We decided to head to Xochimilco. This is an area is in Mexico City and still has some of the original lake the once covered the basin. It is in the south of the city which is more rural then the center and north. Xochimilco means place of flowers and that is their major export. When we boarded the van we met another couple. They were visiting from Puerto Rico. The man was an English teacher and we shared a few classroom stories before the start of our tour. They were a very nice couple but weren’t staying long.
On the way down we stopped at the Olympic Stadium, which still stands after Mexico host the Olympics in 1968. Now the National University of Mexico uses the stadium. I liked seeing the site the ‘68 Olympics. I read the story of Bob Beamon in college, who set the Olympic record for long jump in ’68. Forty years later that record still stands, although these games are more famously remembered for the Black Panther salute on the medal stand.
From there we continued south to another pyramid, Cuicuilco. This one not as large as the ones in Teotihuacan, but instead was much older. It is theorized, our guide explained, that the Olmecs built this structure. They are the oldest civilization known to exist in Mesoamerica and the age of the pyramid is debated to be 10,000 years. The pyramid and the people living around it would then suffer a horrible fate; they were buried in lava. Under the harden rock, the pyramid stood preserved for centuries. Like many of the discoveries in Mexico City, Cuicuilco was uncovered by mistake. The owner of the land tried to level the mound of rock with dynamite. There were great views of the modern city from this ancient site. It is agreed that this is the oldest structure in central Mexico.
On the way down we stopped at the Olympic Stadium, which still stands after Mexico host the Olympics in 1968. Now the National University of Mexico uses the stadium. I liked seeing the site the ‘68 Olympics. I read the story of Bob Beamon in college, who set the Olympic record for long jump in ’68. Forty years later that record still stands, although these games are more famously remembered for the Black Panther salute on the medal stand.
From there we continued south to another pyramid, Cuicuilco. This one not as large as the ones in Teotihuacan, but instead was much older. It is theorized, our guide explained, that the Olmecs built this structure. They are the oldest civilization known to exist in Mesoamerica and the age of the pyramid is debated to be 10,000 years. The pyramid and the people living around it would then suffer a horrible fate; they were buried in lava. Under the harden rock, the pyramid stood preserved for centuries. Like many of the discoveries in Mexico City, Cuicuilco was uncovered by mistake. The owner of the land tried to level the mound of rock with dynamite. There were great views of the modern city from this ancient site. It is agreed that this is the oldest structure in central Mexico.
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