Teotihuacan Pyramids

On Monday we went to visit the pyramids of Teotihuacan. It was amazing. There were SO MANY!!!! It was fascinating to think of the people building these pyramids so long ago and the work that must have gone into them. Not only was there a countless number but the two larger pyramids, the pyramid of the sun and the pyramid of the moon were huge!!! What a feat for those people to have built them. I am very interested in learning more about the pyramids and what they each signify and the people that used to inhabit the area.

We got there very early. Only one other group of guests had arrived so it was pretty neat. Beathtaking to watch the sun rise higher and higher over the pyramid. I think we could have stayed there all day and hiked and looked. It go warm which made it all the more fun.

When we were on the pyramid of the moon I wanted to get my picture taken by the edge with my mom with the Pyramid of the sun in the background. She was scared to death. She did not want to do it but i kinda handed my camera off to another tourist and din't give her a choice. Haha. Thank goodness for that because i love the pictures and the memories of this amazing place!













A history if you are interested (from Destination 360):

Teotihuacán is the largest known pre-Columbian city in the Americas, as well as the name of the civilization that ruled the city and the surrounding area. Teotihuacán is located about twenty-five miles northeast of Mexico City, and the modern day city of San Juan Teotihuacán has a population of about 45,000 people. Hotels and transportation are available from San Juan and other near by cities.

Teotihuacán history is an enthralling web of mystery. Although it once counted more inhabitants then contemporary Rome, its citizens disappeared without a trace in 700 A.D. The name itself means "place where gods were born" , echoing back the belief that the gods of the world created the universe here. The first known settlements in Teotihuacán Mexico were around 500 B.C. and the construction of the famous Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Sun began in about 100 B.C. The Teotihuacán Pyramid is the second largest in the New World (after the Great Pyramid of Cholula) and offers impressive views of the valley and ceremonial, "Avenue of the Dead" that open out below.

Located across from the Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Sun is the Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Moon. Climbing to the apex of this giant will also offer sweeping views of the surroundings, as well as an excellent look at the Avenue of the Dead. Near the Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Moon is the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, another of the more famous structures that celebrates Quetzal-Mariposa, a mythical bird-like butterfly.

A host of other temples and sacred pyramids dot the Teotihuacán landscape and yet despite the incredible size of this ancient city, solid evidence as to why it ended and what happened to its inhabitants is still to be found. Most experts who study Teotihuacán history subscribe to one of two ideas; either that the elite sections of the city were burned to the ground by the poorer and more disgruntled inhabitants or that a neighboring group such as the Toltecs sacked and burned the city. Whichever version of Teotihuacán history sounds most likely to you, it is believed that the city was burned and was eventually inhabited and preserved first by the Toltecs, then later by the Aztecs.

Church

You know the neat thing about being a Latter-Day Saint is everywhere you go in the world – you run into someone you know. We went to church on Sunday morning and I saw a man who looked so familiar. I asked Garity, "what's his last name?" (in my head I was thinking, “Cragun?”) and she said, “That’s Brother Cragun.” When I saw his wife walk in, I knew just who she was and I walked over to say hello. The Cragun family was a family I served with in Arlington, VA. They are on their way to Thailand, what are the chances I would see them in Mexico City!?

Church was amazing, the spirit was strong and the building was pretty neat. It was an old mansion that had been renovated into a church meeting house. Although we didn’t get pictures of the chapel – here are some pictures of the building:








I liked how the church had rooms that extended over the driveway! So not a typical UT church building.


After church my mom and I went to explore the Federal District of Mexico City. We had a lot of fun and saw some neat things. Stories and pictures to come.

Monarch Migration

Today we went and saw the Monarch Migration. It was INCREDIBLE!!! Despite a little vomit and car sickness traveling to the Monarch site (if anyone has ridden in a car in Mexico – I am sure they can comprehend) it was everything I imagined it would be and more! It is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I was so thankful I was able to witness.

We visited the forests of the Mexican state of Michoacán,the monarch's flight to Mexico has been compared to the migration habits of birds flying south for the winter. It is the only insect that can fly 2,500 miles to a warmer climate. Their unique wing structure and yearly life cycle makes it possible for the fall generation monarchs to travel thousands of miles (on those amazing little wings) to the warm nesting grounds of Mexico and southern California.

Each year, hundreds of millions of butterflies travel from the United States and Canada, to winter in forests of Fir and Oyamel trees. Those butterflies that survive the journey, which in some cases amounts to a 2,000 mile trip, cluster profusely in trees, creating a marvelous sight.

Starting in March, the butterflies begin to mate and the pregnant females start their journey north and the cycle begins again. What is amazing to note is it takes from 4 to 5 generations of butterflies to make the journey from the northern regions to Mexico. Those butterflies that do successfully arrive, actually are the great grand-children so to speak of the journey's first butterflies.


To see these amazing insects we rode short horses up to the mountain and then got off to hike in further to where the butterflies were staying. Each of us had a guide that led our horses, I was pretty pleased when my guide handed me the reins and allowed me to be in charge of my own horse. Although my Spanish has definitely gone downhill and I couldn’t understand what he was saying I know that when I made my horse go faster, he was a little worried. So don’t worry, I calmed it down.

When I was looking up the Monarch Migration before going to Mexico City I saw pictures where butterflies completely covered the trees. Imagine how excited I was when I got to see those very pictures in real life up close and personal. BREATHTAKING!!!!!

Here are some photos from the day (there is sort of alot so if you are like some people (ahem) who say once you've seen one butterfly, the rest are all the same - you can just skip the remainder of this post):


















The clumps on the trees that look like thick areas of leaves are actually bunches and bunches of butterflies. Their wings are straight up as they hibernate side by side on the trees throughout the forest.