A long weekend at El Tajin and Tecolutla....

Located in the heart of Veracruz State is the beautiful classic archaeological site of El Tajin dating from AD600-900, presided over by the wonderfully named Totonac leader "Conejo 13" (Rabbit 13), with its piece de la resistance, the incredibly well-preserved " Piramide de los Nichos".

It is believed that there were originally 365 niches and that the building was some kind of architectural calendar. The extensive site covers some 10 sq km, includes at least 17 ball courts, and was eventually abandoned around AD1200. Some of the stonework, with its Grecian designs, is very reminiscent of the Oaxaca site at Mitla.

El Tajin ( the name means thunder in Totonac ) is situated 6km West of the town of Papantla which is home to the ritual of the "voladores". Five men in ornate ceremonial costumes climb an extremely tall pole, and then whilst one stays at the top playing a drum and flute, the other four descend to the ground by revolving upside down attached to ropes. It is both an ancient fertility rite and a marking of the weeks of the year as each man revolves 13 times totalling 52 revolutions. Here are the elaborate costumes...

And here they are perched at the top of the pole getting ready to descend...

To make a varied long weekend, head to the coast to the tiny seaside town of Tecolutla. Forget impersonal, upmarket Mexican beach resorts, this is an unpretentious spot where working class Mexicans go for their holidays. It is full of old-fashioned first-class family fun. Even on grey days the beach is crowded, teeming with families burying each other in the sand, swimming in the sea with all their clothes on, building elaborate sand structures...pyramids of course...

And feasting at the biggest beach banquets ever from the freshest of seafood... crab, oysters, prawns, octupus, ceviche...all dispensed from the most delightful of food carts that trawl their wares all day up and down the thin strip of beach...

Indeed the beach becomes the site of "Battle of the Carts" as numerous ones selling food, photographs, beachwear accesories, and inflatables all compete for space and business...leading to some very surreal sights on the strip...

Papantla is 6 hours and Tecolutla 7 hours by bus from Mexico City from Terminal Norte Station. Beware!! The weather can be very wet and windy with grey overcast skies and no sign of the sun!! For other windows on the world this week click here for MyWorldTuesday....