EL TAJIN AND THE PYRAMID OF THE NICHES

We took off on another trip to find El Tajin.  The map gave us great directions and we managed to get there avoiding all of the pot holes. AND IT IS MAGNIFICENT!!!!    A very large area.  A big center of trade and culture from



PYRAMID OF NICHES AT EL TAJIN

 300 AD to 1200 AD.  We had an excellent guide - Juan Angel - another Juan.  He told us so much about the site, the excations and about the people it would be impossible to remember it all.

There are over 20 ball courts in this site. The central area with four great pyramids were used for ceremonies. Just outside the ceremonial area were the houses for the upper class, then the common folk and high up on a hill the ruler lived. That was so he could have a view of everything. He and his family were the only ones who were priviledged to know the calendar. So that if he said the rainy season is coming you need to plant or plow or whatever, and the rain did come then they would be in wonder. The site was abandoned by the Totonac Indians when the climate changed and there were tremendous rains that flooded everything. It rains 83 inches a year now so it was a big rain. They retreated to higher ground leaving only a few behind. Those few were unable to maintain the site and left also. They came back later but decided not to stay. There are Totonac Indians in the area now and our guide was Totonac. He was an archeologist also. Lots of information.

I have many photos but you know about this blog and photos or this computer - they won't download. As in any county or tourist site, the way in is lined with food and things to buy. The sellers were Totonac Indians.

When we first arrived we parked by a motorhome with California tags and Pete began to speak English, that didn't work, so he tried Spanish. They called for someone inside and out came a woman who spoke English with a French accent. These were three motor homes of French young people who were traveling Mexico and had been at El Tajin about a month and a half.

So we still haven't met any Americans since we got into the country. To put it another way, this sure ain't gringo Mexico.

Our stay in the LaQuinta was delightful with a nice hot shower.

MAZATLAN-GUADALAJARA-AJIJIC



Stephen and Cuquis

      Sunday, we drove from Mazatlan to Guadalajara.  Five hours - really not a bad drive at all.  With our friend, Stephen, along we had a great navigator riding shotgun.  The only tricky part is when we arrived near Guadalajara.  It is such a large city and there are no freeways or such through this old city with off ramps and such so the streets are intertwined.  That is how it seemed to us anyway.
     We arrived just in time for comiida with our friend Cuquis' family.  Yum yum  How lucky can you be.  Cuquis is Stephen's wife and her family is so welcoming and warm.  I have a new fresh appetizer recipe that I will certainly make when I have an opportunity.   It takes a lot of chopping and dicing in very small pieces - jicama, cucumber, miniature pieces of fresh pineapple and lime juice and a little salt - sprinkle with red pepper when serving.  Loved it.
     We were fortunate to stay with Stephen and Cuquis for two nights.  OMG they have the most beautiful house and garden. Strangely believe it - they live in a section of Guad which is called Zapopan and in Zapopan the section they live in is called Seattle.  How about that?    
     Our dinner that evening was on Mexican time about 8 or so, can't remember the name of the restaurant right now but the food was delicious. 
     The next morning we had a delicious breakfast in a french restaurant,"OUI".  While we were there our car was washed by a fellow who had been to Seattle, Portland, Yakima etc.  Our license plate is proving to be an asset.
     Cuquis gave us a tour of her business. She sells all kinds of things, clothes, candles, bibles and all sorts of things for Catholic ceremonies from baptisms to 15 year celebrations.  It is a thriving business and Cuquis is an excellent businesswoman.  I admire her very much.
     I was able to buy some paint pigments in that area of downtown.  I hope to find a wholesaler.  Well, maybe next time.
      We took off from downtown Guadalajara with some directions from Cuquis and my programing the GPS.  We didn't know if we could find our way out of Guadalajara or not but alas we did and made it all the way to Ajijic easy peezey.