October 16, 2013

Our flight arrived in Mexico City at around 5am. We did the usual customs stuff then waited around for an hour for it to get light out to go to the bus station.

Chandler had done a little research in search of an activity or two that could occupy our time during our 12 hour layover. We were headed about 30 miles out of town to some pyramids. We arrived right after the gates were opened and had the entire place to ourselves. The pyramids of Teotihuacan were built between 150 BC and 500 AD. The city was an important cultural and trading center for several hundred years and was one of the largest cities in the world during its peak.

We wandered along the Avenue of the Dead which was lined with half pyramid, half platform structures.

Smaller pyramids

After a bit of a scramble over the smaller pyramids, we reached the Pyramid of the Sun. We were able to climb to the very top on some very steep stairs. This pyramid is the biggest at over 300 feet tall.

When the complex was first discovered, everything was in ruins. Archeologists have since reconstructed the pyramids, but did so a little bit hastily and accidentally added an extra tier to the Pyramid of the Sun.

Pyramid of the Sun

View from the top

Chan holding the sun

Next, we headed over to the Pyramid of the Moon. We were not able to climb to the very top, but got some decent views from a lower platform. The Pyramid of the Moon is the second largest pyramid and was used for ceremonies to goddesses.

Pyramid of the Moon

There was a pretty impressive museum on the grounds full of discovered artifacts. It is always remarkable to me what people were able to accomplish so many years ago.

Pottery statue

Shell tooth necklace

Burial urn

After noon, the sun was getting hotter and the place was filling up with people. We had a quick and delicious Mexican meal and then headed back to the airport. Our flight was mostly uneventful. Chandler and I were seated in the window seat on opposite sides of the plane. I got a little concerned when there was a huge electrical storm on my side of the plane and the sky was repeatedly lit up by lightening. Chandler didn’t notice a thing on his side.

We arrived in Bogotá at midnight and were picked up by a shuttle we had arranged with our hostel. They sent us a tiny compact car that we were just barely able to jam our boxes into along with ourselves and the driver. The woman who was holding the sign with our name on it when we arrived couldn’t fit in, so she was left at the airport. We made it to the hostel, checked in and passed out!