Any guidebook will tell you that the Anthropology Museum is huge, and it’s true. I spent more than half a day there, and felt like I still haven’t "done" it. The museum is interesting and so extensive that it’s almost hard to take.
I went with a group from the Hostal Moneda - there were a lot of independent travelers. Everyone was really friendly and I met a couple of people on our little "field trip." The hostel provided a guide who accompanied us on the trip and spoke English (as most of the signs in the museum are in Spanish only).

We visited just five rooms of the museum - a small portion overall. Highlights were pre-Columbian art and models of the many civilizations that preceded modern Mexico! I would recommend this museum only if you’re a big anthropology buff, or if you have a few hours to spend wandering a vast museum. If you could see just one museum in Mexico, go see Frida Kahlo!

The museum is accessible by Metro but you have to take a bus down the main avenue towards the museum. You can’t bring bags or cameras inside but they have a place to check them. Be sure to check out the Voladores of Pantitlan in the small park just across the street! It’s a native ritual involving 4 guys literally flying through the air from a big pole (with ropes around their ankles!) and is worth seeing. They’ll do it a few times a day, usually when there’s a sufficient amount of tourists ($$) standing around waiting.

But one of the amazing things is what different people have found about them. These pieces are worth a lot of money. There are pieces that you can not take a picture of because they are so old or they don´t want to see another copy made. They want those pieces to be unique. Of course you´ll also find small stores where you can buy a lot of things for yourself or friends.

Then after you finish seeing this place you need to go the downtown Zocalo so you can see another museum of the Templo Mayor. This is the temple of the Aztecs where they used to make sacrifies and where Spain came and conquered the Aztecs and destroyed their tamples.

Also, see one of the biggest churches that Spain built on top of one of the pyramid of the Aztecs. You got to go there!!!! This is not expensive either. It's only 45 pesos ($4.50) to 650 pesos ($6.50) to see the Templo Mayor--the church is free.

So, what do you say? Now is time for you to see it in person and not in books anymore. Do not miss it!! I know you´ll love it!!!!

Teotihucan

I recall as we approached the site the immense surroundings that encompassed the area. As the bus drew nearer, it became obvious that in fact my presumed mountain was the Pyramid of the Sun. My heart was in my mouth, and my brain was rattling like a pensioner in a supermarket looking for cheap biscuits. You can't help but be drawn to its presense. I don't recall the walk to the entrance (except the Voladore pole situated among 10-foot cacti, which looked ropey to me). As you stand on the main concourse and look up at the Pyramid of the Sun, you can understand why the Aztecs may have had this as the center of their universe. It's immense--275 feet at the base, but the secrets within are what intrigued me.

Crystal Skulls

The Maya/Olmecs, who were originally responsible for the thirteen skulls, passed them onto the Aztecs. At Teotihucan, they resided in the center of the Pyramid of the Sun (you can see the entrance door). These skulls, of which there were thirteen, held the contents of knowledge from the twelve other planets that are inhabited. (The thirteenth skull contained all the knowledge.) During Cortes' march to Teotihucan, he became informed of the skulls by neighboring tribes. Under the Pope's orders he was told to retreive them. The jaguar warriors heard of this plan and before his arrival scattered the stones. It is a mystery to this day as to where they are scattered. But it is proclaimed that one day these stones will unite in a time of crisis.

The walk to the top of the Pyramid of The Sun isn't for the faint hearted. But take heart (no pun intended), when I arrived I wasn't stretched over a sacrifical stone and my heart torn with a clever bit of obsidian (lucky that). But the solitude of being the only person there, helped accentuate the whole feeling connected to the place.

As a place to go, it is essential. You will leave feeling empowered, and mesmerised by the achievements of what historians like to call a primitive society.

Happy Trails.

Of course there are some things you can't miss : the atlant from Tula is great, the maya sun calendar is top of the bill, the mexica department with a collection of items about Tenochtitlan (the aztec city of Mexico city) with maps, maquettes and drawings is a must before visiting the centre of Mexico city. And all this is situated in a great park, in a modern building with an innovative architecture. Come see this !