[ Tim Knab and a Tour of Cholula ]

On Friday, Tim Knab took us on a historical tour of Cholula! It began with the churches in the zocalo:

We then visited another church!

This is considered one of the most important churches in the Western Hemisphere.
When the pope visited Mexico, he would only speak from here! 

We also visited this church! It was pretty but I forget the significance of it...

This facade was made entirely of seeds!

We saw this doorway, but that was about it. [Sorry, wasn't paying as much attention today.]

After that we had lunch, where I got to try some pulque (traditional Aztec alcohol). It was strange but not horrible! We then walked out past these newly dug corn fields. Apparently, everywhere around Cholula, when the soil is being tilled or excavated shards of pottery show up! The professors barely took a glance a them and could recognize what century they were from, what vessel it came from, and what is was used for. These are some of the cooler pieces!

This would have been used in a tile or cup.

This was part of an obsidian blade!

This would have been from a huge drinking vessel!

As we continued on our walk, we saw a lot of cool murals.

We then dropped by the Cholula Museum for a bit!

This is a reconstruction of what the pyramid under the famous church
would have looked like!

These were positioned at the base of a thin piece of wood, and
they were spun so that raw cotton would travel up the
wood and become fine string.

We then went to the second part of the museum, which was all underground! They have been attempting to learn more about the pyramid and created tunnels to do so. It was really creepy, but also incredible to see long hollow passages where so many people must have walked up the same steps, but centuries earlier. Weirdly enough, it was in that dark, damp, confined space that I really realized how lucky I was to even be there.

We then went to part three of the museum, which was the uncovered ruins outside!

It was so beautiful outside.
I couldn't get over it.

Oops, a selfie. Hi Grandmas!

Everyone is still a little puzzled as to what this is.
John thinks that it was plastered and painted,
but the framing motif is of the clouds. It was
actually first found from a different group, showing
their interactions and exchange!

Shout out to Lucie for taking this picture!

Eventually we went back to the hotel and learned about the codices for another 2 hours! My notes are getting intense: they gave us our own Codex Nuttall book and I can now write in the stories! Soon enough I'll be reading off the codices like it's nothing. ;) 

For dinner, Tim invited us to his home. We had to walk there in the pouring rain, but it was well worth it! He was a chef for a French culinary school but is now a healer and part of the Nahua tradition. Everything was beautiful and tasted great!

He made a home brew with 14 herbs; he calls it Mexican Chartreuse.
Most people thought is was disgusting, but I kind of liked it!

I hung out with Lucie after that and was so ready for bed after an incredibly packed day! 

Paz y amor,

Abby