Temperature; +13C Wind; 22.4 m/sec Rain; Nasty Drizzle

THINGS THAT WENT WRONG;

a. Wind was making my shirt looking like parachute
b. Sneaked under the gates to get access to the shoot point, was yelled at by entusiastic locals
c. Rain just started and low clouds reduced light level to almost nil...
d. Chilling wind has frozen my fingers to extend that I couldn't manipulate camera controls
e. Sratched myself all over against some nasty spiky bushes on the bottom of the dyke
f. Could not return back the same way, was pulled up by Vera from opposite side
g. Was not in the very good mood after all above mentioned, had heated arguments with park's guides

Like the Moon and the Sun Pyramids, the TEMPLE OF QUETZALCOATL is an ancient structure. The civilization that erected the Pyramids and the Temple was known as the Toltec, and dates probably from about the seventh century A.D. Toward the end of the eleventh century A.D., it disappeared mysteriously, and soon after the Aztecs moved in, bringing with them that great but savage civilization which ruled Mexico at the time of the Conquest.

The Temple of Quetzalcoatl is magnificent. It consists of an enormous quadrangular court, 160 square meters in area, with its four main axes perfectly oriented toward the four points of the compass. Both the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl are so located that they seem to face the west, but priests marching in procession up the staircase of the pyramidal altars would face the rising sun as they ascended the stairs.

As you walk across the great court of the Temple to the center altar at the east end, and, following the signs, take a path leading behind this altar, you will find another altar with excellently preserved carvings of the plumed serpent sacred to Quetzalcoatl.From the top of the central altar you get the best general view of this carved altar of Quetzalcoatl.

The name Quetzalcoatl is significant in Mexican history. Because of their belief in a legend concerning this god, the Mexicans, in their contest with the Spaniards, were in a sense betrayed by their own religion.

According to the legend, Quetzalcoatl, after instructing the people in the useful arts, departed eastward over the sea, promising to return in the year of his name, Ce Acatl. Coincidentally, it so happened that this year marked the date of the arrival of the Spaniards, under Cortes. And because, according to tradition, Quetzalcoatl was supposed to have been white-skinned and bearded, Moctezuma, the ruler of the empire, interpreted the arrival of the Spaniards as an evidence of the fulfillment of the prophecy of Quetzalcoatl's return. It was because of his rather hesitating, policy toward the Spaniards that Cortes, with a mere handful of men, was able to capture the empire.

The very name of Quetzalcoatl is an indication of the reverence in which he was held. It means, quetzal snake, or plumed serpent, and the feathers of the quetzal were reserved for Aztec nobility as something inconceivably precious. Quetzalcoatl had many manifestations-he is shown variously as the beneficent god, the protector of mankind, and the Prometheus of the Aztecs.

Near the Pyramids is a small regional museum containing certain relics from the Archaeological Zone. It is worth a brief visit for those who are interested in this type of collection.