Mexcity City Day 2: Traveling = Life

This was one of those day’s that totally changes your life and only adds more fuel to the fire that ignites your passion for traveling...

I woke up feeling pretty exhausted, so I decided to splurge and order room service.  A cheese omelet and some pan dulce later, I was more energized and ready to start my day with Mel.  Our 1st stop was in the Zocalo area, where there was a Gregory Colbert exhibition at the Nomadic Museum.  The exhibition was entitled “Ashes and Snow”and was free to the public.  We arrived early in the morning and already there was at least a thousand people standing in line.  Do yourself a favor and check out that link--I promise it will rock your world!


Outside the 'Ashes and Snow' exhibit at the Nomadic Museum in the

center of the Zocalo square.


The Nomadic Museum, which is the permanent traveling home of the exhibition, was a spectacular work of art itself.  It was made out of bamboo and while it was simplistic in nature, it was still incredibly striking and the perfect place to house the extraordinary work.  I had heard a lot about this exhibit and was saddened when I had learned that I had missed it when it was in NYC, however the opportunity to see it again had thankfully presented itself.

A closer shot of the Nomadic Museum.

The exhibition contained large-scale photographic artwork and films in sepia tone that were edited by 2-time Oscar winner Pietro Scalia and narrated by Laurence Fishburne (English) and Ken Watanabe (Japanese).  Gregory Colbert, the artist behind the masterpiece “Ashes and Snow,” has brilliantly captured intimate interactions between humans and animals from his expeditions around the world.

In Colbert’s own words about his work, “In exploring the shared language and poetic sensibilities of all animals, I am working towards rediscovering the common ground that once existed when people lived in harmony with animals.”  The title of “Ashes and Snow” suggests the concepts of rebirth and renewal, while also, according to the brochure handed out at the exhibition, “refers to the literary component of the exhibition--a fictional account of a man who, over the course of a yearlong journey, composes 365 letters to his wife.  The source of the title is revealed in the 365th letter.”


One of the picture's from the exhibit that was on the outside of the museum.


Unfortunately, no cameras were allowed in the museum.  I suppose it was for the best, as the constant sight of flashes would have greatly disturbed one’s attention from the work.  Although, I would have loved to have been able to show others, who will never be able to see the exhibit, just how extraordinary the work was.  The inside of the museum was massive and the only light that existed was used to illuminate the pictures that were hanging on both sides of the walkway.  Underneath the pictures was a stream of water and if one looked into the water you could see the reflection of the pictures in it.  The videos were displayed on gigantic screens at the end of each walkway.  I truly believe that if this had been the only thing I was able to see while in Mexico City, it would have been worth flying all the way down there just for it.


A close up of one of my favorite pictures (of course it has an elephant) in the gift shop.


The 2nd stop of the day was equally spectacular: the ancient city of Teotihuacan.  Teotihuacan is one of the most frequently visited archaeological sites in the world and a must-see if you are in Mexico City.  By car it took us about 45 minutes to reach from the city center (there is a small fee for parking at the site).  I have heard, as well as read, that taking a bus is an affordable and comfortable way to get there too.

The site is impressive for its scale, both in the size of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world at 215 feet) and the majesty of the Calle de los Muertos, or the Street of the Dead, which was originally 4km long and surrounded by temples, palaces, and platforms.

Teotihuacan required a lot of walking and climbing, but I was proud of myself for being able to do it all even though I was still not completely well yet from the flu.  Note: the high altitude will make your exertions more tiring than usual.  While the Pyramid of the Sun was the tallest of the 2 pyramids, it was an easier climb than the Pyramid of the Moon due to its larger steps. Both pyramids offer an amazing view down the Calle de los Muertos.  I strongly advise to visit during the week or in the morning during the weekends to avoid the crowds.


The Pyramid of the Moon inside the ancient city of Teotihuacan.



A view of the mountains in the distance from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon



A view of Calle de los Muertos and the Pyramid of the Sun from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.



Me on top of the Pyramid of the Moon with the Pyramid of the Sun in the

background.


Mel and I on top of the Pyramid of the Moon.



The Pyramid of the Sun from Calle de los Muertos.


The history of Teotihuacan dates back to around 150 BCE when it was a large Aztec settlement.  As other settlements in the area diminished, it continued to flourish and became the religious and economic center.  Between 1CE and 250CE both the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon along with Calle de los Muertos were built.  The massive pyramids were painted red and considered holy places. Teotihuacan’s literal translation is “the place where men [sic] become gods.”  Over time, the pyramids were worn down by age and weather, until they appeared little more than large hills on the landscape. It was not until the 19th Century that proper excavation and restoration was performed.

Worried that we might be stuck in heavy traffic again and not be able to make it to our dinner reservation in time, we said adios to the pyramids and made our way back into the city.  I suppose we had gathered lucky energy from the pyramids, because we encountered hardly any traffic and arrived at my hotel with enough time to freshen up.

Our final stop of the day was dinner with another Couchsurfer named Erika.  Erika was an interesting woman; she came for a visit to Mexico City 2 years ago and fell so in love with it that she gave up her life in Canada to move there.  While she has struggled at times in her new life, she does not regret the decision.  And after spending 2 days in the city I can understand why.  She convinced me to try another new Mexican dish called pozole, which is a traditional soup filled with various vegetables and infused with seasonings.  After our late dinner and conversation, all of us too tired to go out, I retired back to my hotel.

Posted by Andi Perullo at October 21, 2009
Categories: Mexico City
 

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