Andrew A. Midkiff Photography

A church in the small town of Acatzingo,which means "in the little reeds", is the starting place for our pilgrimage to the sacrade mountain known as Cerro de La Malinche. Named after one of the most controversial figures of the conquest of Mexico, Malinche was a native Mexican woman who was given to the conquistador Hernan Cortes as a slave in 1519. Atop Cerro de La Malinche is the most important pre-hispanic settlement found in the municipality of Tenancingo.   Our hike takes about 45 minutes up steep trails with beautiful trees and flora shading our path. A Loquat tree or as they are known in Mexico Nispero offers the passerby a refreshing treat. Half way up La Malinche we find horses grazing on the lush vegetation. A sign erected by the government offers information about this archaeological site. Continuing on we come across petroglyphs,   some ancient.....  ....others carved more recently. Few...

Perched atop a sheer ridge, 1,800 feet above the town of Malinalco sits one of Mexico 's most mystical Aztec sites, where Aztec warriors made blood sacrifices to appease the Gods, the archaeological zone known as Cuauhtinchan. This is the remains of Cuauhcalli, the House of Eagles the cave temple.  Cuauhcalli was carved directly into the hillside and is the only known monolithic temple built in this style by the Aztec. The site sits upon the peak of the Cerro de los Idolos which overlooks the entire town of Malinalco a little over 70 miles south-west of Mexico City . At the entrance of the House of Eagles are the remains of statues that were carved out of the rock-face. The builders carved out a large circular enclosure, with a bench running around the wall which features a carved jaguar where the Aztec knights were initiated into the order through sacred ceremonies. The cuauhxicalli was a stone vessel used by the Aztec to hold hum...