Mexico City with its population of 22 million was not as formidable as we had first been led to believe. We had decided to fly into Mexico City from Miami as the start of our 16 day self guided tour which would ultimately take us to the Yucatan to see a selection of the Mayan sites.
In Mexico City we had highlighted Teotihuacan as our prime target and also a trip to Taxco the centre of Mexican silver.
The travel agency attached to our hotel organised a private day tour to Teotihuacan which also included a visit to Our Lady Of Guadalupe. We learned that this site is the second most visited Catholic site in the world after St Peter's in the Vatican. 
The complex is massive with the 16th century Basilica now tilting dangerously due to land slip. You can still walk through the lovely church but unfortunately out of necessity there is scaffolding propping it up inside.
An impressive statue of Pope John Paul stands outside between the old Basilica and the very impressive circular new Basilica.
The story of Guadalupe plays an important and cherished role in the lives of Mexicans.
According to legend it was here in December 1531 that an Aztec Indian, recently converted to Catholicism and baptized Juan Diego saw a vision of the Virgin Mary.
The encounter resulted in Mexico's version of the Shroud of Turin, a cloak with an image of a dark skinned virgin.
This iconic object is displayed inside the new Basilica behind the altar and can be viewed in a specially designated area complete with a moving travelator that allows everyone the best viewing opportunity of this important and sacred piece of Mexican religious history. Whilst we were there a service was in progress and the chanting prayers in the background created the right atmosphere especially for the many visiting pilgrims.
Teotihuacan is 50 kilometres outside the city and it derived its name from the Aztec words meaning 'place where the Gods are made.' The ruins are monumental and the complex is spread over a wide area with the Sun and Moon pyramids and Ciudadela, or Citadel, with its temple of Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent) among the many buildings along the mile-long Avenue of the Dead.
