The South Riding RV Travels

525

24th May 2009 - Teotihuacán to Tula to Querétaro, México

We had instructions for getting from the camp site in San Juan back to the motorway, through the complex road system north of Mexico City and on to the new motorway north, none of which was on our maps. We got lost in the first 100 yards but the rest proved to be OK if a little busy!

The hotel we passed on the way out had an impressive collection of topiary. They really are good at this.

On the motorway north we passed the scrap yards with cars stacked five high. If you look carefully you can again see lots of Beetles. A few days ago we had travelled the minor road just in front in the opposite direction.
This is a statue at the side of Mex 45 as we travelled north towards Tula. I suspect it is Miguel Hidalgo since we have just entered that province. He was the one who called for revolution in 1810. He was later shot.
A little bit further on and we got this Continental Tyre. The tread is wrong for a truck big enough to use it.
You just don't expect to find cyclists on a motorway - but this is Mexico.....
We took the wrong turning off the motorway for Tula and ended up heading south for a while. Well there was a sign and it said Tula. This isn't quite Tula but we thought it was because of the chemical works. We did find a big cement factory as well before we got there.
Pity that the photograph doesn't quite show just how iridescent this Beetle was.
Tula was the probable capital of the Toltec empire which lasted from about 900AD until about 1150AD. It was abandoned completely in the 13th century. The archaeological ruins are best known for their 4.5m high warriors.

There is a small museum with artefacts from the period. This is particularly ornate.

I don't know why these figures never really appear to be happy. I guess their role in life is different.
There are more of the carvings like the ones we saw at Teotihuacán .
And there is a bit more colour in the pottery which is also a little finer.

Geometric patterns ornament some of the pottery rather than freehand drawings of people and animals.

More pictures from Tula are on the next page but our travels took us on to Querétaro. As we draw close we are watched by a statue of Conin. Conin was an Otomi Indian who went on to become the first governor of the state in the mid 1500s.