Puebla, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Puebla, Mexico

Weather: Partly cloudy, 46/72F

Route: From Huejotzingo 40 km SE on 150D.

Population: 1,576,259 (2017)

Founded: 1531

Nicknames: The Reliquary of Americas, The City of Angels

Places to visit: Rosary Chapel, Museo Internacional del Barroco, Museo Amparo, Puebla Cathedra, Museo Nacional del Ferrocarril, Templo de San Francisco, Museo de la Evolucion Puebla.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Roofs of Puebla with Mt. Popocatepetl, an active volcano, behind (from cnn.com)

Colorful main square (from besttimetovisit.co.nz)

16th Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: 16th Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl

Weather: Rain showers early with mostly cloudy conditions later in the day, 48/66F

Route: From Xochicalco 207 km ENE on PUE 43D.

Significance: These 14 monasteries built on the slopes of the active volcano Popocatepetl were the earliest presence of Christianity in Mexico and the Americas.  It is impossible to separate the evangelistic mission of these monasteries from the military mission of the Spanish.  In fact many of these monasteries have defensive fortifications because their presence was not welcome.  However they are impressive buildings, especially when considering that they were built less than 100 years after Columbus.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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St. Michael the Archangel Monastery in Huejotzingo (from whc.unesco.org)

Convent of San Mateo Apostol y Evangelista (from atlatlahucanlaliuken.blogspot.com)

Xochicalco - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Xochicalco Archaeological Zone

Weather: Scattered thunderstorms, 65/83F

Route: From Mexico City 127 km south on Mexico 95 D.

Significance: After the downfall of Teotihuacon in the 7th century C.E. there was a power vacuum in central Mexico. Many other city states fell around this time period as well. Those cities that developed had less power and were more defensively postured than earlier city states.  One of the cities that developed during this time was Xochicalco. Built on a series of hills and surrounded by a defensive wall - Xochicalco was built to defend its inhabitants during an unstable time - similar to the middle ages in Europe.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, INAH

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Largest complex of buildings in Xochicalco (from inah.gob.mx)

Pyramid of the Feathered Serpents (from universes.art)

Tenochtitlan

 Significance: Tenochtitlan was the name of the Aztec Capital that existed prior to the Spanish Conquest. Mexico City was built on its ruins.  The city of Tenochtitlan amazed the Spanish. It was built on an island on Lake Texcoco. The city was similar to Venice, in that there were canals in all areas of the city so water travel  by canoe was as efficient as travel by foot. The city was large - there were anywhere from 200,000-400,000 people living there when Hernan Cortez arrived in 1519.

What also impressed the Spanish were the huge ceremonial buildings and marketplaces. The marketplaces had 20,000-40,000 people trading daily, with goods from all over present day Mexico and possibly even the Inca Empire in South America.  The largest building complex was the Templo Mayor. There is a modern museum in Mexico City dedicated to the Templo.  Most of these ceremonial buildings were dedicated to specific gods.

There were distinct social classes in the Aztec civilization, from slaves, to tradesmen, to noblemen, all the way to the king - who was Moctezuma II when Cortes came in 1519.  Moctezuma's power came from an alliance with two other city-states and was reliant on other city-states and agricultural areas that had been conquered by Tenochtitlan. Therefore Moctezuma was not in a rush to go to war with the Spaniards - as he knew that there were plenty of people he subjugated who would gladly rise up against him with the Spanish.  So, he initially welcomed Cortes and his relatively small group of soldiers as an ambassador.

Moctezuma's initial peace with the Spanish would eventually be seen as a mistake by his people.  While Cortez was away dealing with the Governor of Cuba, who wanted to pull him back from his conquest of the Aztecs - the number two in command Pedro Alvarado killed a large number of noblemen during a festival.  After that act the people of Tenochtitlan rose up against the Spanish who had to withdraw.  And although it is unclear - the people of Tenochtitlan may have even killed their king Moctezuma for failing to destroy the Spanish.

Cortes did what Moctezuma was afraid of him doing - he partnered with all of the city-states who had been conquered by the Tenochtitlans and then besieged the city. The famine caused by the Spanish not allowing food or fresh water into the city worsened the diseases that the Spanish had brought to the Aztecs, such as small pox, for which their immune systems had no defense.

After over three months of starvation and disease the people of Tenochtitlan finally gave up the city. The Spaniards dismantled everything and over many decades the capital of New Spain was built in its place.

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Artistic rendering of how the island of Tenochtitlan appeared (from sites.google.com/a/sandi.net)

Painting of the Templo Mayor (from sites.google.com/a/sandi.net)

Mexico City, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Mexico City

Weather: Partly cloudy skies in the morning, occasional showers in afternoon, 55/75F.

Route: From Teotihuacan 48 km SW 132 D and 185.

Population: 8,918,653 (2015)

Nickname: The City of Palaces

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Places to visit: Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Chapultepec Castle, Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Museo Frida Kahlo, Museo Soumaya, Museo del Templo Mayor.

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Mexico City Skyline (from skyscrapercity.com)

Palacio de Ballas Artes (from whc.unesco.org)

Teotihuacan, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Teotihuacan

Weather: Partly cloudy early followed by increasing clouds with showers later, 53/75F.

Route: From El Tajin 241 km SW on 132 D.

Significance: Even larger at its height than El Tajin - there were over 25,000 inhabitants between the 1st and 7th centuries.  The name in English means "the City Where the Gods were Made." The most impressive pyramids are those of the Sun, the Moon, and the Plumed Serpent. There were also many wall paintings found at the site.  A fire in the 7th century is what finally caused the abandoning of the city.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, INAH

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Pyramid of the Sun (from whc.unesco.org)

Detail from Pyramid of the Horned Serpent (from whc.unesco.org)

El Tajin, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: El Tajin, Mexico

Weather: Sunny early, scattered thunderstorms later in the day, 73/90F.

Route: From Morelia 529 km east on Mexico 15D and 132D. 

Significance: One of the largest pre-Columbian cities, El Tajin wasn't even known to the government until 1785, as it was hidden in the jungle and was not inhabited at the time of Spanish conquest. It was occupied from 800-1300 CE - at its height there were 15-20,000 people living here.  The impact of the culture here is evident from the Mayans in the south to the Aztecs in the north.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, INAH

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The Niches Pyramid (from whc.unesco.org)

Aerial view of El Tajin (from sites.google.com/site/estomatologia3ob/services)

Morelia, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Morelia, Mexico

Weather: Partly cloudy early, scattered showers/thunderstorms afternoon, 54/76F.

Route: From Querataro 190 km SW on Mexico 45D and Mexico 43D.

Population: 784,776 (2010)

Significance: Yet another beautiful city with incredible architecture from the 16th-19th centuries.  The city was originally named Valladolid, but was renamed for the hero of the Mexican War of Independence - Jose Maria Teclo Morelos y Pavon.

Places to visit: Guadalupe Sanctuary, Catedral de Morelia, The Aqueduct, Jardin de las Rosas, Moseo Del Dulce, Museo Michoacano de las Artesanias en Exconvento de San Francisco, Callejon del Romance, Templo de Santa Rosa de Lima, The Cultural House, Planetario de Morelia, Bosque Cauhtemoc, Orquidario de Morelia, Moseo de Arte Contemporaneo Alfredo Zalce, Templo de San Francisco.

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The Cathedral and center of Morelia (from cityexpress.com)

The Cultural Center of Morelia - former Carmelite Convent built from 1593-1612 (from morelianas.com)

Queretaro, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Queretaro, Mexico

Weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine, 55/79F

Route: From San Miguel 64 km on Mexico 111 and Mexico 57 S.

Population: 804,663 (2010)

Significance: In the late 1400's, prior to the colonization by the Spanish there were 15,000 people living here.  And although the Spanish did take control of the area by the early 1530's - the culture of the Native Mexicans is still very strong here.  It also has many beautiful Baroque buildings.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The city with aqueduct running through it (from whc.unesco.org)

Neptune Fountain (from uhc.unesco.org)

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: San Miguel de Allende

Weather: Partly cloudy early, scattered thunderstorms in afternoon, 56/78F.

Route: From Guanajuato 76 km ESE on GTO 67.

Population: 139,297 (2005)

Significance: Originally built to defend an inland trading route, San Miguel has many Baroque buildings. It has attracted many ex-pats from the United States and Europe - especially artists.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Places to visit: Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, El Jardin, El Charco del Ingenio, Santuario de Atotonilco, Bellas Artes, Church of San Francisco, Museo de Astronomia Prehispanica, Templo de Nuestra Senora de la Salud, Museo de San Miguel de Allende.

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Plaza Principal (from fortune.com)

Aldama Street (from ca.travelpulse.com)

Guanajuato, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Guanajuato, Mexico

Weather: Partly cloudy, 53/72F

Route: From Zacatecas 299 km SSE on Mexico 45.

Population: 171,709 (2005)

Significance: Another silver mine town with beautiful architecture, Guanajuato was founded in 1548 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.  As with Zacatecas - it is at high elevation of 6,600 feet.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Places to visit: Monumento al Pipila, Jardin de la Union, Museo Ex-Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera, Diego Rivera Museum and Home, Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato, Templo La Valenciana, Don Quixote Iconographic Museum, Plaza de la Paz, El Museo Bocamina San Ramon, Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato, Templo de San Francisco.

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Downtown (from theculturetrip.com)

El Papila - statue of local hero of War of Mexican Independence

Zacatecas, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Zacatecas, Mexico

Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy, 47/65F

Route: From Mazatlan 554 km east on Mexico 15, Mexico 40, Mexico 45.

Population: 138,152 (2005)

Nickname: Face of Pink Stone, Heart of Silver

Significance: It was founded by the Spanish in 1546 after silver was found nearby.  The UNESCO World Heritage Site designation is mostly due to the incredible architecture from 17th-19th centuries, including a cathedral built in the mid-18th century and religious complexes built in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Places to Visit: Mina El Eden, Cerro de la Bufa, Rafael Coronel Museum, La Quemada, Catedral de Zacatecas, Church of Santo Domingo.

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Downtown including the 18th century cathedral (from mexperience.com)

Plaza de Armas (from tripadvisor.com)

Mazatlan, Mexico

Place: Mazatlan, Mexico

Weather: Thunderstorms, 76/87F.

Route: From La Paz 660 km SE on ferry to Topolobampo, Mexico 15 S.

Population: 502,547 (2017)

Nicknames: Pearl of the Pacific, Fish Land

Founded: 1531

Places to visit: Malecon, Plaza Machado, El Faro Lighthouse, Mazatlan Cathedral, Old Mazatlan.

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The Malecon (from gomazatlan.com)

El Faro lighthouse, second highest lighthouse in the world (from atlasobscura.com)

La Paz, Mexico

 Place: La Paz, Mexico

Weather: Sunny, 77/97F.

Route: From Cabo San Lucas 157 km north on Mexico 19.

Population: 244,219 (2015)

Founded: 1535

Meaning in English: The Peace

Places to visit: Balandra Beach, Isla Espiritu Santo, La Paz Cathedral, El Serpentario De La Paz, Museo de Antropologia e Historia de Baja California Sur, Rancho Cactimar Desert & Sea Eco-Ranch.

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La Paz Cathedral (from loscaboguide.com)

Balandra Beach (from mexciodailynews.com)

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

 Place: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Weather: Sunny 79/88F

Route: From Cabo Pulmo 132 km SW on Camino Cabo Este, Mexico 1.

Population: 81,111 (2015)

Places to visit: El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, Museo de Historia Natural, Chileno Beach, Marina Cabo San Lucas.

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El Arco at the tip of the peninsula (from hollandamerica.com)

The marina (from usatoday.com)

Cabo Pulmo National Park, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Cabo Pulmo National Park, Mexico

Weather: Sunny skies in morning hours, scattered showers and thunderstorms, 78/90F.

Route: From San Ignacio 782 km on Mexico 1 and Camino Cabo Este.

Significance: All of the islands and protected areas of the Gulf of California make up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is best known as the winter breeding grounds of the largest animals on the planet - whales.  Cabo Pulmo is specifically known as the site of the largest coral reefs in the entire eastern Pacific.  

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Commission of Natural Protected Areas

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Where the desert meets the sea (from cabovilladepalmer.com)

Tourists visiting the reef (from travelagewest.com)

Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco, Mexico - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco, Mexico

Weather: Mainly sunny, 83/94F

Route: From San Diego 579 miles SSE on CA-94 E, I-8 E, Mexico 5, Mexico 1.

Significance: These large pictographs, some from as early as 5500 BCE, are found in remote caves in the mountains of central southern Baja California. Although the culture of the people who painted these works died out with European contact - they told the Europeans that in their oral history it was a race of giant humans who painted the rocks.  The pictographs are in relatively good condition due to the dry weather and difficulty accessing the site.  One must take a horse or donkey from the nearest town reach the pictographs.

Websites: UNESCO World Heritage Site, INAH of Mexico

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One of the larger paintings showing humans and deer (from faculty.ucr.edu)

Large deer and turkey vultures (from bradshawfoundation.com)