Traveling to any part of Mexico should be exciting for any tourist, even if they, like me, were born in this country, and one of the best destinations for a well-rounded trip is, of course, Mexico City. The country capital is not just one of the most densely populated cities in the world; it is also the largest Spanish-speaking city in the planet. There's great food, as well as tons of museums and public parks and many more fun activities.
Just a short drive away (less than an hour), there's a place that's bursting with history and pre-Columbian grandeur: Teotihuacán, which means "city of the Sun" in náhuatl. This is my experience at this incredible place.
I got to the meeting point at Mexico City's historic downtown, in front of Mumedi (Mexican Museum of Design). Our tour guide arrived, clad in an Urban Adventures red shirt, which made identifying her that much easier.
As soon as she confirmed everyone who would be going on the tour, she guided us toward an Uber that would take us to the bus station. On the way, she made small talk with everybody and made us feel at ease, even asking about any allergy or dietary restrictions since we would close the day with a special dinner hosted by a local family.
We took the bus and traveled for a slightly longer than usual hour and a half from Mexico City to Teotihuacán. The first thing we noticed was an abundance of souvenir shops, whose attendants were all very nice to us.
Our tour guide started our route talking about the stunning Pyramid of the Moon, which is surrounded by other, smaller pyramids. In English, as most of the tourists were foreign, she explained the origins and history of the place and how it was the Teotihuacans, not the Aztecs or Mayans, who built these wonders. We walked a little more and stopped at the central pyramid, where they held certain rituals and danced to celebrate, at least the ones that were allowed to do so. Those who weren't chosen could do their thing at the other pyramids.
We reached the Pyramid of the Moon, the second biggest one in an archaeological site that was only discovered a few years ago after some serious digging. We climbed the pyramid, which was a bit difficult since it is so steep, and the stairs are narrow and high. Going up there was pretty much like doing tons of squats. We couldn't get to the top as it's a bit damaged, but we still managed to enjoy an amazing view.
On our way down among the smaller pyramids, we were met by a local who explained the way they painted at the time the pyramids were built. He took a piece of cactus (nopal) and crushed some cochineal eggs, which gave an intense red color.
He then splashed it with a few drops of lime, which made it turn orange. After combining it with a white powder brought from Chile, he blended it with the sap from the cactus and it became blue. Yellow was produced with cempasúchil flowers, the same ones that adorn the altars for the dead in November. These were the techniques used by the Mexicas back then.
We then got to the Pyramid of the Sun, the biggest of them all and one that supposedly helps restore your energy. Of course, we all wanted to climb it, and getting up there was easier than the Pyramid of the Moon, despite it being taller. At the top, the wind is a bit aggressive but the view is spectacular. You can see the whole archaeological site, the neighboring town and even a hint of the closest city.
After descending, we were taken to a family of artisans that work with several materials, from liqueurs to obsidian. They explained how they work with agave to make thread, spears and even wax paper. Its juice is used to make pulque and aguamiel, two alcoholic beverages that we had a taste of. They taught us the right way to drink tequila and mezcal and a liqueur they make with tuna, the fruit of the cactus, as well as homemade candies.
Afterwards, we met a local family that cooked a traditional Mexican feast for us, which we enjoyed even more from all the talking and laughing we did at the table. We finished up and boarded the bus that would take us back to Mexico City. We closed the day off by riding the subway, since our tour guide insisted we live out the whole urban experience, which, she said, is the essence of the company.
I think Urban Adventures is a great service that provides a wholesome experience and takes the time to tell you the history of the place you're visiting. They make sure the trip is enjoyable and that everybody feels as part of a team and has a good time.
Disclaimer: Spanish55 is not receiving commissions from the above. Information is shared only to assist our readers. We recommend services that we have researched or that close friends and family have experienced. The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Spanish55.
Just a short drive away (less than an hour), there's a place that's bursting with history and pre-Columbian grandeur: Teotihuacán, which means "city of the Sun" in náhuatl. This is my experience at this incredible place.
I got to the meeting point at Mexico City's historic downtown, in front of Mumedi (Mexican Museum of Design). Our tour guide arrived, clad in an Urban Adventures red shirt, which made identifying her that much easier.
As soon as she confirmed everyone who would be going on the tour, she guided us toward an Uber that would take us to the bus station. On the way, she made small talk with everybody and made us feel at ease, even asking about any allergy or dietary restrictions since we would close the day with a special dinner hosted by a local family.
We took the bus and traveled for a slightly longer than usual hour and a half from Mexico City to Teotihuacán. The first thing we noticed was an abundance of souvenir shops, whose attendants were all very nice to us.
Our tour guide started our route talking about the stunning Pyramid of the Moon, which is surrounded by other, smaller pyramids. In English, as most of the tourists were foreign, she explained the origins and history of the place and how it was the Teotihuacans, not the Aztecs or Mayans, who built these wonders. We walked a little more and stopped at the central pyramid, where they held certain rituals and danced to celebrate, at least the ones that were allowed to do so. Those who weren't chosen could do their thing at the other pyramids.
We reached the Pyramid of the Moon, the second biggest one in an archaeological site that was only discovered a few years ago after some serious digging. We climbed the pyramid, which was a bit difficult since it is so steep, and the stairs are narrow and high. Going up there was pretty much like doing tons of squats. We couldn't get to the top as it's a bit damaged, but we still managed to enjoy an amazing view.
On our way down among the smaller pyramids, we were met by a local who explained the way they painted at the time the pyramids were built. He took a piece of cactus (nopal) and crushed some cochineal eggs, which gave an intense red color.
He then splashed it with a few drops of lime, which made it turn orange. After combining it with a white powder brought from Chile, he blended it with the sap from the cactus and it became blue. Yellow was produced with cempasúchil flowers, the same ones that adorn the altars for the dead in November. These were the techniques used by the Mexicas back then.
We then got to the Pyramid of the Sun, the biggest of them all and one that supposedly helps restore your energy. Of course, we all wanted to climb it, and getting up there was easier than the Pyramid of the Moon, despite it being taller. At the top, the wind is a bit aggressive but the view is spectacular. You can see the whole archaeological site, the neighboring town and even a hint of the closest city.
After descending, we were taken to a family of artisans that work with several materials, from liqueurs to obsidian. They explained how they work with agave to make thread, spears and even wax paper. Its juice is used to make pulque and aguamiel, two alcoholic beverages that we had a taste of. They taught us the right way to drink tequila and mezcal and a liqueur they make with tuna, the fruit of the cactus, as well as homemade candies.
Afterwards, we met a local family that cooked a traditional Mexican feast for us, which we enjoyed even more from all the talking and laughing we did at the table. We finished up and boarded the bus that would take us back to Mexico City. We closed the day off by riding the subway, since our tour guide insisted we live out the whole urban experience, which, she said, is the essence of the company.
I think Urban Adventures is a great service that provides a wholesome experience and takes the time to tell you the history of the place you're visiting. They make sure the trip is enjoyable and that everybody feels as part of a team and has a good time.
Disclaimer: Spanish55 is not receiving commissions from the above. Information is shared only to assist our readers. We recommend services that we have researched or that close friends and family have experienced. The content of this blog is not to be copied, adapted or shared without the written consent of Spanish55.
