Journeys of Ben Borhegyi: Mexico City

¡Buenos días!

Note: This post is purely dedicated to Mexico City
On March 1st, I left Guanajuato for Mexico City. The bus ride lasted about five hours total, and it was really quite hot, although the views were gorgeous. Once we had arrived, we first went to El Castillo de Chapultepec, a castle in Mexico City full of art from the rich people who lived there, and it was really just a beautiful house. After that, we went to the hotel, unpacked, and set out again with a partner or two to get dinner in Mexico City. It was quite fun to go around and see all the night life. We saw a rap battle, break dancing, talked with some locals, and got wet at a fountain. 10/10, would go out at night again.

The next day, we got a tour of the streets of Mexico City and got a tour of the treasury, located next to a beautiful church. The treasury had these murals which depicted the Aztecs and their fall by Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador. After the treasury, the group proceeded onto La Casa Azul, the house of Frida Kahlo. We were not allowed to take pictures of the interior, but she did have a very beautiful garden. Most of her work is actually stored in museums, so they were not in the house itself. That being said, it still displayed her handmade dresses and all aspects of her life. We next went to a mercado, where I tried something that I've always wanted to try my whole life: chapulines, or grasshoppers, are cooked and often flavoured. I got some with salt and lemon, and they tasted great, kind of like bacon, but less flavourful.

Next, on the same day, the group split up and my half did something that I never thought I'd get to do: see the Museo Nacional de Antropología, the home of the infamous Olmec statue and the Aztec calendar stone, or Piedra del Sol. The museum was honestly one of the coolest places I had ever been to. They even had recreations of the Mayan temples. Overall, the museum was just a really awesome and positive experience.

The third day in Mexico City was probably one of the highlights of the whole trip, maybe even my life. We saw the grand pyramids of Teotihuacán. Now must of you, including me my think "Why isn't it Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztecs?". Great question. You see, Mexico City is Tenochtitlan. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs, they pillaged the city and destroyed the pyramids, so the whole time I've been in Mexico City, I have been in Tenochtitlan. That being said, these pyramids were not built by the Aztecs. They were built by an older civilization, possibly the Olmecs. We know this because the Aztecs described the city as "a city built by giants". If you doubt me, feel free to do your own research, I am just stating what the tour guide told us. Anyways, there are two main pyramids; the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon. I climbed them both and the open surrounding pyramids as well, and then splurged a ton of money on souvenirs. Climbing all the pyramids, especially the Sun and Moon one, was very exhilarating. The civilization who built them also had a complex understanding of mathematics, such as the use of the golden ratio, pi, time and astronomy, and more. If you go to Mexico City, this is the place that you do not want to miss, and definitely get a tour guide for this one.

Overall, Mexico City was a great part of the exchange. Next, I will be writing a conclusion to the exchange.

Hasta luego,
Benjamín

These images are various art works from Castillo de Chapultepec