First up let me tell you about the short earthquake we had here today (Friday) it was over 7 on the scale and lasted about 25 seconds. We where in a bus on our way out of the city and didn't know it had happended!! They have lots of minor quakes here so no one was bothered much ....anywho lets get on with the start ....

So...The first night we arrived was a late one as there was a storm before our plane landed and so much of the city was washed out so we got picked up very late from the airport out to the hotel. Had to be up and ready to go again by 8.45 for our first tour was only supposed to be a half day but ended up being nearly a full day. We started with a short walking tour around the huge Zocalo (main plaza) which is one of the largest in the world. Well with 130 million people in Mexico and 22 million in Mexico City alone they need a big one. !! We had a tour of the National Palace where the president lives. Held very impressive frescos and the colonial building is beautiful. Of course the machine toting guards everywhere take your eye too .

From there it was onto a Cathedral (of course) then some ruins of the main Aztec temple all located in the city. We finished our first day at the National Anthropology Museum the most visited of the 130 !! museums in Mexico. The place really needs a half day or more but we did the short version in 1.5 hours. Brilliant place, well layed out with a fabulours collection of pre-columbian artefacts. The highlight is the Aztec 'Stone of the Sun' - Aztec calendar.

Day 2 - Full day. Up early and out by 9. We go to the Shrine of Guadalupe and to the Plaza of the Three Cultures where we see three seperate periods in time by way of 1/ ruins of an Aztec temple 2/ Spanish colonial catholic church and 3/ a modern building housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs !! all practically next to each other.

We see the original image of the Virgin Mary that appeared on a poncho belonging to Indian Juan Diego. The Virgin of Guadalupe Shrine is one of mexicos most visited shrines and the basilica it is in is huge. The grounds go on forever.

Last stop Teothuacan. This is a mesoamerican city once containing over 125,000 people. established about 100BC unti about the 8th centurie AD. This place is so big and spread out. The incredible pyramids as well as the Avenue of the Dead means there is plenty to see and climb. The stairs are high and extremely steep!! I only went up half way of course Ray got to the top and took some video. What a great but tireing day out of course the stop on the way to the pyramids at a 'handcrafts' place where they showed how they use the 'agarve' plant for lots of things and how tequilla is made. They give you a few samples then pester you to purchase something from the handcrafts store !! At the pyramids there many hawkers too but you expect it at the large tourist spots. All in all a great day too. The weather here is coolish in the morning till about 11 then it warms up and when the sun is out it can get quite hot. It has rained each night from about 5-6pm but not very cool.

So J & J ...think you should pack more light weight clothes, things you can layer then take back off. Think I'll need to buy a light weight shirt.

We that's it for tonight todays tour (Friday) I will write about next time. It was an even longer day and we didnt get back to the hotel until 8.30 and no dinner till 9!! cheers everyone hope your having a great easter!! xx