Two weeks of complete immersion in all the colors, tastes and motives of stunning Mexico.
We arrive in Mexico City, meet with the tour leader and the group and check into a hotel in the historic center of the city. After a short rest, we head to the central Zocalo square and plunge into the local life. We walk near the grand Cathedral, which the Spanish colonists were building for almost three hundred years on the foundation of the temple of the god of war of the ancient Aztecs.
But the devout Mexican Christians did not forget their roots - next to the Cathedral, they organize the ritual dances of the Aztecs and Mayans every evening. Feathers, brightly colored bodies, rituals for protections from evil spirits - this action looks very unusual! The ancestors of the Mexicans used these dances to thank nature for all the elements - air, water, fire and earth.
We go to one of the local restaurants to start exploring Mexican cuisine. We will try the traditional rich posole soup made from corn, meat, cabbage, avocado and lime and quesadillas with various fillings. And how about micheladas - a popular drink made of beer and spices?
In the morning we leave for the archaeological complex of Teotihuacan (1 hour on the way). Many mistakenly consider it the city of the ancient Aztecs. But in fact, it was built by representatives of an even more ancient Teotiaukan civilization in the 4th century BC. The Aztecs came here four hundred years later. Almost nothing is known about the Teotiaukan civilization. Scientists still argue about how the famous pyramids of the Sun and Moon were used. Most of them agree on one thing - that ritual human sacrifices were made on platforms on the tops of the pyramids.
We will walk along the famous Avenue of the Dead, get to the top of both pyramids, examine the frescoes miraculously preserved to our times and the ruins of ancient dwellings. You can also take a balloon flight to view the entire complex from a bird's eye view. In the evening we return to our hotel in Mexico City (1 hour on the way).
In the morning we set off to explore Mexico City. Let`s begin in the country's most famous museum - the Museum of Anthropology, which contains unique finds from all the ancient precolumbian cities of Mexico. We will see the famous Sun Stone, on which the Aztec calendar is recorded, the giant stone heads of the ancient Olmecs, bright funerary masks, huge statues of ancient gods, bright murals and other treasures.
Next, we head to the president’s palace, a perfect place to relax in the quiet courtyards with fountains and admire huge murals. In the evening, we listen to the traditional music of the mariachi folk groups and taste pulque - a traditional drink of the ancient Aztecs made from agave juice. In ancient times, even before the Spaniards arrived here, only shamans were allowed to use pulque for ritual purposes.
This trip is of easy physical grade. It includes walks in cities and nature reserves. We will travel by rented and public transport, ferry and boats, and also take one short domestic flight. One night will be spent in the comfortable bus, and we will take several journeys lasting up to 5 hours. Accommodation in double/twin rooms in tourist class hotels and guesthouses.
