The fantastic Teotihuacan

The globetrotter and author Howard Hillman has travelled in more than 100 countries. He once produced a list of the 1000 most important sights worldwide and the 100 first on the list were awarded the "gold medal". Sight no. 24 on the same list is Mexico's Teotihuacan with its sun and moon pyramids, located 50km northeast of Mexico City.
Teotihuacan was Mexico's largest pre-hispanic city and the capital of what probably was the largest empire. The city was mainly developed during 150 - 600 AD but due to social, environmental and economical factors, its growth declined and the city eventually collapsed in the 8th century.
The site today features many ruins of temples and pyramids and the highlight being the grand "Pirámide del Sol", world's second largest pyramid (only superseded by the Cheops pyramid in Egypt). "Pirámide de la Luna" (pyramid of the moon) is much smaller but its summit reaches almost the same height as it is built on higher ground. Climbing the steps of the magnificent "Pirámide del Sol" is a must-do experience, well worth going to Mexico for.

Approaching "Pirámide del Sol". It truly is massive. I should add that these pyramids were built by the indigenous people, not using slaves and with no access to technical inventions such as the wheel.







Climbing "Pirámide del Sol" can be difficult if you are not a master of steep steps. If there is any consolation, there is a first-aid station at the bottom of the pyramid, just in case someone should fall. If you fall from the top however, you should not put too much faith in the first-aiders to save your life.





Enjoying the view of the "Pirámide de la Luna" from the top of the sun pyramid. The setting is magical.








View from "Pirámide de la Luna" (only allowed to climb halfway up, so lame). Most ruins that today remain are located along the two km long street pictured called "Avenue of the dead". This was one of two main streets in Teotihuacan, dividing the city in half. The Aztecs believed that the gods had sacrificed themselves here to keep the sun moving, thereby its name.