We spent a day roaming among the mighty pyramids of Teotihuacán, built around the first and second centuries and sacked and burned (possibly from in-fighting) circa 650 to 750 AD. Although the name Teotihuacán was given to the city by the Aztecs—it means the “place of those who have the road to the gods”—the civilization predates the Aztecs by many centuries. (Treasures from Teotihuacán are housed in the great Anthropology Museum.)
Speaking of museums: Mexico City’s Folk Art Museum (Museo de Arte Popular) boasts an impressive, encyclopedic collection of pottery, textiles, papier-mâché, and furniture from every state in the country. Side note: the museum shop is fabulous; the best in town in my opinion.
The Mural Museum of Diego Rivera contains only one mural, but it’s “Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda,” Diego Rivera’s most famous, and worth the trip. At the end of a long day—can’t remember which one —we popped into Chapultepec Castle, now the national history museum.
Finally, we attended mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Some 20 million pilgrims visit the Basilica every year, making it the world’s most visited Marian shrine.
Viva Mexico!