But we didn’t go to Mexico City, we went to the state of Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a large, rugged, and mountainous state located in the south west of Mexico. It’s the home of the Zapotec peoples. Immediately prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s, the Aztecs ruled supreme over what is most of modern day Mexico, and were on the verge of expanding their influence into Zapotec lands, thus assimilating them into the Aztec culture. Mr. Cortez stopped the Aztec empire from expanding, thus preserving the Zapotec culture – at least form the Aztecs, that is.
Both civilizations were subjected to Spanish rule. Because of this twist of fate, the remnants of culture and civilization that one can find in Oaxaca are culturally different than in Mexico City (Aztec). Many vacationers from the USA go the Yucatan peninsula (Cancun area), which contains remnants of the Mayan civilization- yet another pre Columbian great civilization. No wonder the area is one of the six cradles of civilization.
As always, I enjoy reading your adventures. You both are so fortunate to experience this travel in the US and Mexico. Be safe and enjoy!