Known as Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl for “artificial mountain”), it is a huge complex located in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. It is the world’s largest monument and largest Pre-Columbian pyramid by volume. Now we have seen two of the three largest in the world. The temple-pyramid complex was built in four stages, starting from the 3rd century BCE through the 9th century CE, and was dedicated to the deity Quetzalcoatl. It has a base of 450 by 450 m (1476×1476 ft) and a height of 66 m (217 ft). According to the Guinness Book of Records, it is in fact the largest pyramid as well as the largest monument ever constructed anywhere in the world, with a total volume estimated at over 4.45 million m³, even larger than that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt which is about 2.5 million m³. However the Great Pyramid of Giza is higher at 138.8 m (455 feet) which means we will need to go to Egypt now. The Aztecs believed that Xelhua built the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Our stay was a bit more of work than of play.

Even though the city of Puebla is very beautiful, we were unable to really explore much because of the Baby Buddha. Most of the time it was parts runs and work. We were able to get the Jeep in order. Found out that the entire time we have had the Baby Buddha the yoke on the rear of the transfer case was never right. We had previously already broken 3 u-joints. Now with our new fix, we have no more vibration and no slop in the drive train. Here is what we had to do:

First we sent it to a shop to have it fixed so that we could play tourists. After 2 days we went back and of course nothing was done. They said it would cost 10,000 pesos to fix it. We drove it back to the park and I tore into it. Found out that the only real damage was the new hole under the driver’s seat where the driveshaft hit. I needed only a few parts to fix things. A bearing, race, oil seal, shims that look like washers, a yoke nut, u-joints, u-joint u-bolts, gear lube, muffler, tail pipe, and of course beer. We found a tranny/gear shop that got the some of the right parts after two tries, but still needed two important ones. A yoke nut and gear lube. We went to the Jeep dealer to get these. The same yoke nut is used on Jeeps up to 2006. They didn’t have one. Even if they did they wanted 300 peso for a stupid little nut. They also had the gear lube we needed. GL4. 320 pesos a quart… NO FRIGGEN WAY!!! We ended up finding a nut for free, and found a tractor supply store that carried the GL4 for 130 pesos a gallon. We bought two.

It’s amazing that there are still cars on the road and still being made that do require this special gear lube, yet we went to 50 stores and nobody carries it, most don’t even know what it is. I feel sorry for the ones who just put in regular gear lube which can do serious damage to yellow metals. Anyway, we now have a working Jeep with no more vibration at all. We will now remove the rear drive shaft while towing, just in case! We are happy.

We have also changed a few plans. I guess that’s the ex-cruisers in us. We originally planned on taking the emerald coast down (the gulf coast, or the east coast) but we are now making another detour and leaving in the morning for our 500 mile trip to Huatulco which is on THE PACIFIC side. South ….Opps! We are planning on visiting Oaxaca, Huatulco, Puerto Escondido, Tehuantepec, and then Palenque before hitting the Yucatan. Don’t ask why or how we came to this conclusion. Anyway, will post again from the next stop.

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Ok.. this is just a fast post to give an update on our bad day with the Mexican Police. First of all, in four years of traveling Mexico this was the first day ever that I have been pulled over by the Police here.

So we left the Pyramids near Mexico City. We planned a route that WE thought would be safe from the Mexican Police. We were so wrong!

First on a rural road we were stopped by a Mexico State Police. He said that we needed to have our emission sticker for the Jeep that we ARE TOWING. Second, how could he have seen the stickers which are on our front windshield when he came from behind?  We got off lucky because our dear friends at Hacienda Contreras were able to help with translation via cell phone and we were free to go.

Then once we arrived into Puebla on what’s called the Periferico Ecologico which is the ring road that goes around Puebla. This road is a bypass of the city. Well.. while following many busses we were once again pulled over. They said we couldn’t be on that road because we had dual rear tires (which we do and so do the trucks and busses on the road). We were also told we did not have a permit to be towing our Jeep. He said that he got a call from the station that said they saw us on a Camera ( I’ll bet this city doesn’t even have them, and really, I would bet big money on it).

So again, with the help of Sal and Barb we got off. BUT we did pay the “Mordida” for the first time ever of 100 pesos to prevent the last 5 miles to our destination. I HATE THIS AND THAT!

So.. we made it. Have super fast 3g service.. actually our plan is for 1.5 MB and I am getting 3 MB… looks like we may stay here for a week to get the Jeep fixed. That way I can work to pay for it.

Will keep you posted. Adios.