decorated with plumed serpents, carved in stone
which move among seashells, there is another monster....which i heard from a guide it's a crocodile with a headdress
the temple is consider the originator of human activities on earth, creating the land and the calendar divisions
various human burial dating between 150 - 250 A.D were found below and at the perimeter of this temple. It is believed that the individual majority of the men aged 13-55 was sacrificed and given in offering at the beginning of the construction of this temple, due to their kneeling position, with their hand tied behind their backs
more quarters behind the temple
view from the top
it is said that the structure in front was built later to protect the temple,
this place I'm standing, the great compound used to be the great market of the metropolis
heading north to the Pyramid of the Sun
Avenue of the Dead, is the main roadway in the city of Teotihuacan. It runs north - south direction, where northern limit is the Pyramid of the Moon while its southernmost end had not yet been explored
the groups of buildings that line both sides of the Avenue of the death belong to the palace and temple used for political-administrative and civic religious activities, as well as residential area for the society's top level hierarchy, mainly priests
the avenue of dead are comprised of Pyramid base with temples atop of them, courtyards, residential section..etc.
in here at the west plaza complex is a large central plaza ringed by 3 pyramidal bases which look down on an altar in the middle
the remaining part of the complex are found platforms, shrines, and varying size rooms
finally after what seem like endless up and down the stairs along the Avenue of Dead we reach Pyramid of the Sun
more shopping
omg it's so massive! Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pre-Hispanic building of its time (100 - 650 A.D) and also one of the most important in Mesoamerica. It's the 3rd largest pyramid in the world, although it's just over half the height of the Pyramid of Giza. However it's the highest pyramid in Teotihuacan
thank god i wear my comfy shoes
Pyramid of the Sun, it's name come from the Aztec, who visited the city of Teotihuacan after it was abandoned. However the original name by the Toetihuacanos is unknown.
it's like someone sticks random rocks on the Pyramid
view from first level
2nd level
3rd level
luckily there are a few levels to have breaks. The climb up really gets your heart pumping
taking a minute to take in the view
going up the last flight of stairs
finally at the top level, so out of breath but the view was spectacular
Do apply sun screen and best to wear a hat, there is no shade here!!!
view of the Plumed Serpent from Pyramid of the Sun
there not much on top, but i notice many people stick their finger to a small hole in the middle. No idea why.
The top of the Pyramid was once crowned by a temple where religious rites associated with the deity to which this building was dedicated, were carried out
resting after a tiring climb, and enjoying view of the Pyramid of the moon
thank you stranger for this picture
one last pic before going down
maybe another one!
Pyramid of the Sun from the side
at the right corner of the Pyramid of the Sun is the museum
some of the artifacts in the museum, it's a small museum but it good to visit when it's too hot out
incense brazier for ceremonial ritual use
model of Teotihuacan
the back of the Pyramid of the Sun
back along Avenue of the dead
this mural was discovered during an archaeological explorations in 1963. It is part of a group of platforms and temples that comprise an architectural unit known as The Puma Complex
at the far north is the Pyramid of the Moon,
one of the most important sacred space within the city of Teotihuacan. It's broad plaza, pyramid building and other structure that make up the group as a whole. it holds a strategic position in the overall urban plan, as it is the starting point of the city's main road, Avenue of the Dead
climbing up the stairs of the Pyramid of the Moon. The steps are slightly thicker than the steps on other pyramids here. By the time i reach the top i was already out of breath.
the view was worth the climb
the main plaza infront of the pyramid has a square layout(central alter), the buildings are arranged symmetrically on either side of the axis of the Avenue of the Dead was given the name of "Teotihuacan Cross" or "Quincrux". The central alter was probably used to received the priest and leaders that conducted ceremonies and public events for large groups of people
i believe this is the best spot for the best view of Teotihuacan
i can sit there whole day if the sun wasn't so got damn hot
photo from my iphone
we were only allowed to climb the lower half of the pyramid, the other half is off limits
enough sunburn for a day, heading down
last stop, The Quetzalpapalotl Palace
the palace served as the residence for the elite of Teotihuacan
it's name means "beautiful butterfly", because of the carved columns that define the building's central courtyard
the stone columns are profusely carved with representation of quetzals and owls, painted and had obsidian incrustations
and that concluded our visit to Teotihuacan! we spend about 3-4 hours here.....time to head back to the bus stop(it took us a good 40 minutes walk along the Avenue of the dead)....good thing about the bus is that it runs every 20 minutes so we don't have to spend more or less time here than we have to. Good thing there was fruit kiosk at the bus stop....bought a cup of cut watermelon to quench my thirst....taste so good at $25 pesos ($1.20USD). If one didn't have a return bus ticket not to worry, one can always purchase it at the bus stop. Our bus ride back to Mexico city was quite packed but luckily we were one of the few that were in front of the line we got seats however there were those who were unlucky that have to stand the whole 1 hour journey back to the city....well better on the bus rather than wait for the next one.
as soon as we arrived at autobusses del notre, our tummy starts to rumble...we only had that gorditas for breakfast and some granola bars till now at 3pm. Just outside the bus station there was a taco stand and it smells so good....we order one and tried....taste yummy price $10 pesos/ taco($0.50USD). we ordered another one. We wanted to take Uber home but then the taco stand is just next to the metro station. Metro it is! to go back to our hotel. Still early(not peak hour) not too crowded with commuters. Reach our station uneventful! thank god!
on the way to our hotel from the Ninos Heroes station....we passed by another taco stand which smells so good again....we only ate one each hardly fill our tummy....we stopped and had another 2 each from this stand...the meat were different from the stand we had at autobusses del notre. This one taste even better price $8pesos/ taco ($0.40USD)
headed back hotel had a nice hot shower changed and head back out to the street for more taco hunting
Most taco stand list their prices also they are very honest with their prices so we paid same as the locals not tourist price.
just few minutes walk from out hotel there is another taco stand (different style) this has more side options to be added to your taco at no added cost. there are seats but it can get crowded
they have sauteed onions, potatoes, cactus paddle, jalapenos onion salad, limes, salsa sauce...etc all these are the sides, can be added to the taco. we order 2 for each of us.....totaling at 5 tacos each I'm full not to mention heaps of FREE sides with my chorizo taco, can hardly stuffed that fat taco in my mouth. Among these 3 taco stands i like this the most. Price $8pesos/taco ($0.40USD). Tonight we spend total $68pesos ($3.40USD) on tacos we ate at 3 taco stands and it's most satisfying! Roadside food is cheap. And we did NOT have any stomach problem eating the street food!
we are not done yet.....time for dessert. A must visit in Mexico City El moro for their yummy fresh chorros dipped in chocolate. And this shop was just 1 block away from our hotel....perfect!!!
well this churros is pricier than my tacos in total.... this Chocolate Espanol + 4 churros = $72pesos ($3.50USD) but it's worth the price tag
the chocolate is sooooo thick and the churros was chunchy outside and chewy inside and the sugar cinnamon just perfect! to end a perfect day! This store is always packed and the line can go really crazy....but we were lucky tonight just a short 15 minutes wait
next day we are visiting the Historic Center
~ hasta mañana~
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