Tzintzuntzan

Hello Everyone! I´ve read all your posts and wish I had more time to respond! Yes Alli, I tasted the cactus juice, it tasted like grass...but actually not too bad! Thank you Ellen for your good wishes to the top of the pyramids! I think I am rested and won´t need to be carried to the top!!

Today we went to the ruins in Tzintzuntzan. Can you say that? It sounds like sin-soon-sahn, I can´t say it without looking at the pronunciation! The pyramids were left behind when the Purepecha abandoned the city when they were invaded. Because they left, it also meant that the pyramids remained. In other parts of the country where the native people had their pyramids, they were destroyed, taken apart, and the stones were used for other buildings. Many of those buildings were churches because the Spanish wanted to convert the natives to Catholicsm. They took the stones from their pyramids and used them to build the churches with an open worship area. This allowed the natives to remain outside the church, but brought them closer to the Spanish's religious beliefs.

One of the churches we saw had the most beautiful flower arrangements all over the inside AND outside of the building! They had just celebrated a special event and the church was decorated and colorful. The women were cleaning the floors, had removed all the pews, and were mopping and scrubbing the colorful tile floors. Many stones from the pyramids were definitely part of this building as we could see the symbols used by the natives.

In the afternoon we went to the capitol of Michoacan, Morelia. There were many buildings dating back to the 1600's, and they had amazing architecture and stone work. All the streets were cobblestone streets with stores and wonderful restaurants. It is an amazing city of two million people! I was shocked to see so many people and cars! It is the third largest city in Mexico. I have more information to share with you about Mexico City, but that will have to be tomorrow!

I will try to download some pictures, but they are kicking me out of the computer room here in Mexico City! I have some great ruins to show you from Tzintzuntzan!