I make my living on the avenue of the dead

Not really, but some people do.

David and I at Teotihuacan, the 1000 year old ruins outside Mexico City. We were on top of the pyramid of the moon. Behind us is the 10-story pyramid of the sun and the avenue of the dead. 

This past week leading up to Easter is called Semana Santa (Holy Week) in the spanish-speaking catholic world. The week and its activities and celebrations are actually much more important than Easter day itself, which has no celebrations, just the regular Easter Mass. Many people get the week off from school and work. Many go to the beach. We instead went for a tour through the heart of Mexico, visiting Puebla, the Great Pyramid at Cholula, Mexico City and Teotihuacan (above and below).

Haggling with some folks who actually do make their living on the avenue of the dead.

Supposedly this was a good week to travel, as our host mother Ruth told us that the major cities would be very quiet due to everyone vacationing at the beach. Mexico City has 20 million people, so after visiting there during Semana Santa I can only say I can't imagine how busy it is normally.

The National Cathedral on Mexico City's main plaza

View from the terrace of our hostel in Mexico City.

 Because of our travels we actually missed the majority of the Semana Santa activities in Oaxaca (which Oaxaca is famous for). Apparently all of the churches put up elaborate alters to saints or to a specific rendition of the virgin. Visitors file in and out of the many churches (it seems there is one on every corner) to view the alters. Then Saturday there was something called the Procesión de Silencio, where the alters are carried through the streets in silence. Unfortunately we missed it all, but we were here to witness the huge swelling in the number of tourists who began arriving the Sunday preceding Easter. The Zocalo was packed. 

I'd like to say more and put up some more pictures from the trip but we also want to save some things to show people when we get home! Which is two weeks from Saturday! See you all soon!

David doing in a suero (beer with lime juice and spices)