Hello Again! I know, it isn't Tuesdsy. I'm preparing to move again and it's summer - my busiest time of year for going on adventures - so I'm a few days behind. But, still getting at least one blog post in this week! So, Teotihuacan is actually what inspired me to pick Mexico City as a vacation spot in the first place. When I was getting my bachelors degree at Colorado State University I had to take an entry and advanced level archaeology course. In my ANTH 141 course my professor (Dr. Fisher) studied/worked in Mexico and had been to this area many times. He recommended it to his entire class (over 100 students) as a great and safe out-of-country place to visit. We learned about Temple Mayor and Teotihuacan in class. Ever since then (2016) I kept this area in my mind. Our AirBnB host was very helpful in helping us get to Teotihuacan. He told us which bus transit center we needed to go to and where in the transit center to go. We went to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte, and the the desk for the bus to Teotihuacan is *the last* desk on the left side (if you are facing the entrance of the transit center). I'm serious, go all the way to far left wall and that's where it is. The tickets were about $100 Mexican dollars round-trip (so about $5 USD). The bus rise is about an hour or so long and they drop you off right in front of the entrance and pick you up at the same spot. Buying tickets for Teotihuacan feels really informal. As you walk up there is a booth for vehicles that are parking to pay at, that is also where you pay. There were a couple people standing nearby this booth who also had the ability to pay at (we paid in cash) and receive tickets from. You then take that ticket all the way across the grassy parking lot to the metal fencing entrance and show your ticket to the guard. Our host also gave us another piece of advice that I'll pass along, go in the morning. It is far less busy and you can actually enjoy the pyramids and the sights. By 11am it is pretty much completely full (even on a week day) and the pyramids are so crowded with people you would not be able to take pictures or enjoy the moment/sights at all. There is the Temple of the Sun (the big one you see walking up) and the Temple of the Moon (to the left) and the Avenue of the Dead which has many more smaller, less restored pyramids along it. However, walking up the pyramids and along the Avenue is an incredible experience. To know that this was a mecca for people as a city and for their religion, that is was always this bustling and busy (just for a slightly different reason) is amazing. Most all of the signs are in both Spanish and English. It is incredibly hot and there is no shade, so be sure to lather on the sunscreen and wear a hat! They don't have sunscreen there (at least I don't remember seeing any) but they do have hats, even ones that are made in Mexico. So it can dual as a souvenir. At the opposite end of the Avenue of the Dead there is a white, completely unmarked building that is completely open to the public. It has restrooms on the bottom level and on the upper level is a restaurant. We ate lunch there, it was pretty pricey - and by pricey I mean equivalent to US restaurant pricing, about $15-$20 USD a plate - but also tasty. In the courtyard of the Temple of the Moon there is a separate gated area that has more "underground" things to see. They have paintings on the walls that have been saved, and smaller rooms you can see. It is free to go in, and I would suggest going in and having a look around. Beside this there are a few more booths for souvenirs, some also sell bottled water (a requirement as it is *not* safe to drink the water or even ice in Mexico). This is where we filled up before hiking to the other end of the Avenue. And hiking isn't a term too far off for what it takes to get from one end to the other, there are lots of stairs, hills, and random exploring you can do along the Avenue. On our way out we stopped at a few of the stalls to grab some souvenirs, then caught our bus back to Mexico City. Overall, I would completely recommend going to Teotihuacan! It is an incredible historic site and is beautiful to be able to see and touch it. It's very affordable, can be done in a day, and is great for individuals, couples, or families. Standing in the courtyard of the Temple of the Moon is an amazing feeling, something everyone should experience. If you have any more advice or exciting experiences from Teotihuacan, leave them below! I'd love to hear about it! Much Love, Jess
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AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
March 2022
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