Xochicalco

Today we took a trip just south of Cuernavaca to the ancient ceremonial center of Xochicalco. Although not as famous as Teotihuacán, it is quite spectacular and lies in a beautiful location. Xochicalco is Nahuatl for "place of the house of flowers." Built atop a plateau, it has representation from various cultures - including Toltec, Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec and Axtec - for which Xochicalco was a commercial, cultural and religious center. It began it's rise in importance when Teotihuacan began to weaken (around AD 650-750) and remained an important center until around 1200, when it experienced a demise similar to that of Teotihuacan.
This is their religious court, with two identical pyramids facing each other. In the middle is a stand boasting an "estela" (a rock with writing) Xochicalco boasts three ball courts, which were very popular with the locals. It was quite an honor to play in a ball game - the goal of which was to get the ball through the tiny hole flanking the sides of the court - the reward for the winning team being getting beheaded (also an honor.)
The Observatory was closed, which was disappointing, because it has a hole through which one can observe the passing of the sun. At certain times of the year it shoots a beam of light into the room.

This structure is Temazcal (hut-like oven where one perspires) - aka steam bath. At the back is a combustion room to heat the rocks, which were sprinkled with water to produce steam - all related to religious beliefs of "purification." And finally - the site's most famous monument - Pirámide de Quetzalcóatl (Pyramid of the Plumed Serpent) - adorned by my white-plumed DTB.