93. Drive by shooting

Monday, 25 March 2019

Mexico City, Mexico

Open bedroom door to go down for breakfast. The young maid is standing outside just about to go into the room next door, which startles me. Again. We’d done the exact same thing last night as I was going out for dinner and she’d frightened the life out of me. This morning she gives a giggly little ‘Boo!’.

Hour’s drive north to the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Built in the Classic Period of 100BC to 900AD, the largest pyramid, the Temple of the Sun is 230ft high and compares in size to the Cheops Pyramid in Egypt.

The difference between the two is that the Teotihuacan, Mayan and Aztec pyramids are basically solid bases, with flat tops, upon which temples were built to be nearer to heaven.

You ain’t half learning stuff on this blog.

Given a brief explanation of the complex in the car whilst driving to the site. It’s only when we arrive, I understand why. There’s about a mile’s walk along the Avenue of the Dead between the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Temple of the Moon plus a lot of steps to climb. My elderly gent guide can’t walk it. Am on my own. Blessed relief for my ears.

Walking along the Avenue of the Dead isn’t particularly interesting. Just a lot of stones and it’s difficult to imagine what it would have looked like way back when.

The highlight is the climb to the top of the Temple of the Sun. 230ft up very steep stone steps. Many a tourist huffing and puffing. Including this one. Fortunately nearer the top the steps narrow and ends up in a single file queue of tourists. Which means slow going. Which means take a step and wait. Which means not getting out of breath. Not helped by altitude. Obviously.

Climb up is well worth it for the amazing view across the valley and it’s only from this vantage point that you can fully appreciate the pyramid complex and how long it is.

Return to the city centre and the main square of Zocalo. It’s not on the itinerary but he’s just doing it as a favour. A big tip in other words. As there’s no time to stop and wander about, it’s a drive around the main square taking photos out of the car window.

More a drive by shooting.

Of the photography kind.

Sorry. Did you read the blog title and think something exciting had happened? Don’t be silly.

Told that the whole square was closed for three weeks whilst they filmed James Bond’s Spectre film. Guide points out the rooftop where Bond walks along in the opening sequence. Upon further investigation, not sure that’s right, as most of it seems to have been CGI.