Teotihuacan

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Hola Amigos and Familia,
I would love to say something profound to you in Spanish but I am in level one and so I am learning the basics. However, I am getting better and can carry on a simple conversation with no problema. The last couple of days we have boarded the magic bus and it has taken us to wonderful places. Saturday ten of us visited the Museum of Archeaology with the director of the school, Charlie. As we drove towards Mexico City he explained why, with all the rain, there are no major rivers. There are 8,000 volcanoes running in a line across a horizontal axis from the Pacific to the Gulf coast. These porous volcanic mountains act as giant sponges, soaking up and storing the water and releasing their water in springs. Wherever there is a major spring a pueblo is established. The key to the success of these natural reservoirs are the plants that keep the water from rushing downhill. It is a never ending fight to keep people from cutting down the trees. Illegal loggers are often busy at night, sometimes protected by police who take bribes, taking out this precious resource not realizing they are destroying their only source of water, a precious natural resource here. Another interesting thing we saw on the way to the city was a caravan of semi trucks parked with an armed guard. There is a problem with banditry on the roads so trucks often travel together with a hired armed guard.

The archeological sites I have visited include Cuicuico, that dates back to 800 BCE and was destroyed by a volcano around 50 BCE. Teotihuacan was the major city from about 150 BCE to 700 CE. Around 500 CE it was the largest city in the world! It controled trade in Mesoamerica. The main exports were obsidian and red dye. The dye was equal in value to gold. There was also a lot of silver and textiles, animal skins, feathers, food... Traderoutes criscrossed all over Mesoamerica and into what today is the United States. It is here where the pyramid of the sun, moon and many other gods can still be found.

Last Friday we ate at the Hacienda de Cortez. It was one of many houses he had in Mexico and has recently been refurbished. It has beautiful gardens and buildings, however the service and food at dinner left much to be desired. In fact, I got my first taste of stomach cramps that night from the food.

As usual, my amigos are waiting for me to get done with this , so will close and try to load pictures. I never know if I will be successful. Buenas Dias. Con Amor Patty

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