Ruinas

Starbucks has become part of our morning routine and it sure helps when we have to wake up early to get on a van. Not unlike New York, Starbucks are at least a stones throw away, where ever you are. Our driver came to get us at the hotel and we waited in the plaza for about 15 Mexican minutes for the other members of our tour. The 15 Mexican minutes translated to about an hour. Our first stop was at a gift shop outside of the ruins. A lady named Jenny explained to us how paper, textiles, juice, and liquor were all made from the Agave plant. The tip of the plant was a needle and when the outer layers were peeled back, there was thread attached to it. She died the thread using rose petals, calcium and the flower that goes into Manzanilla tea. The calcium turned the red to a purplish color and the yellow to a green. I wish that was the kind of science they taught us at school! We walked around the gift shop for a bit before leaving to go to the ruins. The most popular parts of the ruins were the Sun and Moon temples. Our guide said that the temple of the moon used to be covered with white stucco and the temple of the sun was made of all red stones. We climbed halfway up the temple of the moon and had a pretty view of all the smaller pyramids. We went through one of the houses and the guide told us that in the courtyard of every house there was about an inch of water that covered the ground so it reflected the moon and the stars at night. 

Lastly, we climbed the temple of the sun where we could go all the way to the top. I'm confused as to why on earth such short people would build temples with stairs that were as tall as their knees. It was rough getting all the way up there but the view from the top was stunning. You could see the line of small pyramids with the temple of the moon at the end. Tenochtitlan was in a valley so we could also see all the hills around it. Once we descended, we had some extra time so we looked for a tree with some shade. Helen and I played cards until it was time to go. We got back on the bus and it took us back to the hotel. From there we went to eat a late lunch at a steakhouse. Dad and I both got meat that was served on iron skillets still cooking it while we were eating. After lunch we went to the pool at the hotel until the sky looked a little sketchy and we got out. The rest of the day was spent hanging around the room. Last but not least, we ordered room service for desert and the tray that he rolled in served as a perfect card table.