Team Manning arrive in MC!

Well despite a hair raising taxi ride from MC airport we have arrived safe and sound in this huge city of 27 million people plus 2 (us)! The people are an utter delight, so friendly and keen to speak Spanish, so I tried the basics 'buenos dias' 'huevos rancheros' blah blah. Fatal mistake. They then assume you speak Spanish and before you know whats going on, they've uttered a million words in the space of our 2 sentences and are looking at you eager for a response - mine is normally 'que??' - but I love the fact they don't feel like they should speak English - quite right!

Today we went to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan North of Mexico City, this area houses the temple of the sun and the temple of the moon, you can climb both (65m and 45m respectively) It was taken over by the Aztecs about 1000CE and they apparently sacrificed 150 people per day! Nice bunch!

We also visited the Basillica of Guadelupe, and went to a family home/workshop where they carve statues out of the lava rock found everywhere in the mountains around the City. Amazing how they cut the rock, carve it and then polish it up so that it goes from an ugly grey rock to a brilliant shiny rock almost with a granite look about it. The family also make Tequilla, and an Amaretto type twist on Tequila (they mix it with Honey and Almonds) and something else beginning with P which they take from the Agarve cactus and is non alcoholic - good for the stomach apparently but tasted like something from your stomach!

When we went to the Basillica the guide explained about the fusion of religion and cultures when the Spanish came with Catholicism and tried to force it on the indiginous people - they came to a 50:50 agreement - the indiginous people were used to worshipping outside and the pagan Gods, the Catholics were of course used to 4 walls of a church and worshipped one God (So they say!). So they agreed that the indiginous people would go to worship with them but the services would be held by the priests outside the church. The indiginous people weren't allowed inside the big Cathedral, only in a separate church. Even today there was a mass of people outside the church as well as inside during one of the 30 masses held today.

The area where the cathedral and the church for the 'Indians' is built is actually on a lake! So these impressive buildings are slowly sinking. Its quite odd to see them leaning forward and when you enter the building you feel like you're walking up hill! Our guides were great 'Pepe and Hugo' - Hugo was our main guide and his favourite expressions in his cute Mexican/English accent were 'Look it up guys' and 'Its like I told you before' - he was very sweet and we wanted to take him with us.

Its been a long day of climbing pyramids and feeling a bit of jet lag so this evening consists of Dancing with Wolves, glass of wine and room service! wow it feels like we never left home.

Until next time - Adios Amigos!
xx