Great Pyramide of Cholula, Mexico & Volcano

Popocatépetl is an active volcano located in the states of Puebla, State of Mexico, and Morelos, in Central Mexico, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt at 17,802 ft.  it is the second highest peak in Mexico, after the Pico de Orizaba at 18,491 ft.  When it is a clear day you can see the volcano and the steam coming out of it. I saw it  in May from my hotel room very clearly.

When you are in Cholula, Mexico near the great Pyramid with the church on top -  you can see the volcano off

 in the near distance. So cool!

 

The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl for "artificial mountain"), is a huge complex located in Cholula, Mexico. They felt you had to build a pyramid and on top place their temple. It is the largest archaeological site of a pyramid (temple) in the New World. The pyramid stands 180 ft above the surrounding plain, and in its final form it measured 1,300 by 1,300 ft. even larger than that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.  The pyramid is a temple that has traditionally been viewed as having been dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl. The architectural style of the building was closely linked to that of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico, although influence from the Gulf Coast is also evident, especially from El Tajín. The Toltec-Chichimec History, a codex from the Cholula region, relates that an Olmec-Xicalanca lord with the title Aquiyach Amapane resided at the Great Pyramid. When the Spaniards came and conquered the people, they built this Cathedral at the top of it which stands today.

We were able to walk around the base. You can see part of the steps of the pyramid. They also had lots of vendors selling their wares.

Some the food for sale are Grasshopper legs! The front bucket with the glass upside down in it had them roasted, the other side of the bucket had chili powder on them! They were supposedly full of protein! I did NOT try them!

These guys climb the pole, tie a rope around them, while one guy sits on top and spins the wheel, these guys unwind while hanging upside down and flying through the air until they reach the ground. Very dizzing, but fun to watch!

 

While walking around shopping, seeing the pyramid, etc... we kept hearing what sounded like gun shots, cannons, or something. I had enough! Every time it went off (every few minutes) I would jump out of my skin. As we left you could see one area where the smoke was where they were shooting off ???? something!  When we asked, they said "there is always a party going on" - translation, gunshots or fireworks!