Montezuma's Revenge

Week two in Mexico City called for adventure. We got a group of us together and organized a trip to the Mexico City Churches & the Aztec Pyramids. The day was amazing and my mind was filled with all sorts of Mexican culture, but as for my stomach is was filled with pepto and gravel. If I am not sick to my stomach from the food, I am staring out the window of the vehicle hoping vomit doesn't shoot all over the window. 
Well I say we have a little school session... History Class... okay listen up. 
First Stop: Mexico City Cathedral. This church sinks about 1cm per year and is the oldest Church in the Americas. 

In this picture you can really see the building & how it is leaning to the side from sinking. 

The paintings were amazing and so detailed, even on the ceiling. 

a confession box. 

The oregon that was built in 1736, it was very large.  

The Assumption of Mary. 

I found the Assumption of Mary very interesting. Here is the story and background of this painting. 
According to tradition, on December 9, 1531 Juan Diego, a simple indigenous peasant, had a vision of a young woman while he was on a hill in the Tepeyac desert, near Mexico City. The lady told him to build a church exactly on the spot where they were standing. He told the local bishop, who asked for some proof. He went back and had the vision again. He told the lady that the bishop wanted proof, and she said "Bring the roses behind you." Turning to look, he found a rose bush growing behind him. He cut the roses, placed them in his poncho and returned to the bishop, saying he had brought proof. When he opened his poncho, instead of roses, there was an image of the young lady in the vision. 
As proof, you can see the warrior in the eye of the painting. This shrine is the most visited shrine in the world, people come here to pray and give their respects to 'Mary' and hope to receive a message back. 
Second Stop: Metropolitan Tabernacle. This Temple is made of gold and silver. 

Third Stop: The temple ground held a shrine of the Assumption of Mary. The gardens are gorgeous here! You can really tell they care very much for their temples because the area is so clean and pure. 

I paid 5 pesos for this little bird to pick out 2 fortunes for me. 

My fortunes were in Spanish, but thanks the internet I was able to transfer them into English: 

"All your actions are controlled by Taurus that's why gozarás long life in love you will have great difficulties in famalia, but not so if you do the art to literature; in this field you can get great times. You gozarás good health in general will have good friends. mayo and dioiembre will be your lucky month; Monday and Friday your best days to try your luck in the lottery, seeking always is to take the endings 5 7 6 9 and not him weighs."

"The disappointment that time suffer because you have friends that you had, you smile but you hide the hate under this hipociesía; Do you want? do you want to know who are those that you are harming? ten calm, calm a person through mine you dira in secrecy who are not with this are going to try to harm them, you the diran in order that you take care in the forward and not you fies of the more prying because they are the of more danger and ponzonosos; so I advise you: do not you trust secret even to their own personal because there is large and you have difficulties ten faith in what you say."

hmmm.... anyways. 

The last temple we went into is the most recent one built. It is the temple that holds ceremonies at every hour of each day. They do this because there are so many people who attend these ceremonies that there is never enough time to seat each person. We visited while an actual ceremony was taking place. We were able to see the actual painting of Mary and listen to a session, which I did not understand due to my spanish stopping at, "Hola". I found it strange and scary how many stray dogs walk around. The dogs would follow us into the church and just wonder around. No one seemed to really care and the bishop even splashed the dog with holy water... say what. 

Being a silly tourist. The people in front of me probably thought I was some Crazy American. 

Fourth Stop: The Pyramids, also my favorite part of the day. 

Before we climbed any pyramid we learned about the rocks that formed these amazing structures. People work everyday and create the most amazing sculptures of all natural rock from the pyramids. Everything is authentic and real, they kept telling us that a lot of sculptures are fake that are sold on the street. We also learned about this amazing cactus plant they they used to use for everyday use back then. This cactus would take ten years to fully grow, but once it was done growing they used to juice to create alcohol. The taste of the cactus water was very sweet. They cut out the middle of the cactus and used it for hunting purposes because the tip of it was very sharp. Mostly used for catching fish because it was very easy to sphere them that way (I should hide Neil's guns and replace them with cactus spheres and see how many ducks he can kill then... muwhaha). Just a thought. They also used the inside as paper because it was writable. The tip was also used for medical use because when the tip is cut off, down about 3 inches, the fibers of the cactus could be used for sowing purposes. Very unique. 

dog on the roof... normal.  

Okay... Finally to the pyramids! 

We visited the Moon Pyramid & the Sun Pyramid. I actually climbed the Sun Pyramid, which was 261 steps. Yes, my butt was sore the next day. 

The Sun Pyramid & Avenue of the Dead. 

Moon Pyramid 

Let's do this... in our Toms? yikes 

Very Steep, but don't worry a flimsy rubber rope held me on. 

The center of the Sun Pyramid brings balance and good energy. 

So.. I could do this. 

Showing off our skills at the top of the Pyramid. 

 What a fun day filled with adventure and shared with good friends. This day will always be something I will never forget, but for now... I am tired and sad to say, but ready to leave Mexico. One more city and then we are finally headed to the West Coast! Thank-goodness!!! 

Oh... did I mention that Monterrey is the most dangerous City in Mexico... due to the drug wars. Oh yeah that is our next stop. ITS FINE!!

Forever & Always

 xoxo