Next stop was a visit to the Anthropology Museum.
I've no idea what these glyphs on the side of the building meant, but they were quite cute.
This would have been a lovely picture if not for the scaffolding.
Judging by this map we've got a lot of ancient sites to visit over the next 2+ weeks.
But apparently it's important to visit here as it houses a lot of original artefacts which were found throughout Mexico and Guatemala during various excavations and renovations and relocated here to be protected from the elements and what we'll see in the field are copies. I can't pretend I took a great deal of notice in what Francisco was telling us, it all seemed to merge together and the names were similarly impossible to pronounce, so this will be most a bunch of pictures without much explanation unless Ian can fill in the detail.
This, I think, is a model of Teotihuacán, famed for the Pyramid of the Sun and one of the most visited sites in Mexico - we're going this afternoon on our way to Puebla.
This restored piece shows the use of red paint with gold and jade decoration on marble and granite - quite beautiful.
And how it would have looked in its day.
A version of Pelota seems to have been very popular with the Mesoamericans; different rules being applied at different times; some resulting in the death of the winner and/or loser.
Given the size of modern day Mexicans I found the skeletons on display to be surprising tall.
Sometimes the rulers were buried with all they'd need for the afterlife, like the Egyptians did.
A few bits of old pottery - this I think represented a pregnant woman.
Hummingbird?
Restoration work continues.
We then had the option to eat an early lunch at the museum or drive about 1 1/4 hours and have lunch with the Teotihuacán Pyramids in the background - no contest really!
In fact the pyramids weren't actually on the way to our next stop of Puebla, but 40kms north east of Mexico City - a couple of snaps as we drove; colourful favela type neighbourhoods.
El Vigilante - a 82' high sculpture by Jorge Marin at the entrance to Ecatepec de Morelos, a region just outside Mexico City.
It was about 1400 by the time we arrived and Francisco announced that there was something wrong with the bus and a replacement would be arriving whilst we toured the site - let's hope it's a bit bigger! The restaurant certainly provided a good view.
Scottish John, a solicitor from Edinburgh, is very keen to try local dishes.
Beautiful bougainvillea.
Who knew pyramids could be so dangerous?
The site was vast and very impressive.
Is this really Spiderman?
Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly and thought to be the home of a high priest. Initially I was quite excited but it turned out to be just another pile of old stones.
This is a jaguar.
After we'd looked at the main temples, we jumped into the replacement minibus (sadly no bigger) and drove to the far side of the complex. This doesn't really show the height or steepness of the stones but they were too much for us (Ian's knee and my steps phobia).
There were numerous tat touts all around the vast site but no hassle whatsoever, mostly they just sit there. The only annoying ones were those selling whistles which sound like monkey or jaguar noises - exactly why I'm not sure, as neither animal is in the area.
This guy was steadfastly looking the other way.
Until his mate turned up - what a bit of luck!
I told you Frida Kahlo get's everywhere.
I photographed this Higo Chumbo growing near a pile of old stones.
But I'm not sure why these less than perfect specimens were being sold.
And talking of Higos Chumbos or Nopales as they are known here, we saw millions being grown commercial during the two hour drive south east to Puebla. As
well as being a popular fruit, the plant is touted for its antiviral and
anti-inflammatory properties and also promoted for treating diabetes, high
cholesterol, obesity and hangovers.
The rather impressive 16th century Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System initiated by Franciscan friars and built by Spanish engineers and local craftsmen, it carried water some 48kms.
Not having any luggage to unpack, we wandered out for a look around
And found a lovely pizza restaurant which luckily had good WIFI (the hotel doesn't) so we could check the status on our cases. True to his word, Eduardo had messaged confirming they'd arrived and would be delivered to us in Puebla at 0300 hours, but as we were only here one night I messaged him with details of our next stop in case things went wrong.
Back at the hotel and the view of the cathedral from our hotel roof terrace.
We saw Francisco when we got back and told him the cases were definitely being delivered tonight and asked that we be informed immediately they arrived. Our little bedroom cell where we waited up most of the night and having heard nothing by 0600 we went down to reception just in time to see our cases being put in the lift. Francisco had kindly decided we wouldn't want to be woken in the middle of the night and so left instructions for them to be sent up at 0600.
All's well, that ends well - we're just glad they've arrived.
