TRAVEL WITH FRIENDS IN 2014 Mayan pyramid of Kukulcan El Castillo in Chichen-Itza The Magic of Mexico: Pre-Columbian to Contemporary MEXICO CITY TO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA with Chris Carter 14–31 March 2014 (18 days) Tour The Magic of Mexico: leader Pre-Columbian to Contemporary A vibrant palette of ancient cultures and modern art, heritage cities and glorious beaches, colourful music, dance and traditions, Mexico offers a feast for all the senses. Begin with a thorough exploration of the wonderful museums, pre-historic sites, colonial heritage and thriving cultural scene in and around Mexico City. Then travel into the jungle to visit the ancient Mayan sites of Palenque and Yaxchilan, before concluding in the Yucatan Peninsula, famous for its archaeological sites, enchanting colonial cities, beautiful beaches and distinct cuisine. Whilst the itinerary will be comprehensive, there will be time to relax and immerseCANADA yourself in the local culture. Chris Carter Since 1996 Chris Carter has worked full-time as an archaeologist, dividing his time between teaching, commercial archaeology and research in northern Chile. He is currently a PhD scholar at the ANU. Since 1998, Chris has also been involved with the design and At a glance implementation of study tours and has led over 40 tours to • Discover the lives and art of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Toledo Cleveland Central and South America, • Enjoy a full day at the imposing ruins of Teotihuacan Chicago to Spain, Morocco, Ireland and • Marvel at the ancient Mayan cities of Palenque, Yaxchilan, Uxmal and Chichen Itza Turkey, as well as to Vietnam and Cambodia. • Relax on the shores of the Caribbean on the ‘Mayan Riviera’ • Experience the music and dance of Latin-America. North Atlantic UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ocean Dallas Gulf of Mexico MEXICO Cancún CUBA Merida Chichen Itza Mexico City Uxmal Tulum Fly Puebla Palenque Coach Map is a guide only Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Yaxchilan The Magic of Mexico: Itinerary Pre-Columbian to Contemporary Fri 14 Mar 2014 Australia – Mexico City Academy, Imperial residence, Presidential home, observatory, and Suggested morning departure from Sydney on QANTAS to Dallas/ presently, the History Museum. Fort Worth. Connect with an American Airlines flight to Mexico In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Art in the historic City where you will arrive in the late afternoon on the same day. centre, representing the history of Mexican art from the mid-16th Transfer to your hotel on arrival. century to the mid-20th century. You will also visit some more sites Mexico City was originally built on an island of Lake Texcoco by featuring the murals of Diego Rivera. the Aztecs in 1325 and known as Tenochtitlan. Almost completely Evening at leisure. B destroyed in the decisive 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, the city was subsequently redesigned Mon 17 March Mexico City and rebuilt by the Spanish, and served as the political, administrative Departing early, drive out to Teotihuacan, about an hour north of and financial centre of a major part of their colonial empire until the city. This spectacular site contains some of the finest prehistoric independence in 1824. One of the largest urban centres in the urban planning and civil engineering in the world. Spend several world with over 20 million inhabitants, Mexico City today is a hours on the site visiting the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and fascinating contrast of ancient Aztec ruins overlaid by Spanish the Temples of Quetzalcoatl and Quetzlpopocatl. colonial architecture and gleaming glass and steel towers, symbols of Mexico’s booming economy and economic aspirations. On your return to the city, stop to visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, a famous pilgrimage site located within the city limits. B L Sat 15 Mar Mexico City Tue 18 Mar Mexico City Following a welcome breakfast and briefing, begin your exploration of Mexico City with a visit to the National Museum This morning visit the homes and learn about the intriguing lives of Anthropology. This will provide a good cultural perspective of and compelling personalities of the important Mexican artists Frida Mexico as a whole but with a focus on the regions that you will visit. Kahlo (1907–1954) and Diego Rivera, and their friend Leon Trotsky. After a break for lunch on your own, explore the historic centre. First visit Frida Kahlo’s family home, known as the ‘Blue House’ See the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor and visit the Metropolitan where Kahlo, best known for her self-portraits, spent her childhood Cathedral, the oldest and largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the as well as the final years of her life. Americas. Finish with a visit to the National Palace on Constitution Continue to the House-Studio of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Square, renowned for its murals by prominent Mexican artist Diego Designed by Mexican architect and painter Juan O’Gorman in 1931, Rivera (1886 –1957) that adorn the main stairwell and the walls of this avant-garde home was actually two separate houses joined by the second floor. a walkway. Kahlo and Rivera lived here between 1934 and 1940, This evening during dinner, be entertained by a Mariachi band. B D and Rivera returned here to live after Kahlo’s death in 1954. One of the architectural monuments of the area, the building also contains Sun 16 Mar Mexico City some of Rivera’s art as well as the couple’s personal belongings. This morning visit the History Museum located on top of Having come second to Stalin in the power struggle in the Soviet Chapultepec Hill in the middle of beautiful Chapultepec Park . Union, Leon Trotsky (1879–1940) was expelled in 1929 and in A sacred place for Aztecs, the hill and the buildings atop it have 1937 found refuge in Mexico. At first Trotsky and his wife lived in served several purposes during its history, including that of Military Frida Kahlo’s Blue House, but after falling out with Kahlo and Rivera Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mexico The Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City they moved a few streets northeast. The Trotsky home remains 7th century BC and is known for its large number of architectural much as it was on the day when a Stalin agent caught up with the structures and inscriptions on stelae, altars, doors and lintels. This revolutionary and smashed an ice pick into his skull. site is not accessible by road – a one-hour trip by small boat is taken to reach the archaeological site. B L This afternoon is at leisure. This evening you may wish to visit the Plaza Garibaldi after dinner. This plaza is the home of mariachi Sun 23 Mar Palenque – Uxmal music in Mexico City. B Early morning departure from Palenque for a full day’s trip by coach Wed 19 Mar Mexico City (515 km) to the Puuc Region of the Yucatan Peninsula. Enjoy a day trip to Puebla, a beautiful colonial city situated On the way, stop for lunch – and a swim – on the shores of the about 100 km (1.5 hrs) east of Mexico City, at the foot of the Gulf of Mexico. Further, stop on the Gulf coast for a short walk in Popocatepetl volcano. Founded in 1531, Puebla has preserved its Campeche, a walled city besieged by pirates on several occasions great religious structures such as the 16th–17th-century cathedral, during the 18th century. fine buildings like the old archbishop’s palace and houses covered in Late afternoon arrival in Uxmal. B L tiles (azulejos). Evening folkloric dance show at the National Theatre (subject to Mon 24 Mar Uxmal performance schedules). B L Morning walking tour of the ruins of the Mayan town of Uxmal including the Pyramid of the Magician, the Nunnery Quadrangle and Thu 20 Mar Mexico City – Palenque the House of the Turtles. Uxmal was founded c. A.D. 700 and had Depart Mexico City on a morning flight to Villahermosa. some 25,000 inhabitants. The layout of the buildings, which date from between 700 and 1000, reveals knowledge of astronomy. On arrival, visit the Parque-Museo de La Venta which has one of the best collections of Olmec monuments in Mexico, rescued from Afternoon at leisure to relax around the pool. sites threatened by drilling for oil. This evening, return to the ruins of Uxmal to see its spectacular light Later, continue by coach to Palenque (145 km, approx. 2 hr). B D show. B Fri 21 Mar Palenque Tue 25 March Uxmal – Merida The extensive ruins of Palenque are set in the jungle in the foothills Continue your exploration of local Mayan sites including Labna, south-west of the village. A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary Mayapan and Kabah. There are many Mayan sites in this region and of the classical period, Palenque was at its height between AD 500 only a few are visited by tourists. Visiting these smaller sites will and 700, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the provide a better appreciation of the extent of the Mayan realm and Usumacinta River. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, its diversity. as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan After the site visits, drive on to Merida (81 km, approx. 1.5 hrs). B L mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilisation. Spend the morning wandering through the ruins visiting the Temple Wed 26 March Merida of the Inscriptions and Pakal’s tomb, the Temple of the Cross and Founded upon the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of T’ho, which Temple of the Jaguar.