Our last stop in Central America before going down under and waht a place to end our trip here on. From just the journey into the city, which was gearing up the festival of Our Lady of Guadelupe, we knew it would be special!
All along the road on the way in were hundreds if not thoud\sands of Mexicans all on a pilgrimage to the Basilica for a religous festival on the 12th. Some were walking, some were running, some were on bikes and even a few (thousand) were on all sort of mortorised transport each carrying and in various sizes from samll to stupidly large pictures of the Lady of Guadelupe.
Feeling totally ruined out by the time we got here we made the decision not to go to Teothiuacan to see the ruins but instead to go to the religous festival up at the Basillica, this was quickly rethought on the advise of an ex pat who told us there would be over 2 million people there and most of them in some sort of trance as they walked the final few miles on thier knees. So instead we had a day of leisure.
Stopping at the Mexican version of Dennys or Little Chef for breakfast it soon became apparent that we may have chosen poorly as nothing was open. But not to fear that was the mexican way nothing opend until 10am at the earliest and so by 11am you could hardly walk on the streets for the ammount of people. It was then that we had the brainchild idea of escaping the crowds and going to the local market, allegedly the biggest in the whole of the Americas!
This place was huge! stretching over about 6 to 7 street blocks I think you could have picked up anything you wanted from this market. Caroline the party pooper wouldnt let me get a pinyata, boo hiss! Perhpas the right decision though as these things were huge, all I was thinking about was the fun we had have knocking seven bells out of it as we tried to get to the sweets, somehow I dont think Quantas would have been too impressed when we came to check in though!
After a good few hours wandering around the market we found the holy grail of tourists everywhere, yes an open top bus tour! The excitiment was clear on our faces as we chased it around the central Zocalo trying to get on it only to realise it actually picked up from where we were originally standing, but I am sure we amused some locals as we teared around the square trying to board the bus.
As they say all good things come to those who wait and we got on the bus for the 3 hour journey around the city. Taking us through the old, new and down right weird of the city. From the old part of the city past the Almedia Square up to the new park housing most of the museums, along the famous street (which I dont know the name of) with all the statues and past all the cows (i think this was shrine to Milton Keynes). It was a fantastic way of seeing the city and probably the best as you could jump on and off when ever you wanted and see all the sights.