Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mexico

Teotiuacan Pyramids - Sun and Moon. It is located about 25 miles Northeast of Mexico City and one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.

• Sun Pyramid is one of the biggest constructions made in the early Americas. It was finished in 200 AD and is 200 feet high 700 feet wide. 

"The Pyramid was built on top of a cave which was discovered in 1970. The cave is over 100 yards long and ends in the shape of a four-leaf clover, with four chambers… ...the scene of numerous ancient fire and water rituals."

There are 365 stairs that represent the 365 days of the year.

• Moon Pyramid it is at "the northern end of the Street of the Dead and finished in about 250 AD. Many excavations near the base of the pyramid reveal a tomb of a male skeleton as well as animal sacrifices. 

If you have a chance to visit the pyramids please do. Once on top of the sun pyramid, you have a beautiful view and its very relaxing and spiritual. Around the area you can also eat at very nice cultural restaurants and shop while seeing the pyramids afar.

Top of the Sun pyramid and the Moon right behind

Dont forget to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids during your stay in Mexico. 


Credits:
Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Puerto Rico: Ponce & Guavate

The city of Ponce is a main city in Puerto Rico. It is often called the Pearl of the South.
Ponce has many tourist sites and that is why I wanted to put 3 of those in this post.
I also have a little surprise site after the 3 of Ponce. It is a very interesting place. :)

Parque de Bombas

• This is the Old Ponce Firestation

"In 1885, the building was dedicated as Ponce's official firehouse and served more than 100 years. The woodframe, Gothic structure exhibits a Moorish influence and is painted in bands of red and black."

• Now it serves as a museum and honors Ponce's Firemen. 

"Visitors can learn about the brave firefighters of Ponce as well as viewing artifacts related to the brigade. Also documented at the museum are a variety of fire fighting technologies." 

• Parque de Bombas is now one of Ponce's greatest tourist attractions and one of Latin America's most important buildings.  

La Cruceta del Vigia & Japanese Garden

300 ft above sea level and from the top you can see all of Ponce and even the ocean. Click on this video to see and learn the history of the Cruceta and the Japanese Garden. 

Castillo Serralles

This was the original home of the Serralles Family. They were the owners of "the famous rum distillery that produces Don Q Puerto Rican Rum." It is now a Museum dedicated to the rum production history and sugar-cane industry. This family and their production of rum had a socio-economic impact on the entire island.

Watch this video to learn more about this tour site.


Guavate/Charco Azul 

Guavate: Up the mountain to reach Charco Azul

Charco Azul: top of the mountain

• Guavate is up the mountain in Cayey. It is famous for its "lechoneras", Roasted Pork. 
• Charco Azul means Blue pond bc of its bluish hue. It is one of Puerto Rico's most famous ones. It is "a natural pool of refreshing water flowing from the brooks born high in the mountains and continues down stream through the trails".

"This fresh-water swimming hole is 30-40 feet across. It is fed by 2 small streams that spill into the charco making a cute 8-10 foot waterfall. The water around the edges is not deep."

An interesting fact about this pond is that the rocks found in the water on the bottom are "different". They were used by the Taino Indians as paint for their bodies. They had certain symbols for the common elements and objects that we have names for in today society.

• mint green, brown, and light brown are colors of the rocks. You rub one of those colors against a dark rock and the paint transfers like if they were pastels. Then, you just paint yourself and all done. 

My necklace is the Taino symbol for the sun. 

On the waterfall. Painted and enjoying the natural pond. 

Credits:

http://www.puertoricoexplore.com/Detail/58_La_Guancha.html

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/prvi/pr16.htm

http://www.puertorico.com/sights/parque-de-bombas/

Puerto Rico: El Morro & Cabo Rojo

If you have not yet been to the beautiful Island of Puerto Rico then as soon as you read this and see the pictures you will want to travel there as soon as possible.

El Morro Castillo San Cristóbal - "Old" San Juan

El Morro San Cristóbal 

"Construction on the fort was begun in 1634 and finished in 1790, although modifications were made well into the 18th Century.  Covering 27 acres, this is the largest fort built by the Spanish in the New World." 

The view is just amazing once inside. You can see the canyons and imagine how the soldiers faught and hide in this fort. The arquitecture is stunning and the view down to the ocean is increidible. The color of the water and the way it crashes with the rocks is different. It allows you to just relax and get confortable like i did :)

Cabo Rojo - The southwest point of the island at the bay of Boquerón.

 

"Extends some 3 1/2 miles inland, sheltering over a mile of white sand bordered by clear water is wonderful for swimming and lounging. It is excellent beach for swimming." 

• This is a unique site because as you can see in the picture, Cabo Rojo gets its name from the reddish color from the salt minerals found here giving the water that red tint.  

The Cabo Rojo Lighthouse

 

"was built in 1881 over limestone cliffs that drop 200 feet into the sea. It is also known as "Faro de Los Morillos". This old lighthouse was automated and electrically charged in 1967."  

 Check out this slideshow and see more pictures of these sites in Puerto Rico. Im sure you would not want to miss visiting PUERTO RICO. For some reason it is called…

"LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO"

The ENCHANTED Island

Credits: 

www.kimandvenson.com (image map)

www.knol.google.com (image morro)
http://www.map-puerto-rico.com/coamo-puerto-rico.html
http://www.mojacasabe.com/culture_history.htm
http://www.topuertorico.org/city/caborojo.shtml
http://www.gotopuertorico.com/puerto-rico-attractions.php

Monserrat Colombia

  In August of 2008, I traveled to Colombia for another dance job and I was able to do some site seeing. I went to the Monserrate, a mountain that overlooks all of Bogotá, Colombia. It is about 10,000 feet high and there is the Fallen Christ church that is said to be the place of "Miracles". When you get there, you can either walk up to the top of the mountain, which takes about an hour, or take the cable car. To take the cable car you need to buy a ticket either one way or roundtrip for a very low cost. Once on top of the mountain you can view all of the downtown area of Bogotá, visit the miraculous church of the Fallen Christ, and eat at the restaurants overlooking the beautiful view of Bogotá.

I had never been on a cable car and I was a bit scared but it is extremely slow and before you know it you are at the top of the mountain. Once you reach the top it is fairly cold so you should take a jacket. I have to admit that the view from the restaurant is fabulous. My group and I had lunch in one of the restaurants and we got to sit close to the window and the view was like no other. The food is just as good as the view is. And I bet that at night it must look even more fascinating. Don’t forget to look at some of the pictures I took of my trip to Monserrate in Bogotá, Colombia. 

Panama Canal

I traveled to Panama City to dance with salsa artist Jerry Rivera for the Panama Carnival in February 2009. On my day off I had the opportunity to visit the Panama Canal. There are various locks throughout the canal and the one I visited was the Miraflores Locks.

I had always read and heard about the Panama Canal but I never imagined myself right visiting it and experiencing how the ships pass through. It was an awesome and unique experience. There is also a museum with about 4 floors starting with how the Canal originated to the insects found while creating it, how the Canal works and there is a simulator as well.

The first floor started off with the history of the canal and one poster said "Vicomte Ferdinand de Lesseps founded the Compagnie Universelle du Canal Interoceanique de Panama in 1879." "…plan was to dig a ditch 22 meters wide and 9 meters deep." However i remember it was not started until 1904 and finished in 1914.

Some of the animals found during the beginning of making the canal were the owl butterflies, bedbugs, and moths among others.  Posted here you will see some pictures I took inside the museum and of the canal as well as videos. I recommend a visit to the Panama Canal so you can all experience this hands on. 

 Here you can see a ship coming in and waiting for the water to fill up all the way to the top. Then the gate will open and the ship will be able to pass to the other side. 

 In this picture you can see how on side of the canal the water has fully risen and the other side is halfway filled. These two ships are waiting to cross. 

Here is a video of the canal with ships passing through and the water rising and gates opening. Check it out. http://www.vimeo.com/16416957