Mexico, individual travel, end of 2008 to beginning of 2009.

2008-12-31 記
Topic: メキシコ

New Year's holiday: Mexico trip (late 2008 & early 2009).

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.
November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.
November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.
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　November 24, 2008.
November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.
November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

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November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

November 24, 2008.

From Narita to Cancun.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

　This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.
　This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.
　This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.
　This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.
　This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

	This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico. This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

This year, I decided to spend the end of the year in Mexico.

Cancun stay.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.
	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

	I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock. I went to bed at 12 o'clock and woke up at 6 o'clock.

Cancun hotel area to bus station, Chichen Itza ruins, Merida accommodation, Santiago church dance party.

Cancun hotel area to downtown bus station.

Today, despite having gone to bed late the day before, I woke up feeling refreshed.

Perhaps I didn't feel very sleepy because I had been taking naps many times.

After getting ready and finishing breakfast, I made sure I could leave immediately, and I ate breakfast in the room on the 14th floor, which had no sign, just like the day before.

Since it didn't open even when I knocked, I tried inserting my own room's key card, and it opened easily.

Hmm. So that is how it is.

And the breakfast at the restaurant on the first floor was different in terms of scenery and content, and of a higher grade. I thought of it as a last opportunity to relax and leisurely enjoyed it before checking out.

In the room, I left a worn-out case that I intended to throw away, and I went out with a compact backpack and a shoulder bag. I had been considering various options, but I decided to use this backpack because it securely fixes around the waist, making it comfortable. In addition, I put the camera in the shoulder bag because I frequently take it out and put it away. When I was in Egypt, I only had this one backpack, but I had to open the backpack every time I wanted to take a picture, which was quite troublesome. By using both a backpack and a shoulder bag this time, it has become much more convenient. The possibility of using this setup again in the future is increasing.

In this way, I headed towards downtown to take the ADO bus. According to what I heard, a taxi would cost 150 pesos (approximately 1200 yen), but a bus on route R1 would cost 6.5 pesos (approximately 50 yen). While I would prefer to take a taxi with such a large difference in price, I have a feeling that if I spent that much money, the local residents would make fun of me, so I decided to take the bus. Well, it's only 1200 yen, but...

I left the hotel and walked to the bus stop. The bus stop is just a space on the side of the road where the bus stops, and there is no timetable or anything like that. There were places where bus stop signs were posted, but there is none here. According to the map, there is a mark, so I have to confirm that, and I also have to confirm that it is definitely here based on the shape of the road. However, I asked a local person who seemed to be waiting for the bus there, and they confirmed that it is indeed the bus stop.

When I was listening to that, suddenly the R1 bus I was waiting for arrived. It was fast. Perhaps there are many buses running, or perhaps I am just lucky. It is probably both.

Like that, I took the R1 bus towards downtown.

	The hotel area is really beautiful.

However, the bus itself is not that new.

It had been a straight road, but when I turned sharply to the right, it was easy to predict that this was the only intersection where you could turn towards either the hotel district or the bus terminal, as mentioned in the guidebook. It was surprisingly simple and easy to understand.

I was looking in the direction of the front left, wondering if there was a bus terminal, and I saw a clear sign that said "ADO" and the company name. I could also see something that looked like a bus terminal in the back. This is definitely the right place. However, the bus didn't enter the bus terminal, so I got off on the main street next to it. Other people got off with me, but before getting off, they seemed to be talking to the driver about something. I don't know if they didn't say anything and the bus stopped here, or if they asked the driver to stop here for them. Anyway, even if I passed this point, it would be a place where it's not a big problem, and the road is clear, so I didn't think it would be a big deal. Regardless of my expectations, I safely got off in front of the bus terminal and headed to buy a ticket.

The ticket counter for ADO was very easy to understand. The staff could speak English well, so I was able to purchase the ticket smoothly. I suddenly noticed that there were only 5 or 6 seats left, so if I had arrived a little later, I might have had to take the second-class bus. It's now a little past 8 o'clock, but it seems it was just barely enough time an hour ago. I also booked a bus ticket for the return trip, from Chichen Itza to Merida. There were two options: 14:10 and 17:10. I chose the latter. Again, there were only 5 or 6 seats left. That was close. I'm worried about whether I'll be bored during my stay in Chichen Itza, but even if I go to Merida earlier, there won't be much to do, so I decided to keep this schedule. The only thing I'm worried about is that I'll arrive in Merida after it gets dark. Ideally, I'd like to arrive while it's still light, but well, there's nothing I can do about it this time.

And I will withdraw some more money from the ATM that was placed in the terminal. I used HSBC again, but the Saison American Express card still says "temporarily unavailable." Hmm. It's the same not only in the hotel district of Cancun but also downtown. At least it's not a problem with the ATM itself, probably.

And I waited for the time, and got on the bus. At first, I thought about putting my bag in the luggage compartment, but it seems there was also a place to put it above the seats, so I put it there. Inside, the air conditioning was very strong, so it was a little cold, but it was just about okay.

Chichen Itza ruins.

And, there are buses that run from Cancun to Chichen Itza.

It is a very straight road, and the scenery hardly changes.

A road runs through what you could call a jungle or a low-lying shrub area, and it stretches for a very long time. This is what the guidebook described as a "comfortable highway that only first-class vehicles can use." If you're second-class, you wouldn't go through here, but would pass through each town. That would probably be very tiring. It's said that second-class vehicles might be targeted by robbers, but I don't know if robbers would even target such a well-known and major route.

	And the bus continued to run, and finally arrived at Chichen Itza just before 12 o'clock. This was a little earlier than the scheduled 3 hours. And I tried to go inside, but... The line to buy tickets was very long, and in the end, I had to wait in line for about 30 minutes to buy a ticket. What is this?

After buying the ticket, I decided to first leave my luggage. This seems to be free. And since there is a lot of time before the return bus, instead of going to see the sights immediately, I decided to eat at a restaurant first. While eating, we also planned the schedule for the future.

	And then, suddenly, performers started dancing right in front of me. They were enjoying the music, doing good footwork, and entertaining the customers by, for example, putting beer on their heads. I was watching while eating, but at the end, a person came to my seat with a hat asking for a tip. (Forced smile)

And after taking our time, we finally went inside.

Chichen Itza means "at the mouth of the well" in the Itza language, and it is said to be the largest cenote (sacred well) on the Yucatan Peninsula. The ruins consist of two periods: the Maya Classic period around the 6th century is the "old" Chichen Itza, and the "new" Chichen Itza ruins are those that merged with the Toltec civilization after the 10th century. The well-preserved structures are generally from the latter period, and the largest pyramid, El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulkan), is also part of the "new" Chichen Itza.

This El Castillo (Kukulkan Temple) used to be climbable until recently, but it is said that people were no longer allowed to climb it after someone fell and died. Furthermore, the condition of the stairs is also a problem, as the back and sides are crumbling, which may have caused safety issues. Of course, it goes without saying that the preservation of the ruins is the top priority. However, it is a little sad that it used to be climbable, but now it is not.

	No entry for vehicles.

Stairs where climbing is prohibited.

When traveling, I think that while the "shape" can be understood from photographs in guidebooks, the "size" is difficult to grasp from pictures. When I actually saw it, in my subjective opinion, I thought, "It's smaller than I expected." Also, when viewed as a structure, the "roughness" is noticeable. It's not like the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, which are perfectly aligned. There are also some "early-built pyramids" in the pyramids of Egypt, and El Castillo (Kukulkan Temple) gave me the impression that its quality is similar to those early-built pyramids in Egypt.

I had expected a slightly higher quality, but I was a little disappointed. The products displayed in the souvenir shops around here, while I understand they are handmade, have a low quality. If the quality doesn't improve, I won't be interested in buying them.

	In this way, we crossed El Castillo (the Kukulcán pyramid) and first visited the "Jaguar and Eagle Plinth" in the north zone.

And, let's also take a look at the Tsongponri (Skull Fortress) which is located very close by. This is a place where human skulls, used as offerings, are displayed to the public. Oh my. It is said to be from the Toltec civilization of the central highlands, not the Mayan culture.

	After that, I went to a nearby baseball field.

This playground equipment seems to be a game where you use your feet and upper arms to pass through a ring attached to the top of a wall, without using your hands. And surprisingly, the winner of this competition becomes a sacrifice. Also, this venue has walls that narrow towards the top, and it is said that clapping your hands creates a very resonant sound. I definitely felt that.

	Even so, if the winners were sacrificed, it seems like it would be difficult to cultivate talent. The "ring" is visible in the upper left corner of the photo, appearing small.

And after finishing at the amusement park, I realized how crowded it was and how slowly time was passing, so I decided to take a short nap on the grass. The weather is cloudy, so it's not too hot. And I lay down and started to doze off. It seems it was cloudy for a while, and I stayed there slowly until the sunlight came out around 2 o'clock.

	When sunlight appears, it is too hot, so take shelter in the shade. Since there isn't grass where you can wait and then sleep again, after sitting down and resting for a bit, I decided to go see the next place.

Next, cross the pedestal of Venus and go to see the warrior's temple.

	The warrior's temple. Indeed, if one were to call them a warrior, that might be the case. It seems to be also called the "Thousand Pillar Temple." It seems that it was possible to put something inside before, but it is not possible now.

I walk beside a row of stone pillars standing in a line.

	Here, I made one misunderstanding. I mistook the cenote (sacred well), which is the origin of the name Chichen Itza, for the cenote Ik Kil, which is in the middle of the map. And I missed the actual sacred well, the cenote. This is a rare mistake. Hmm. I messed up. I realized it while looking at the map that night. This is a mistake that would never happen on a guided tour.

It's pointless to dwell on it. As far as I can see from the photos, it looks like just a puddle of water in the middle of a field of grass. But you never know until you see something with your own eyes. I don't know if I'll have another chance to come here, but I certainly wouldn't come just for this. It might be a good idea to come and see the pyramid in a few decades, when it has been restored.

	In this way, we passed by the cenotes and headed towards the Temple of the Warriors.

To the side, the "Senbon Toshi no Machi" (Thousand Pillars Corridor) continues. I imagine that a thatched roof used to extend all the way across this pillar. There were many thatched-roof houses along the roadside on the way here.

	When you think of the pillars that support a thatched-roof house, your imagination expands. I saw a special on Inca and Maya civilizations on television. But, I remember that they said that thatched roofs were placed on top of such pillars.

And after seeing the ball field and the steam bath, we headed towards the site of the former market. The pillar here is considerably taller compared to the others.

	I wonder if there was a thatched roof on top of the tall pillars as well. And after returning near El Castillo (the Kukulcán temple) once, we headed towards the "old" Chichen Itza area.

	Along the roadside, there are many souvenir shops.

There are some interesting things, but if I buy them now, they will be too heavy and troublesome, so I decided to wait.

	On the way to the "old" Chichen Itza area, we pass by El Castillo (the Kukulcán pyramid), and from this side, you can see that the stairs are quite dilapidated.

If it is in such a dilapidated condition, it is understandable that climbing is prohibited. It seems that only the entrance side was neatly restored.

And, in the area of the "old" Chichen Itza, we stopped by the "tall burial mound."

While I was taking pictures, the guide standing next to me said, "When I was a child, this place was really in ruins. This is a photo from 5 years ago (and he showed me the photo). And this is what it looks like now (pointing to the current state). You'll be surprised, right?" He then explained the progress of the restoration efforts.

I see. The photos are really in very bad condition, and even though it has been restored, compared to the stairs in the foreground, the stairs on the side are still in a very dilapidated state.
	Side stairs.

When I came here, my first impression was that I was disappointed that I couldn't climb the pyramids. However, now that I see that restoration is gradually progressing, I've started to think that it's understandable that climbing is not allowed. I feel that I want to see the beautiful pyramids in their restored state more than I want to climb them.

While listening to the guide's explanation, I nodded and said, "I see." I would like to come again when the restoration is much more advanced. Even then, it's okay if I can't climb the pyramid.

And then, we went to Karakol (the observatory), passing by a building called the "Red House."
	Red house.

	The Karakol observatory is truly a building that looks like it belongs in a science fiction movie.

It looks very similar to a modern observatory. It is amazing. Around it, there were also buildings, which were called "nuns' temples," but what they actually were is unknown.

	And then, we leave Karakol (the observatory).

After that, we deviated from the main path to see the cenote, Cenote Citrok, which was originally mistaken for a sacred cenote.

	The origin of the name Chichen Itza is said to be "Itza, the people who live by the spring," but the Cenote Sagrado, which is located there, is not a spring, but rather a frightening swamp-like place located far below a cliff. When you look inside, it is quite deep and dark. It's a little scary. Until that night, I thought that this place was the spring from which the name originated.

	And then, return to the vicinity of El Castillo (the Kukulcán temple). It is still 3 o'clock. There are 2 hours until the bus. Since it is useless to go outside, I sat on a bench in a place where I can see the Escastillo (Kukulkan Temple), and decided to stare blankly at the pyramid until the time passes.

Unexpectedly, time passed quickly, and as I continued to look at the pyramids, an hour and then another hour and a half passed.

	As time passes, the number of people gradually decreases.

While sitting and observing the surroundings, I also noticed that many birds were perched on the trees. And then, outside.

Finally, we are getting on the bus to Mérida. It is an ADO company first-class bus.

After it started moving, the surroundings gradually became completely dark. From the side window of the seat, almost no light was visible, and the bus continued on, with only the shadows of the jungle on one side.

Merida accommodation & Santiago Church dance party.

And two hours later. Arrived in Merida.

I arrived at the terminal of the first company, so I went to the terminal of the second company, which is nearby. My purpose is to buy a tour ticket, "Tour a la Ruta Puuc" from ATS company, which includes Ushmal, Labna, Xlapak, Sayil, and Coba.

	The terminal is easy to find, and tickets are readily available. The price list simply says "Ruta Puuc." There seem to be plenty of empty seats. Now that I have prepared for tomorrow, I will start looking for a place to stay.

Since the area in front of the station is noisy, I thought a place a little further away would be better, so I walked a bit to find a quiet inn.

	The area in front of the station is still okay, but I still don't like dark cities.

It seems like the danger is not very high. Even so, I walk along the road while being careful.

And, after walking for a while, I decided on a hotel called Casa Bowen. It was 180 pesos (approximately 1450 yen) per night for two nights. After I asked to see the rooms, I was initially shown a room on the second floor facing the road, but I asked to change it because the noise from the cars was too loud. Next, I was shown a quiet but eerie room located down a dark hallway and up a dark staircase, but I declined it because I was concerned about the hallway and the stairs. Finally, I chose a room on the second floor of the main building, a little away from the road. The staff said it would be 200 pesos per night, but I asked for a discount, and they agreed to 180 pesos. Hmm. I made a lot of requests for the rooms, but in the end, I think I ended up with a room that was both good and reasonably priced. Perhaps I was more demanding than the average Japanese person.

And after taking a quick shower, I went to the nearby Santiago Church to watch a dance performance and a live show. I hadn't eaten yet, so I was going to get something to eat at the same time.

	I walked a little way and safely arrived at the Santiago Church. The town is laid out in a grid pattern, and each section has a clearly marked street name, so as long as you have a map, you probably won't get lost. I thought it was a well-designed town.

At the Santiago Church, quite a few people were dancing.

	It is quite lively.

After visiting for a while, I decided to eat a meal. I ate at the cafeteria there, and the grilled meat and bread cost 35 pesos (approximately 280 yen), while the Coke Light cost 10 pesos (approximately 80 yen), which were very reasonable prices. It seems that this price range is probably what ordinary people consider to be a reasonable price.

	I also ate a hot dog near there.

It's okay.

	The one that is the second from the top, called "MAXI HOT DOG." It is 8 pesos (approximately 60 yen).

And because there was a supermarket nearby, I bought small soaps and drinks, and then went to watch the dance and live performance. And, timing it so that the party would end at 10 o'clock, I returned to the hotel. Okay. Tomorrow is the archaeological site tour. I am not expecting a scale as large as Chichen Itza, but I think it will be possible to see various things at a good pace.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour, including: Labna, Shalpak, Xai'l, Coba, Uxmal, Yucatan Anthropology Museum, Merida's Zocalo.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour. Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

	Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

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Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.
Merida's Tour a la Ruta Puuc tour.

Campeche.

In the morning, I naturally woke up around 5:50 AM. It was a good awakening, 10 minutes before my alarm.

I also thought about trying to sleep a little more, but since I would be in trouble if I fell asleep here and couldn't wake up, I decided to get up.

And then I started to get ready, but to my surprise, the water stopped running.

Indeed, I felt that the water pressure was getting worse compared to the day before, but I didn't expect it to stop completely today. For now, I will finish the minimum necessary preparations and make sure the room is in a state where staff can enter before going to the front desk to call someone. Since there is no internal phone, I have to go there.

Then, someone went to check something in the back, and I heard some mechanical noises, and they came back right away. They said it would be usable in about 10 minutes. I see. Something must have stopped working.

When I returned to the room, I found that the water was working again. After finishing my preparations, I checked out. As always, I felt a little sad at this moment, but I said goodbye and headed towards the bus stop.

While I was on my way to the first-class bus station, I passed by the second-class bus station, but it was still closed. I had a bad feeling... and as expected, the first-class bus station was also closed. Oh my. I wonder when it will open.

Since there's nothing we can do about it, I decided to have breakfast at the cafeteria in front of the first-class bus station. It seems they have a few set plates, but they cost 70 pesos. That's too expensive. But, I didn't want to sit outside on the ground or stairs and wait, so I bought one and sat down in a chair to wait. The taste was mediocre. It seemed like they just reheated something that was made earlier. Even the salad was warm. When I asked the staff, they said the shutters probably wouldn't open for another hour. It seems it's because it's Christmas (December 25th).

Merida's first-class bus station.

And after finishing my meal, I waited on the chair, and sure enough, about an hour later, at 8 o'clock, the shutter opened. Whew. I went inside and bought a ticket to Campeche. When I asked the station attendant who was organizing the line, he told me to line up there. It seems there's a designated line. Is it only for the morning? Because as soon as my turn came, the ticket sales staff entered "Campeche" before I could say anything. Hmm. I asked for the next available ticket, but it was already for the 8 o'clock departure. It seems that they issue tickets for everyone in line and then depart immediately. As expected, it's Christmas. Without even having time to shop, I quickly boarded the train, and about 5 minutes later, after a few more people got on, it departed.

Hmm. I was a little nervous, but once I got on, I felt relieved. The staff also guided us properly, so there were no problems.

And, we continued driving straight through the jungle, cutting through the vegetation, and after about 2.5 hours, we arrived in Campeche.

I wanted to know the ticket availability for tomorrow, so I thought about lining up at the counter, but it seems like this place requires you to get a ticket and wait in line. A local person told me this, but I didn't understand what it meant, so another traveler explained it to me. Thank you.

Since there seemed to be a long wait, I wandered around and then discovered a timetable. I found that the ADO GL to Veracruz, which the guidebook said was at 22:45, was actually at 22:15. Also, there are many departures to Villahermosa, so I didn't feel the need to make a reservation. After seeing the timetable, I felt relieved, so I decided to go into town without checking anything further.

This first-class bus station is about 3km away from the city center, and it seems there are local buses to get to the center, so I looked for them, but I couldn't find any bus stops that looked like that. While I was wandering around the first-class bus station, I suddenly discovered a taxi fare chart. It seems the fare to the city center is 25 pesos. Since I am a tourist, I guess it's okay if it's 30 pesos.

And before getting into the taxi, I used my credit card to get a cash advance to pay for the reservation fee for the Calakmul ruins. That's all the preparation done. Now, I'm heading towards the town.

The taxi was an old car, and the driver, an elderly woman, did not speak English. However, with the simple Spanish conversation examples in the back of the guidebook, "how much?" and "30" (pesos) were sufficient for communication. We headed towards the city center.

As I walked, a wall that used to be a fortress came into view, and I suddenly became excited. It's quite good. And the town is lined with colorful walls. I see, this is the townscape that is a World Heritage Site.

And we arrived at the Zocalo, the center of the town. From there, a magnificent church cathedral could be seen.

	And, first, I thought about making a reservation for tomorrow at a travel agency, so I headed towards Xtampak, which is near Socal, as written in the guidebook.

However, it is not open. Ah, I thought. Then, the driver of the taxi in front of me pointed his finger forward and made a gesture as if to say, "Look." I wondered what it was. Then, it turned out that the driver who had just gotten out of the car that had stopped in front of me was the owner of this travel agency. What a coincidence.

It seems that today is Christmas and everything is closed, and this person seems to have just happened to stop by here. Here, I will make a reservation for tomorrow's tour of the Calakmul ruins. The price is 850 pesos. There will be no guide, and in addition to Calakmul, the tour will also include the ruins of Balamku (Balamku) and El Ramonal. First, we will travel south from Campeche, and we will buy lunch in a town called Escarcega. This is because there are no restaurants in Calakmul. We will arrive here at 8:00 AM, and arrive at the ruins at 11:00 AM. The stay at the ruins will be for 3 hours. I did not ask about the time allocation and order of the surrounding ruins, but we will return to Campeche at 7:00 PM. The guidebook says we will return at 9:00 PM, so this is much earlier.

When I asked if there were guided tours, the person said that it is difficult to provide a guide for Karakumul, and the nuance was something like "there are, but..." The guidebook says that it costs from 850 pesos with an English guide, so considering inflation and the fact that it is the high season, is this price reasonable without a guide? I didn't try to bargain. Besides me, there were two other people, so there are a total of three people. It's a very small tour. The number of people might increase by tomorrow, but it seems certain that it will be a small group tour.

I had not yet decided on my accommodation, so instead of being picked up at the hotel, I decided to wait in front of this agency at 6:00 AM. It seems that I can pay the money at that time as well.

When I left, the agency owner closed the store. I was just lucky and the timing was right. I don't know if the store opened because I was there, or if they had other reasons to stop by even if I wasn't there, but I feel like it was the former.

A map to Karakum.

	And then, we finally started walking around looking for a hotel. I would like to find a hotel near this agency. I plan to go to La Parroquia near Socaro, but private rooms are already fully booked. It seems that dormitories are available, but I decided to avoid them because it's early in the morning. I went to the Hotel Colonial, which is located nearby, but it was also fully booked.
Hotel Colonial.

And then, the next hotel, Hotel Campeche, was open, so I chose to stay there.

The price of 234 pesos is quite high according to the guidebook, but I decided it was acceptable because it is the high season. There is a restaurant with the same name next door, and the location is the best, with the plaza (town center park) right in front. It is also close to a travel agency. Later, when I looked at the price list, it seems that the price is 175 pesos if there is no television. I don't know if that room was not available, or if they were trying to offer me a room with a television first, but I'll just accept it.

And I put down my luggage, took a shower, and then went for a walk around town.

First, I was hungry, so I had a light meal at a restaurant next to the hotel. At this time, it's lunchtime in Mexico, but it's a very early morning time in Japan, so I had a light meal of a club sandwich.

While I was eating there, a couple of travelers who were sitting next to me suddenly spoke to me. After some casual conversation, they said they wanted to go to a beach in a town called Ciudad del Carmen, which is located between Campeche and Villahermosa, but they were having trouble finding information about it in their guidebook. They said they saw my Japanese guidebook and wanted to ask me about it. I looked through it, but I couldn't find any pages that seemed relevant.

Well, that's just the way it is, so we chatted a little about our future itineraries. They said they were coming from Cancun and returning to Mexico City. They said their trip was for two weeks, but I got the impression that they were visiting many places.

Looking back, they might have been scammers. They lured travelers in by saying there were good places, as if they were setting a trap. They tried to get us to go to a beach that no one goes to, or they said we could go on a boat tour that leaves at 6 PM (which we couldn't find anywhere). Something felt suspicious. The fact that a woman approached us and then a man would talk to us also perfectly fits the scammer theory. The woman makes the initial contact, and the man seals the deal. After talking to me, she was also talking to the people at other tables. Their methods were so familiar and presumptuous. It was impressive how they casually sat down at other tables. Perhaps, during our conversation, they realized that my plans were already set and they couldn't invite me. Also, my itinerary is focused on ruins, not the beach they wanted to go to, so it would be difficult to lure me in. They probably gave up.

It was supposed to be a two-week itinerary, but they are planning to go to Cancun and the southern areas, including the Tulum ruins, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek' Balam, Palenque, Oaxaca, Mitla, Monte Alban, and the beaches of Acapulco. Is it really two weeks? I think it's possible to go, but the schedule seems very tight. If it's just about going, it's a very demanding schedule, barely possible. However, they are also planning to go to unfamiliar local beaches. Traveling alone will take several days. It's unlikely that they will be able to complete all the planned activities. The schedule they mentioned seems very questionable.

Based on the theory of how these two people, who work as a pair, operate as scammers, and their cunning words and actions, I have judged them to be scammers. Well, it doesn't seem like they have caused any damage, so for now, it's okay. It did provide some entertainment while waiting for the order.

And then the club sandwich arrives.
The quantity is small, but since it is Japanese breakfast time, it is sufficient.

And, while watching the con artist talking to other customers, I noticed that the con artist had disappeared, and I took that opportunity to go outside.

First, as the guidebook says, go to the Lasoreder Fortress on the north side of Socotra. It says there is something inside, but because it is a holiday on December 25th, it is not open. Also, not only here, but the entire town is quite quiet. The guidebook says that there are vendors wearing traditional clothes walking along the streets. However, it is almost 1:00 PM, and I have not seen such a sight at all. The town is really quiet.

Go west and arrive at the San Carlos Fortress, but it is also closed. It is said that you can learn about the history of the town inside, but... There is nothing you can do if it is closed.

What was this?

And then, I decided to walk around the city without any particular destination.

	The number of pedestrians is small.

Continue walking in the hot weather.

And then proceed south, passing by the Santa Rosa fortress, and walk to the land gate.

	Inside the city walls, the houses are colored in such vibrant colors.

It seems that this land gate is operational, and it is possible to climb on top of the gate for 10 pesos.

	I immediately went up, and from there, I could see the entire town stretching out into the distance.

In the distance, you can see things like a cathedral. Anyway, the walls of the house are colorful.

	Walk along the city walls.

Observe the houses.

Colorful houses.

And then, I walked along the land gate and went deep inside, and eventually returned.

	The entrance was locked, so in the end, I rang the bell and signaled "Please open it" and went down.

And then I strolled around the town.

It is truly a quiet townscape.

Is it the case that all cities are this quiet during Christmas?

Eventually, I returned to Socotra.

I was thinking of going shopping at the supermarket, so I asked at the tourist information center next to Socaro, but I couldn't quite understand the location.

After much hesitation, the place that seemed to be it was closed. Hmm. Looking closely at the map in the guidebook, it certainly says "Plaza Del Mar" there. Is this it???

	I got tired of walking, so I decided to enter the church cathedral and rest. When I enter a quiet church, I often feel sleepy and end up falling asleep. I stayed inside for about 30 minutes, and my body was also a little tired, so I went outside.

Although it cannot be compared to the magnificent churches I have seen elsewhere, it has splendid decorations.

Since there's really nothing else to do, I went to one of the few open shops to buy water to bring with me tomorrow. A 2-liter bottle costs 11 pesos, so I bought two of them. Also, I bought a small bottle of shampoo (with conditioner) for 3 pesos. It's expensive, but the supermarket is closed, so I had no choice but to buy one.

I will prepare for tomorrow with these things, and then return to the hotel.

	After taking a shower again and resting for a while, I went outside, and it was already dark.

I went to the place where I saw the large tent while walking along the coast earlier. From the large stage used for live performances, incredibly loud music is being played. Upon closer inspection, everyone enters the tractor that is parked beside it. What is this?

	When I went inside, it seems that this is a mobile mini-museum.

It is quite interesting. There are two of them.

After seeing that, I went under a large tent and bought a lotion for the skin. It seems to be something that can be used on the face and also for sun protection. I got a discount from 80 pesos to 70 pesos.

While looking at the Spanish page of the guidebook, I said "discount," and for some reason, that lady started laughing loudly.

Why is that? Was it because the way of saying it was interesting?

And then I returned to Socotra.

	I'm finally hungry, so I'm going to have dinner at a buffet-style restaurant around the corner. It's an all-you-can-eat place with drinks included for 80 pesos. It's just right when you're hungry. While I'm serving myself, an old woman approaches me and speaks to me in broken Japanese. "Are you Japanese?" "Ahh, Yes," I reply.

And after the meal, I took a break on a bench in Socotra. In the cool breeze, while slowly looking at the cathedral in front of me, I am relaxing on a bench.

And then I returned to the hotel, got ready, and prepared for tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I will wake up early and, after checking out, participate in a tour starting at 6:00 AM. Then, I will return to town at 7:00 AM, and after that, I will take a night bus for a long-distance trip.

Calakmul ruins, Balamku ruins.

Move to the Calakmul ruins.

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Move to the Calakmul ruins.

Move to the Calakmul ruins.

Via Bijaelmossa & Veracruz, staying in Posarica.

I departed from Campeche, and woke up several times, but I arrived in Villahermosa on time. Even though the departure was delayed, arriving on time suggests that there was a certain amount of buffer time built in. Because it's early, there are few travelers at the station.

And, here, I buy the next bus ticket. It's for Veracruz. The departure time is about now, but it seems to be delayed. I wait again for about an hour. This terminal is divided into two locations: one where only 3 or 4 buses, which seem to be for higher-class tickets, can stop, and another where more buses stop, and there are many people who seem to be Mexicans.

The person who was supposed to guide me seemed unsure of where my bus would stop, and they indicated that I should wait a little while, possibly because a machine showed that the bus was delayed. However, there was no guarantee that the bus would stop at that location, so I repeatedly walked from one end of the platform to the other, searching for my bus.

Then, about 45 minutes after the scheduled departure time, I discovered that the bus I was supposed to take had stopped. It was located in a less visible area, and I wouldn't have known to look for it unless I had specifically searched.

And I tried to get on, but the driver said, "Just a moment." After the passengers got off and their luggage was unloaded, the driver got off the bus and went to the parking lot in the back. Is he putting in gasoline? I couldn't tell from a distance. Then, he returned to the same spot, and while the driver was away, a large group of people who looked like locals boarded the bus without having their tickets checked. Hey, wait a minute. Are they really holding tickets? After the driver returned, I showed him my ticket, and he checked it on his paper before I boarded. There were no seating issues, so I guess they had tickets, but the driver didn't check the tickets of the large group that boarded at that time. I guess that's how it is.

And then, the car starts moving. It doesn't stop at the platform where I was initially waiting, but instead, it departs directly. I hope it departs after confirming the list of passengers, but I was also a little worried that it might depart even if not everyone was on board. Well, this time, I managed to get on after searching around, so it's okay for now.

And the bus is scheduled to depart around 5:00, but according to the guidebook, the travel time is 6-7 hours. However, this bus is scheduled to arrive at 2:30 PM, which means it was supposed to take 9.5 hours. I thought, "Is this not too late...?" But, I somehow felt that it was late because it stopped at several local stations. It seemed that most of the passengers were local residents, and the number of tourists seemed to be few, including myself.

However, because of that, I was able to slowly enjoy the scenery, so I'll say it's okay for now. My seat had patterns for sun protection, so I don't have any photos, but it passed alongside the lake and through the forest, and the scenery was quite nice.

And when there was only a little time left until arrival, a security staff member who looked like a police officer came in and, to me, a foreigner, conducted a passport check, a visa check, and a questionnaire about my destination. Although I don't speak Spanish, it was okay after a simple explanation in English. Sometimes, things like this are interesting.

And eventually, the bus arrived in Veracruz. It was a long journey.

While on the bus, I considered staying here tonight, but I thought that if I shifted my schedule by half a day and went to Teotihuacan tomorrow morning and moved to Mexico City in the afternoon, I would have one day free, so I could visit somewhere like Taxco. Also, Teotihuacan can be visited in a few hours.

Initially, the plan was to spend the entire day of the 28th in El Tahin, and then move to Mexico City on the 29th, with Teotihuacan on the 30th and museums in Mexico City on the 31st. However, I would like to change the plan to: morning of the 28th in El Tahin, afternoon of the 28th moving to Mexico City, Teotihuacan on the 29th, Taxco on the 30th, and museums in Mexico City on the 31st.

It's becoming a good feeling.

Therefore, I will move to a town near El Tāhīn by the end of today.

I tried to go to Papantla or Poza Rica, but I was told that there were no buses to Papantla, and a bus to Poza Rica was leaving in 15 minutes, so I decided to take that one. The price seems high... It turns out that this is not the ADO company I have used before, but a company called UNO. The guidebook says that ADO has 9 buses per day, so it seems that I lined up at the UNO counter. It is not written in English that it is the UNO counter, but perhaps it is written in Spanish. However, there is not even the word "UNO" written on it. It's a mystery. Well, at least a bus to Poza Rica is leaving soon, so I bought a ticket and got on immediately. I think it was about 336 pesos. That's almost double the price of ADO, which is 170 pesos. However, they gave me a sandwich and a drink when I got on, and the seats are arranged in 3 rows with a footrest. A blanket, pillow, eye mask, earplugs, headphones, and even a wet towel were included. Is this what is called a "deluxe" bus? I see.

I've been tired of long-distance travel, so this might be just right. The departure time is 2:30 AM, and the arrival time is 7:00 AM, which is 4.5 hours. I thought, "If the seats are comfortable and the price is this good for this much space," then it's probably okay.

And then we arrived in Poza Rica. Before entering the terminal, I opened the window curtain and looked outside. Something about the atmosphere felt dangerous. It wasn't the worst, but the sight of children trying to sell newspapers and food baskets to people in cars reminded me of the "poverty in Mexico" often seen on television. The streets were dirty, and the people walking around seemed suspicious. In addition, I had brought another guidebook, the English-language ROUGH GUIDE, and I had already checked the page about Poza Rica on the bus. There was a surprising description. While the Lonely Planet simply stated, "There is nothing to see, but it is convenient as a bus transfer point," the ROUGH GUIDE said, "There is nothing fun to do. It is a boring town that once boomed with the oil industry, and it is a town famous for violence. It is better not to stay here." Oh my. After reading that, when I saw the children and the people walking around from the car window, I instantly thought that it would be dangerous to stay in this town. Just a moment ago, I was thinking about staying overnight in this town, but since this is a first-class bus terminal, I thought I would buy a ticket and move on to Papantla. However, when I went to the ticket counter, I found out that the next bus and the bus after that were both fully booked, and I would have to wait until 11 PM.

I have given up on this, and since there's nothing I can do, I decided to stay in this town for one night. I'm not really in the mood. It's getting dark, and it's a town I've never been to before, and it says it's dangerous...

A while ago, when I looked out the window of the car, I scanned the area around the bus terminal to see if there were any hotels, but I didn't see anything that looked like one. So, I decided to go to the center of town, which is Socalo. First, I looked for a map or tourist information at the bus terminal, but I couldn't find anything that looked like a hotel guide, so I gave up and decided to take a taxi to Socalo. Taking a taxi might be dangerous, but it's more dangerous to walk around looking for a hotel when I don't even know where Socalo is.

When I asked the taxi driver how much it would cost to go to Socorro, he said 15 pesos. Wow. Isn't that cheap? Is that price including a kidnapping...? But, I decided to get in the taxi. In the end, I don't know if it was luck or something, but I arrived at Socorro without any problems.

I tried to get my change back, but it seemed like they were hinting that I should give a tip, so I gave them 20 pesos.

	And I arrived in Socotra, but the atmosphere felt strange. The ROUGH GUIDE had a single word written: "boring." When I saw Socotra, I understood why. This town is a little dangerous. It's not the worst, but it's not safe.

I took a few pictures, but I was in the bus the whole time, and it seems I got cold, so the lens is fogged up. And, I look around, but I cannot see anything that looks like a hotel. When I turned the corner at Socaro, I could see the hotel sign in the distance, on the side that was more lively. Ah, relief. Walking at a brisk pace, frequently looking back.

And, after passing what appears to be a market area, I arrived at the hotel.

And I asked about the price, but it was about 900 pesos. That's too expensive. Certainly, the front desk might be a little luxurious, but it's not worth 900 pesos. They said that a discount is not possible. So, I'll have to look for something else. I'm just hoping that I won't regret this.

I found another hotel nearby, and it costs about 700 pesos. That's also too expensive.

And I continued walking, and the atmosphere was getting really strange... I was thinking, "What should I do..." So, I looked for a place that wasn't too far from the main street, and I found a place called Hotel Principal, where I could stay for about 260 pesos, so I decided to stay there. Ah, that's a relief. I'm glad I found a place.

And I went to the room and finally relaxed. The light bulb in the bathroom didn't work, so I went to the front desk and pointed to a Spanish conversation book, and they changed the light bulb for me. Maybe that's why it's cheap, because the staff doesn't speak English. I also saw a lot of people who looked like they were from Mexico in the hallway.

And I went outside for a little while, and bought some bread for breakfast tomorrow. Then, I finally had dinner at a restaurant in front of the hotel. Ah, relief. This is the first proper meal I've had today.

And I bought a Band-Aid at a nearby pharmacy. The reason is that, for some unknown reason on the bus, I had cut my right little finger. It's dangerous. I feel much more relieved now. Well, the bleeding had mostly stopped, but it's reassuring to have a Band-Aid.

And then return to the hotel.

Finally, I can sleep in the futon.

Tomorrow, I will visit El Tajin in the morning, and in the afternoon, I will travel to Mexico City.

El Tajin, Voladores.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.
	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.
From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

	From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin. From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

From Poza Rica to El Tajin.

Teotihuacan.

From Mexico City to Teotihuacan.

This morning, when I woke up, my head was still feeling fuzzy. It seems I haven't caught a cold or altitude sickness. Of course, getting altitude sickness at an altitude of just 2000m would mean my body is too weak, and I would have to give up plans to go to places like Cusco in Peru or Tibet. This time, I brought some tablets of maca, a traditional Peruvian medicine, and it's possible that taking them is also contributing to my feeling of being physically drained.

(Note: At that time, I did not think there was any problem with my physical condition, but later, I realized that it might have been a mild form of altitude sickness.)

Well, in any case, it's better to be careful, but even so, my head is still feeling fuzzy. Now, what should I do...? I thought, and I started looking at the guidebook. The weather today is my biggest concern, and if it's cloudy, I was even thinking of going to the National Museum of Humanity first.

However, a text display on the television, which I had been watching, showed that the weather in Mexico was sunny. Outside, it was still dim, and the weather was still unclear. Also, I suddenly realized that the National Museum of Anthropology is closed on Mondays, so I had no choice but to go to Teotihuacan today.

I was thinking about extending my stay for one more night... but I don't know what time I'll be returning, and if I come back early, I might go to Tasco instead...

	And after completing the check-out process, I headed towards the north terminal. Indeed, compared to last night, the atmosphere this morning is almost completely free of danger. First, be careful of your surroundings, and safely arrive at the terminal.

Enter the north terminal and look for the ticket counter.

The guidebook said that ADO tickets are sold at a certain location, so I went to the ADO ticket booth. However, it said to buy them at gate number 7. Hmm... I thought, and went to gate number 7, but there were several ticket booths there, and I didn't know which one to go to. When I asked, I was told to go to "over there," "over there," and I was sent to different booths one after another. Eventually, someone told me that it wasn't gate number 7, but gate number 8.

And then, when I went to number 8, I finally found the ticket booth. It was 31 pesos for the 8:00 AM departure, which was about 10 minutes away. It's cheap. Even including the round trip and entrance fee, it would only be a little over 100 pesos (around 1000 yen). The guidebook says that a local tour with a Japanese guide costs US$65, and a tour with an English guide costs US$30, so the difference is the guide fee. Well, if the price was like that, maybe I should have considered the English guide tour... I thought, but I wanted to go at my own pace, and I decided that it would be okay without a guide.

	And the bus starts moving. In the downtown area, I saw many young boys selling goods.

It is a complicated feeling to see someone so young already working. However, this road is probably the better option. According to someone who went there over ten years ago, they said that when they stopped the car, children surrounded them. And the bus entered a place that looked like a highway, and proceeded smoothly.

And the bus ran for about an hour and stopped at the entrance to Teotihuacan.

There was some anxiety about the place to get off, but the driver, or perhaps the surrounding passengers, seemed to indicate that this was the place, this is the place, possibly because I was a noticeable traveler. Also, when looking ahead, pyramid-like structures could be seen in the distance, making it clear where I was.

Probably, there was an atmosphere that I would be stopped by the driver if I tried to get off somewhere in the middle of the route, so I thought it was a place where I wouldn't make mistakes easily.

Teotihuacan.

And then I bought a ticket at the entrance and went inside.

The inside is wider than I imagined.

I had heard that it was large, and I had also heard that it was big.

Even when looking at the pictures, I thought it looked large, but when I came here, it was indeed large. This "size" is something that is difficult to understand unless you actually come and see it.

It is still 9 o'clock, so there are not many people. It seems that the tour groups have not arrived yet. It feels good.

According to the guidebook, there are two bus stops, one in the north and one in the south, but the bus seems to stop at the one in the southwest. Upon entering, there was the temple of Quetzalcoatl (Teplo de Quezalcoati) directly in front, but it was backlit due to the position of the sun, so I decided to see it on the way back, and first headed towards the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, starting down the Avenue of the Dead.

It's really spacious. I had planned to have breakfast at the north terminal, but I didn't end up eating, so I'm really hungry. I'm walking slowly, gradually approaching the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun.

When I got closer to the Pyramid of the Sun, I thought, "Now what should I do?" But first, I decided to eat at a restaurant called La Gruta, which was marked on the map. I went south of the Pyramid of the Sun, heading towards the restaurant.

	Even so, the grounds are so large that you get tired just by moving around a little. I'm tired and want to eat, but I get even more tired just from having to go eat. (bitter smile)

And as I passed south of the Pyramid of the Sun and tried to head towards the parking lot, I realized that there was a Cityo Museum there. It's a place that I probably wouldn't have noticed and wouldn't have entered if I hadn't come here. I decided to stop by after eating.

And then, we went out to the parking lot and headed towards the restaurant.

The restaurant is where...? I thought, but then I noticed a sign that said 500m.

	Oh oh. Are you going to make me walk another 500 meters? I thought it would be longer, but actually it wasn't that much, at most 100 meters. Overseas, with these kinds of signs, when it says 500m, it often actually means 1km, so I thought this time it would probably be like that as well. However, it's very rare to see a sign that indicates a shorter distance.

And as I got closer, I could see that there were seats inside the cave. Of course, there are also seats outside, but the restaurant inside the cave is a bit novel. Perhaps it is cool and feels good.

	I came to the entrance, but it seems the gate is not open enough. When I asked the staff member who was there, they said it would open at 11 o'clock. Hmm. That's still more than an hour away.

Since there's nothing I can do, I'll decide to go back. Along the way, I suddenly see someone eating something at a food stall near the entrance to the parking lot.

Here, should I eat...? I decided to try it and asked what was available. Apparently, they can also make grilled meat. The guidebook says "carne asada a la kenpiña."

I asked for it, and while I didn't have high expectations, a fairly decent meal arrived. I was a little worried about the hygiene of the plates and spoons, but based on the presentation of the food, it felt like a fairly well-run food stall.

	And then I ate it, and finally recovered a little bit of my energy. And then I entered again.

First, let's go to the CitiO Museum that I found earlier.

	In this area, there were exhibits about the history of the ruins, and miniatures of the ruins were displayed.

There is a miniature. It is so bright outside that it is difficult to take good pictures.

The section dedicated to the deceased is eerie, but it is important because the concepts of life and death are closely related to culture. After viewing various sculptures, I went outside.

Finally, it's the Pyramid of the Sun. I'm going to climb it. It's 65 meters high and the largest structure at this site. Apparently, another pyramid is hidden inside, covered up.

From the Pyramid of the Sun, you can see the Pyramid of the Moon very well. It's a beautiful view. You can also see the direction of the temple of Quetzalcoatl, as well as the Pyramid of the Moon, from a very far distance. The path I have walked so far is still visible.

And, after relaxing at the Pyramid of the Sun, we headed towards the Pyramid of the Moon. As planned, we took our time, and the sun began to rise. This allowed us to see not only the shadow, but also some light on the Pyramid of the Sun from the Pyramid of the Moon.

	On the way to the Pyramid of the Moon, there was a jaguar painting on the wall next to the Road of the Dead.

And, in order to delay the time when we would climb the pyramid on the moon as much as possible, we decided to first go to the palace of Quetzalpapalotl, which is located next to the lunar plaza.

Because, from this side, the Pyramid of the Sun is currently in the shadow of the Sun, and I thought it would be better to wait a little longer.

The palace of Quetzalpapálotl has Quetzalpapálotl carved into its walls, and black stones (jade???? obsidian?) are used for its eyes and decorations. I realized later that I seem to have missed the palace of the jaguar. That's a shame.

	Leaving there, we finally begin to climb the pyramid on the moon.

The guidebook stated that this is the place with the best view, but it seems that currently, you can only climb up to the middle section, and you cannot see the view from the very top.

	A staircase that cannot be climbed. Climbing is prohibited.

	Observe the solar pyramid from the lunar pyramid. Even if you can't see it from above, this is still a very good view.

	After resting here for a while, I will start going back little by little.

While I was relaxing, I was thinking about my plans for tomorrow. It's already past 12 o'clock, and I felt like going to Tasco would be too rushed. The guidebook says it takes 3 hours, but I've almost always been late with my travel plans. So, my stay in Tasco would probably be rushed as well. Also, according to the guidebook, there are other places to see besides the National Museum of Anthropology, so I decided to visit the National Museum of Anthropology tomorrow and explore other parts of the city the day after. The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, so there will probably be a New Year's countdown here, and I want to participate in that before returning.

On the 31st, I plan to take a nap during the day, stay awake from the evening of the 31st to participate in the countdown, move to the airport around 3:00 AM, and take an early morning flight back to my country.

For that reason, I would like to keep the hotels the same for at least tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and I also wanted to choose a slightly nicer place. The problem is what to do about today's hotel. For now, I will prioritize booking the hotels for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and if I can't decide, I will stay at the same hotel as yesterday again.

While thinking about such things, I gradually started to retrace my steps.

It is indeed spacious. It will be quite a hassle to go home.

There are many souvenir shops along the roadside.

There are some people who are persistent, and some people who repeatedly mention a very high price.

A person tried to sell it at a price almost five times higher than a souvenir shop, which was close to being a forced sale, but it seems they eventually gave up. There were also people who pretended to be kind and tried to sell it at a similar high price.

Well, even so, they were calmer and more gentlemanly than some of the malicious scammers in Asia, so they didn't leave a bad impression.

And then, I go to the Quetzalcoatl temple, which I didn't see in the morning. As planned, at this time, the light is hitting this side. It looks good.

The Aztec gods created the sun and the moon, but the moment they did, the two gods died, and the sun and moon stopped moving. To make them move again, a god or a human sacrifice is needed. That seems to be the belief here. The places where the two gods used to create the sun and moon were the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.

And, this marks the end of my long stay in Teotihuacan. I will return to Mexico City.

It returns to the same place where you got on. It crosses the parking lot and the ticket sales area. Then, I wondered where to wait, but a lady at the information desk told me, "It's at the place with the red sign," so I waited there.

It arrived surprisingly quickly, and the bus came within 5 minutes. I got on and paid the same 31 pesos as before. The front panel displayed "Mexico City Centro," so I thought it was heading towards the Centro or Zocalo area, not the north terminal. However, 1 hour later, it arrived at the north terminal where I had boarded on the way there. Hmm. I see. Or maybe it will go there again later. All the passengers were trying to get off, and the driver seemed to be indicating the end of the route, so I got off too. Since I don't know the area of Centro, it's safer to get off here.

Mexico City Century Sonorosa Hotel accommodation.

I have safely returned to the North Terminal, so I will look around to see if there is a hotel reservation counter here. It is often more advantageous to book hotels through a counter rather than directly, especially for mid-range or higher-end hotels, as you can compare several hotels.

And I asked them to find some options, including hotels not listed in Japanese guidebooks, as well as NH Mexico City, Hotel Century, and others, searching for options around 500 to 1400 pesos. I had originally planned to stay for two nights, tomorrow and the day after, but after they searched for various options, I decided to book three nights. I chose the 5-star NH Mexico City, which was around 1400 pesos. Well, I thought three nights wouldn't be so bad. However, when I called, they said it was fully booked. Hmm. So, instead, I chose the same 5-star Hotel Century, which was around 850 pesos. According to the guidebook, the rooms are not large, but the facilities are new, and although the size is not large, it is a 5-star hotel. This price includes tax, and it seems there are some discounts. Furthermore, I requested a room on a higher floor, and they said the 19th floor is available, but I should confirm the details again at the front desk. The view seems good, so I am satisfied.

In Mexico City, you can find rooms for 200 to 300 pesos if you look hard enough, but considering the location, facilities, and services, I think it's worth paying a higher price. Also, since it's not a long-term stay, the price difference for a short stay isn't that significant. There's also the desire to stay in a slightly nicer hotel the day before departure to feel more secure.

And, after paying in advance, I will purchase a taxi ticket and then head to the hotel.

It is said that taxis are dangerous, but if you are afraid of even buying a ticket at the terminal and getting in, you won't be able to do anything. Moreover, after buying the ticket, I asked a staff member who was nearby, and they not only showed me the way to the boarding area, but also wrote the taxi number on the ticket stub. It seems that if something happens, you can report this number to be investigated. I see. For all this, the tip was 10 pesos. Then, the taxi headed towards the hotel.

I navigated through the crowded streets and finally arrived at the hotel. As I expected, it doesn't seem very new. However, I can tell that it's solidly built. I checked in and finally relaxed in my room. I took a shower to relieve my fatigue. I'm really exhausted today. It's probably because I walked around at a high altitude.

	The bed is clean. The room feels old, but it is luxurious with its marble-like design.

The scenery visible from the window. Indeed, high-rise hotels are good.

And, since I haven't had a proper lunch yet, I went to a restaurant called Fonda El Refugio, which is nearby. I ordered a steak, but something different came out... Well, it's okay. I enjoyed a Corona beer here as well.

And I take a short walk around the surroundings.

I saw something that looked like a stage set up for a New Year's countdown live event. I will return to my home country after seeing this. I am really looking forward to it. In the midst of that, the surroundings suddenly became dark. It was bright just a moment ago. As it gets dark, it becomes dangerous, so I decided to return to the hotel.

The view from the hotel. The night view from a high floor is a good thing. And, finally, tomorrow is the National Museum of Ethnology.

Chapultepec Park/Castle/Zoo

In the morning, I wake up at 6:30, but my physical condition is unusually bad. It feels almost the same as it was last night. Usually, I recover to some extent after sleeping for one night, but today, I haven't recovered. When I look in the mirror and look at my own face, my eyes are bloodshot, and my skin looks dull. My head feels fuzzy, and my throat is sore.

I slept a little more until 7:30, then got ready a bit and went to eat breakfast. It was a buffet style for 70 pesos. The guidebook said breakfast was included, but it wasn't included in my plan, so I had to pay separately. The contents were, well, very ordinary. I didn't have much appetite, so I ate a little bread and ham, drank some juice and milk, and quickly went back to my room.

And, I was about to go to the National Museum of Ethnology, but even though I had eaten breakfast, I still felt dazed, and my throat was sore. My cognitive abilities were impaired, and I couldn't even give the command to my legs to "leave the hotel," so I was sitting on the bed in the room, feeling dazed. I thought this was a serious situation, so I decided to sleep a little more. This is the first time I've stayed in a hotel room and done nothing while traveling abroad. However, I have almost achieved the purpose of this trip, so it would be perfectly fine if I collapsed here today.

With a mind that doesn't work, I thought that I could go to the National Museum of Ethnology tomorrow, and then I fell asleep in bed.

And about 3 hours later, around 12 o'clock, I woke up once. The feeling of being dazed had subsided slightly, and my throat felt a little better. The redness in my eyes had also subsided slightly. Although I still coughed a little, I thought, "Maybe I can barely move," so I decided to go outside.

The National Museum of Anthropology is scheduled for tomorrow, and today I will go to Chapultepec Castle and the zoo, which are located nearby.

	I left the hotel and started walking towards Chapultepec Park. Because my head wasn't working, I couldn't think of using the subway or a taxi. Based on the impression I had from looking at the map, I thought it would be close to the hotel, so I walked along the road.

And, I stopped at a restaurant I happened to find along the way and had a meal. While eating and resting, I finally started to feel relaxed. It seems like things are going to be okay. And then, I start walking again.

	And then, we enter Chapultepec Park.

Suddenly, I saw a police officer riding a Segway! They even took a pose for me. (Laugh)

At the entrance, there is a monument dedicated to heroic young men. It seems to commemorate officer cadets aged 16 to 17 who resisted and fought in Mexico City until the end of the border dispute with the United States, which ended in 1847. They are apparently called "heroic young men" today.

	And then, passing by it, we head towards Chapultepec Castle.

During the trip, there are lockers available for luggage storage, and it seems you need to place your bags in them. The locker fee is 10 pesos. It's a type where you insert two 5-peso coins. I asked the staff to exchange 10 pesos and, at the same time, asked them to lock the locker for me. However, they initially failed to lock it, and the 5-peso coins were not returned. The staff then took a 5-peso coin from their pocket and inserted it, which locked the locker. I thought, "Well, this kind of thing happens." Is this a common occurrence?

With that, I put down my luggage and became more nimble, and then I went to climb Chapultepec Castle.

Inside, it is open to the public as the National Museum of History, and many artifacts from historical sites, as well as artworks and paintings by famous people, are displayed.

Paintings depicted events such as the Mexican War of Independence, and drawings from the revolutionary period were also displayed. However, most of the descriptions were in Spanish, and there were no English explanations, so it was difficult to understand much.

This place seems to have been the former presidential residence, and it is said that President Díaz used it as an official residence during the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution.

And then, we leave Chapultepec Castle.

	I have returned to the park, but I am still very tired. It is too much for a body that is already sick. After that, I decided to go only to the zoo and then return home, so I headed towards the zoo located within the same park.

Today, it seems that this place is open to the public for free, and I was able to enter without paying the entrance fee of 30 pesos. Zoos in remote areas like this one reflect the characteristics of the country and are interesting.

Especially, the cheetahs (?), such as those resembling pumas or leopards, were eye-catching. The animals look lively and are very cool.

And as it was spinning around, a staff member started closing the passageway because it was 30 minutes before closing time. Hmm. That's quite early. But, since I managed to see almost everything, I'll consider it good. Although, I couldn't see the anaconda.

And, I move through the crowd to the exit, and then take the metro to the station closest to the hotel.

I was told that there have been many cases of pickpocketing on the subway, so I was careful, but fortunately, nothing happened.

My friend said that a large group of people came from both sides, making a "wawawawawa-" sound, and bumped into them with a "don" sound, and then they moved away with another "wawawawa-" sound, and during that time, they had all the coins they had put in four pockets, in the front, back, left, and right, stolen. So, I thought, maybe something like that could happen... but nothing happened.

Whether it was because it was the end of the year, or due to the time of day, the inside of the vehicle was fairly crowded, so perhaps there wasn't enough room to take such flashy measures. Also, it might have been good that I was facing the wall, which may have prevented pickpockets.

The hallway leading to the station, the inside of the train, and the people there all had a slightly dark and gloomy atmosphere, so I thought that it was probably used more by people with lower incomes. There were people wearing nice clothes, but compared to what you see outside, the proportion of people who seemed to be struggling financially was much higher.

It was only a short distance, just a few minutes of travel, but I felt quite exhausted. One transfer, and I arrived at the station closest to the hotel.

And then, I walked to Hotel Century.

Finally, I returned to the hotel and was able to relax. This is because it's a five-star hotel. If it were a cheap inn, I would have to spend the time after returning in a gloomy mood, and my travel mood would be ruined. Hotels are important. At my age, I'm gradually becoming unable to stay in cheap inns. In rural areas, it's unavoidable, but in cities, I want to stay in good hotels. The common saying "Stay in a cheap inn and interact with the locals" is only interesting to people who are at a low social level. If I'm going to communicate with someone, it should be with the upper class, but to do that, I need to stay in a good hotel and wear nice clothes. This time, I'm staying in a hotel that is a five-star hotel but a little old, but I would like to gradually acquire the financial means to stay at places like Marriott, Four Seasons, or Sheraton.

I returned to the hotel, and when I put my hand on my forehead in the room, it felt warm. That's bad. I haven't eaten dinner yet, but I decided to take a break for about three hours until around 9 o'clock.

And then, suddenly, I woke up 2 and a half hours later. I suddenly felt more alert. My forehead was still a little warm, but it seemed that the fever had subsided considerably. Whew. That's good. I felt a little bit better, so I went to the hotel restaurant for dinner. However, there was a buffet, and when I asked if I could order something, they said no. Perhaps it was because I pointed at the steak...?

Well, in that case, I will go to the restaurant I visited the other day again. The other day, beef stew was served, but this time I want to eat steak.

So, I went to Fonda el Refuglo. Today, I ordered a beer called "Sol," which I had never tried before. However, it seems Corona is more to my taste. This time, I ordered the steak by showing a picture from a guidebook, so I was expecting steak... but, just like the other day, beef stew came out. (Laugh) I was tricked. Today, I ordered rice instead of tortillas, and what came out was something like fried rice. Hmm. All of this together cost 220 pesos, plus a 15% tip, which is 253 pesos (paid by credit card). That's about 2000 yen.

And after leaving the store, I stopped by 7-Eleven and bought several bottles of 100% apple juice. I always drink apple juice when I have a cold.

And I return to the hotel. Today was a very difficult day. Tomorrow seems like it will be difficult as well.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City, Zocalo. Countdown live.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.

Last night, I couldn't sleep.

For some reason, I suddenly started feeling short of breath. When I turned on the air conditioner, I could breathe normally, and after a while, I felt cold from the air conditioner, so I turned it off, and then I started feeling short of breath again. It's to the extent that I thought the carbon dioxide concentration might be increasing. Even though it's not a very large room, and there's only one person in it, could this be happening? Even though it's a high altitude area... I think it's probably just that I wasn't feeling well.

In this way, I woke up roughly every hour, and finally, it was morning. Then, I felt much more energetic than the day before. Ugh... I'm relieved. However, since I'm recovering from an illness, my energy is about 70-80%.

After getting ready, I will eat breakfast on the front desk floor.

It is a buffet, but it seems that the contents are almost the same as before. After finishing the meal, I will prepare to go to the National Museum of Ethnology.

It opens at 9 o'clock, so I will leave a little before that.

At first, I thought about taking a taxi, but even though the location was very close, according to the fare table, it would cost 90 pesos. So I decided not to. The price isn't really that much, but considering that the metro costs 2 pesos, I can't take advantage of this price difference. It feels like I'm being taken advantage of. But, once again, I realized that this is probably what a class-based society is like.

Take the nearby metro and go to the nearest station.

In any case, I experienced something similar recently, but the group of people who look like they are struggling financially... Fortunately, most people didn't show any interest in me and simply boarded the train quietly, which was a good thing. However, there were a few mischievous children who were grinning and glancing at me. When I was transferring trains, a few of them approached, seemingly trying to enter through the door I was standing at, waiting for the doors to open. I didn't feel like there was a high risk of danger, but just in case, I quickly moved to a different door and entered from there. It's also possible that they are habitual pickpockets.

Such things happened, but for now, I safely arrived at the nearest station, Auditorio.

From there, I walked to the National Museum of Ethnology. According to the map, it was right there, but the block was surprisingly long, so it took some time.

Upon entering, the first floor served as an archaeology floor, where exhibits about various civilizations were displayed.

Room 1 seems to be like a planned exhibition.
Room 2 is an introductory anthropology class, and it covers topics such as the origin of humans being in Africa.
Room 3 discusses the origin of Americans, stating that during the Ice Age, people entered the American continent by passing through the frozen ice of Siberia.
Room 4 discusses the pre-classical period, including topics related to agriculture and the emergence of culture.
Room 5 is Teotihuacan. From here, we will finally be talking about Mexico.
Room 6 is dedicated to the Tolteca civilization. It features information about the ruins of Tula, Xochicalco, Cacaxtla, and other sites in the central highlands.
Room 7 is dedicated to the Aztec (Mexica) civilization. The highlight of this room is the "Stone of the Sun (Aztec Calendar)." I knew of its existence, but I was surprised by its size. I didn't realize it was so large. Even though I heard it was 3.6 meters in diameter, I could only truly appreciate its size when I saw it in person. After the collapse of the Aztec Empire, this stone was placed in a park near the center of Mexico City. According to the story, a Catholic archbishop saw local people worshipping it and ordered it to be buried underground. It was excavated in 1790 and has been here ever since. Each era is assigned a sun, and currently, we are in the fifth era, "Sun Tonatiuh." On the same floor, there is a restored diagram of Tenochtitlan, the Mexico City that existed before it was conquered by the Spanish. Tenochtitlan, a city built on a lake, had tall towers, temples, and buildings that rose from the water, creating a fantastical world. The restored model is enough to stimulate the imagination.

And the 8th room is Oaxaca. This is one that I skipped this time, so it wasn't something that resonated with me. Oaxaca is a place on the way from Mexico City to Guatemala, so I'm thinking of visiting it sometime. I don't know when that will be.
Room 9 is on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Here, a huge human face caught my eye. It is also very large. It is so large that one wonders why it is so big. The reason for its creation remains a mystery.
Room 10 is dedicated to Maya. This time, I visited the Chichen Itza ruins, and there were many exhibits related to them, as well as displays of the royal tombs of Palenque, which brought back many memories.
Room 11 is located in the west. Compared to the other exhibits, this room features a much more primitive display. There are wall paintings and pottery, but it gives the impression of being less advanced than the other rooms.
Room 12 is located in the north. This area also gave the impression of being less developed, and the exhibits were primitive.

The Stone of the Sun (Aztec calendar).

And then I enter the second floor.

This is the ethnology floor, and it introduces various indigenous cultures that still exist today. For example, the Maya people have not disappeared, and Maya people are still alive today. This section provides such introductions.

	And then, after going around the second floor once, we leave the museum. I was thinking of buying souvenirs at the shop, but I was surprised that the "decorative plate with a motif of the Sun Stone" that I liked cost around 1000 pesos, so I couldn't bring myself to buy it. It's only about 20cm in diameter. That's too expensive, no matter how you look at it.

Mexico City, Zocalo, countdown live.

I finished visiting the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico, so I walked to the subway station and moved to the area around the Zocalo. Compared to yesterday or this morning, it is quite crowded, but I managed to get there safely.

And when I arrived at Zocalo, there were many events happening, and it was very lively. First, I walked around Zocalo, and then I walked towards the Templo Mayor, which is the ruins of the central temple of the Aztec Empire.

During the performance, men with wings were dancing and performing. They exuded a fierce atmosphere, like hunting tribes. The way they formed a circle and danced while playing drums felt like something more than just a show. Around the performance area, souvenirs were being sold. I browsed through the items at a stall run by a quiet-looking woman and bought two figurines shaped like sun stones. She gave me a discount, and the two figurines cost 220 pesos instead of 240. I'm glad I didn't buy them at the National Museum of Anthropology.

Suddenly, I noticed that between the dances, a cool and dignified man, like a tribal chief, was performing a "blessing" ritual on people lined up in order. He was blowing smoke on the people, and they seemed to be expressing gratitude in response.

	And then I went to Templo Mayor, but you can see it from the side without actually entering. Looking at it, I felt that there was no need to go inside. I've seen so many ruins before, so seeing it from here is enough.

And then I returned to Zacatecas and entered the cathedral. This is said to be the church that oversees the entire country of Mexico, and its size is particularly impressive. It was built over a period of more than 100 years, from 1563 to 1681.

This cathedral was originally built on the site of a temple dedicated to the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, which was destroyed to make way for the church. It seems that taking away spiritual support makes it easier to control, which is a common tactic during invasions.

	Then, we leave the cathedral and head to the National Palace, which is right next to it. There are magnificent murals painted on the second floor. This is the place where Mexico's independence was declared, and on September 15th, Mexico's Independence Day, the president appears here and shouts "Viva Mexico! Viva la Independencia!" and shares the joy with the citizens gathered in the Zocalo.

And then, after leaving the National Palace, I returned to the hotel.

Take the subway again and go to the nearest station.

And, before returning to the hotel, I finished my meal. This time, I'm sure it's a steakhouse because the sign says "steak." Finally, I was able to eat steak. Ah. I'm satisfied.

And then I stopped by the Insurgentes Market, which is near the hotel. Although the entrance is small, there are over 100 folk craft shops inside. I had already bought souvenirs, so I didn't buy anything in particular, but I enjoyed walking around.

After that, return to the hotel and take a nap. Wake up around 10:00.

After a short nap, I woke up around 10 o'clock and got ready. Then, I went outside, and I tried to find somewhere to eat dinner, but the front desk person said that everything was closed. The New Year's countdown live is definitely being held at the Independence Memorial Tower, so there are still about 2 hours until the new year, but I decided to go there. It was night, so I left my camera at the hotel, but there were a lot of police officers providing security, and there was a security check at the entrance, so I might have been able to bring it with me. It was relatively safe.

Therefore, after the opening act's live performance, which lasted about an hour, another band called Tigress (?), was scheduled to perform, with only 40 minutes left until the new year. The image of a tiger was displayed several times, so the word probably means "tiger." It seems that this band has been active for several decades, and they release an album every year. From there, the excitement started to accelerate.

After several upbeat songs played consecutively, the music stopped with 5 minutes remaining until the new year, and a talk segment and countdown began. As the remaining time reached 1 minute, then 20 seconds, and 10 seconds, the excitement reached its peak. And when 0 seconds were reached, numerous fireworks exploded from behind the stage and from the pillars where the audience was located. There were a significant number of fireworks, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement.

I felt that this year, 2008, was a year of transition in my personal life, and there were many changes. I was able to conclude it with this wonderful countdown live, and I couldn't help but feel like saying, "Thank you, 2008." Perhaps that feeling was conveyed, because a few white women (Spanish?) who were in front of me turned and hugged each other.

And the fireworks continue. The fireworks lasted for about 10 minutes, and then the live performance resumed. The surroundings were still filled with excitement. I enjoyed the atmosphere for another 30 minutes, and then I returned to the hotel.

Get ready and prepare for the early morning flight. And, safely return home.

This time, it was the best trip I've ever had.

((In the same category) Previous article) → Taiwan, individual travel, 2008.
(Chronological previous article) → Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday event.

TOEIC 845 points (Listening 420, Reading 425). ← (The following article)

Topic: メキシコ

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