Trip to Mexico teaches more than Spanish, cultureI had the chance to visit Mexico last week, and I have come home amazed at some of the idyllic sites I saw but also grateful for some simple things I take for granted every day.
I made the eight-day excursion to Mexico City, the Yucatan Peninsula and Isla Mujeres with a group of 12 of my Spanish students from Homestead High School along with three other teachers and an additional chaperone.
The trip had been in the planning stages for more than one year, and our goal was to not only use our Spanish-communication skills in a natural environment but also to learn more about Mexico’s rich history and culture.
But I learned more than that.
The trip began in Mexico City, located in a valley high in Mexico’s central uplands. With a population of about 22 million in the metro area, it’s one of the largest cities in the world. Our guide Eric explained that in 1325 the Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtitlán. The Spaniards arrived in 1519 and conquered the area in 1521, making it the capital of Spain’s America colonies. Mexico City has been the capital of the country since it gained its independence from Spain in 1821.
The size of Mexico City alone make it impressive but with that big population comes a major problem: air pollution. It was difficult to see the surrounding mountains because of the pollution. In fact, motorists in Mexico City are prohibited from driving their cars one day a week in order to combat the pollution (which day you cannot drive is based off your license plate number, Eric explained). Despite this setback, it’s an amazing city full of impressive structures, art and more.
We spent two nights in the Historic Center staying in a hotel on the Zócalo, or the main plaza. The 34-block area is home to churches, government buildings, Aztec ruins, museums and modern-day street life. Located in this area is the famous Templo Mayor. According to legend, it was at this spot that the Aztecs saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its mouth. This vision prompted the Aztecs to settle in what is now Mexico City, as they thought it was the center of the universe.
Several ruins decorate the Mexico City area, but the most impressive we visited were located about 31 miles northeast of the capital city: Teotihuacán. Teotihuacán was Mexico’s largest ancient city and most likely was the capital of Mexico’s biggest pre-Hispanic empire.
The city is home to the enormous Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is the world’s third largest. Built around 300AD from 3 million tons of stone, brick and rubble, its base is about 732 feet long and it is just over 230 feet tall. We climbed the pyramid’s narrow, steep 248 steps for an awesome view of the city.
At the north end of the ancient city is the Pyramid of the Moon. This pyramid is not as tall as the other, but it’s built on higher ground, which makes it summit almost as tall as the Pyramid of the Sun. Unfortunately, we couldn’t climb all the way to the top because of work being done.
The highlight of the trip for me was visiting the ruins. I had wanted to visit and climb them since first reading about the ruins when I was about 10 years old.
We visited several other landmarks in Mexico City before boarding a plane to head to the Mayan countryside located in the Mérida area, or Yucatan Peninsula.
Several Aztec ruins are located in and around Mexico City, but the Yucatan area is home to more Mayan ruins. We visited two famous ancient Mayan cities: Uxmal (oosh-mahl) and Chichén Itzá.
My favorite of the two was Uxmal because it is less touristy. This peaceful site is located in a hilly region in the northwest region of the peninsula. The city was settled around 600AD but abandoned about 300 years later, possibly because of drought conditions. The ancient city was rediscovered in the 19th century. Several images of the Mayan rain god, Chac-Mool, are found throughout the city in the form of stucco masks. Chac-Mool was important to the Mayans at this site because of the lack of water.
The best restored Mayan ruins are located at Chichén Itzá. This place was once the political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Visitors used to be able to climb some of the pyramids, but since about 10,000 people a day now visit the ruins this is no longer possible, our guide explained.
Now is actually an exciting time for Mexico and Chichén Itzá because the famous Mayan temple city is in the running to be one of the redefined seven wonders of the world. A competition organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a Swiss-Canadian filmmaker and writer allows people to choose from 21 monuments (narrowed down from 177 two years ago) to redefine the original seven wonders. (Log on to www.new7wonders.com for more information.)
We found ourselves on a small island off the coast of Cancun (Isla Mujeres) for the last two days of the Mexico adventure, a time for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing.
The trip was wonderful by all accounts, but it also served as a reminder that we shouldn’t take even the most simple things for granted. Unlike in the United States, for example, it’s not safe to drink water from the tap in most of the places we visited in Mexico. The simple task of going to the faucet or a public drinking fountain for a sip of water is a privilege, a luxury that is easy to take for granted.
We’re fortunate to live in a country where we have so many luxuries at our fingertips because not everyone in the world can say the same. Mexico is an amazing country by all accounts with a rich culture and compassionate, friendly residents. But, there’s no place quite like home, especially when it comes to drinking the water.
If you do happen to encounter some of the water, be prepared for a one-day visit from Montezuma’s spirit. Trust me, it’s an acquaintance you don’t want to make.
Article Provided By: The Bluffton News-Banner
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