Back to Mexico
(Click on picture to enlarge it)
Museo de Bellas Artes in Mexico D.F., home to Diego Rivera's "Man at the crossroads" (also called "Man in the centre of the Universe") fresco, the openly marxist masterpiece that hilarously was first painted by the artist in the Rockefeller centre in New York.
Noemi works here, in the financial district of Santa Fe, west of Mexico D.F. The district is allegedly "Mexico's most exclusive neighbourhood" with its sky-scrapers, posh restaurants and shopping malls and gated-residential buildings. Built on the site of a previous waste discharge, the district is surrounded by the poor neighbourhood barrio Santa Fe, and lacks proper public transport connection with the centre of Mexico D.F. Not so surprinsing given that the majority of the affluent employees of the sky-scrapers drive big cars back home.
Noemi works here, in the financial district of Santa Fe, west of Mexico D.F. The district is allegedly "Mexico's most exclusive neighbourhood" with its sky-scrapers, posh restaurants and shopping malls and gated-residential buildings. Built on the site of a previous waste discharge, the district is surrounded by the poor neighbourhood barrio Santa Fe, and lacks proper public transport connection with the centre of Mexico D.F. Not so surprinsing given that the majority of the affluent employees of the sky-scrapers drive big cars back home.
The colonial town of Tlaxcala, 2 hours drive west of Mexico D.F., is a lovely colonial town. In pre-hispanic times Tlaxcala was resisting successfully Mexica (Aztec) rule. The Mexicas ocasionally waged war on Tlaxcala to capture most-needed prisoners for human sacrifices. After the conquest the town was initially a powerful centre until an earth-quake ravaged it in the early years of spanish domination. Tlaxcala never recovered prime-status.
Less than one hour drive south-west of Tlaxcala are the pre-hispanic ruins of Cacaxtla and Xochitecatl. They were inhabited in the first millenium of our era by Olmecs, and it is believed that while Cacaxtla was mainly residential, Xocitecatl and its pyramids were a ceremonial centre for people in the area. (First picture is by Noemi.)
The pyramid of flowers was dedicated to the cult of fertility. Female figurins were offered to the gods on top of the pyramid.
On top of the pyramid of flowers, looking east towards the Malinche volcano.
Near the pyramid of flower stands the pyramid of the snake, probably dedicated to astronomical observation. A cross has been built on top by the new masters of the New World. Towards the West on can see the Popocatepetl volcano's majestic silhouette.
The pyramid of flowers, as seen from the top of the pyramid of the snake.
