We met up with some gringo friends and drove 3 hours to the Guachimontones pyramids near the quaint town of Teuchitlán. We weren’t sure where to go when we reached the town, but convenient signs pointed us the right away.
These pyramids are unique because of their unique round structures. There are 3 major pyramids, with platforms surrounding them, supposedly to allow VIPS a better view of the rituals that took place on the pyramids.
The pyramid site is on the top of a mountain ridge, and had a beautiful vista of the area.
The pyramid area also had a ball field, and they shared all sorts of “facts” about how the game was played (rubber bouncing balls hit with hips only, and the winning team captain gets sacrificed as a gift to the gods). I personally find it hard to believe they would have enough information to infer all of these things. I guess I know what it’s like to be a tour guide, and that sometimes you stretch (or create) the truth for entertainment purposes. Call me cynical, but I guess you could say I took a lot of their theories with a grain of salt.
The _____ pyramids are absolutely beautiful during the rainy season (and not nearly as impressive when everything is dried up and brown), and worth a visit if you’re living in the area or haven’t seen many pyramids! Another fun fact is that they mine obsidian from the hills in the nearby area. You can therefore find beautiful carvings sold in town, intricately carved from obsidian. This jaguar (which you could hold in 2 hands) was on sale for $2,800, which is roughly the equivalent of $215.
After hiking around the pyramids for awhile, we ventured into the property of the local chapel and enjoyed looking at the attached property and the gardens that boasted of plants trimmed as elephants, angels, frogs, etc.
Next, we went to the plaza and pulled out a lunch of empanadas (yes, I brought them with us) and tortillas with Nutella (darn you Nutella…our home will never 100% vegan, again!). On the way out, we passed this guy on his cycle…
First of all let me congratulate you for such a beautyfull family !
You coment: ¨I guess I know what it’s like to be a tour guide, and that sometimes you stretch (or create) the truth for entertainment purposes. Call me cynical, but I guess you could say I took a lot of their theories with a grain of salt¨
I as a tour guide was present during Phil Weigand study of this archaeological site and excavations. I can only repeat what ever conclusions HE came to before his death. As Phil recommended ¨We have to keep our minds open for new studies and evidences¨
Gus Melor
GDL Tours
Indeed!