This week, we seem to have turned into tourists like never before. After all our self-made fun in Guadalajara, Mexico City, one of the largest cities in the world, offered no end of entertainments and things to do and see. We were lucky to be staying within a short walk of the Zocalo - the enormous square in the "Centro Historico", the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. This was fascinating - and really rather wonky. It seems that much of this area, dating back as far as 1325, has been gradually sinking and sagging for years, due to the draining of water from the soil, and of course the earthquakes probably haven't helped much either. Despite much restoration work, most of the beautiful churches and other older buildings, including the enormous Cathedral, stand at rather a disturbing angle.

A particularly wonky church

During the week, many of us took a tour, organised by the hotel. This took us to a number of interesting sites, including a cactus farm, and then the Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Here we were invited to view the ancient relic inside the church, from a moving walkway designed to allow everyone equal viewing time.

Musical Director Kennedy getting prickly at the cactus farm

The highlight of the entire tour, however, has to be the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. Teotihuacan was the first great city of the western hemisphere, built around two thousand years ago by an unknown race, then discovered by the Aztecs and declared "the place where the Gods were born". This site really is awe-inspiring.

The Pyramid of the Sun, seen from the Pyramid of the Moon

We climbed all the way to the top of both the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, from which the views were spectacular, though the atmosphere was perhaps more striking. I certainly won't forget this experience for a very long time.

We made it! At the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, with the Pyramid of the Moon behind Igor's elbow ... Back row L to R: Igor, Margerita, Alison, Clara, Ian, Steve, Pat, Naoise, Carolyn, Corey, Kelly. Front: Mairead, Kirill, Anja, Alexei, baby Georgie, Lioubov, Jenna, Michelle, Carmen, Aislinn, Anna.

Another memorable experience from this week has to be our visit to the National Museum of Anthropology. The architecture of the building itself was impressive, but we had a great time exploring the world's largest collection of Meso-American art, especially the Aztec and Mayan items. My personal favourite was the 4th Century BC statue of Tlaloc, God of Rain. Apparently, when this was moved from its original location in the 1960s, thunder, lightning and rain broke out over the city. Spooky.

Tlatloc, the God of Rain. Now where's my umbrella...?

But sadly, all good things have to come to an end. Myself and a few other members of the company, notably Steve, our wonderful drummer of two and a half years, have had to return home for other work commitments. Of course, we weren't allowed to go without a party - complete with lots of laughs, and just a few tears!

Tearful goodbyes with Lisa, Corey, myself, Brian and Mairead

"When I'm miles and miles apart from you... I'm beside you when I think of you...!" Saying goodbye to fellow lead singer Tim

It's been a brief but fascinating trip to Mexico, certainly educational - but it certainly wouldn't have been what it was without such a wonderful group of people, whom I will miss terribly. I'm sure I'll see you all again at some point, but for now, have a great time in Arizona, and... Hasta luego!