Cholula: School Visit and the Pyramid

 When we arrived at the Centro Escolar Presidente Miguel Aleman, a public school in Cholula, Puebla for students in pre-k through 12th grade, we were greeted by Hector, who we soon learned is the heart and soul of the school.. The school has 2,700 students that attend over two shifts - one from 8am-1pm and one from 1pm-6pm.  Hector enthusiastically shared about the Education Reform movements over the past 20 years in Mexico and the new National Curriculum, and then toured the elementary and pre-schools.

Hector was quite the evangelist for the new National Curriculum, which is meant to be more inclusive and based in universal design for learning. The interdisciplinary curriculum is project-based and interdisciplinary within 4 formative fields - Scientific Thinking (math, natural science), Social Thinking (history, social science), Language (Spanish, English, Art), and From Human to Community (indigenous cultures). Each field seeks to expand students' cultural knowledge in connection to the basic subjects.

During the school tour, we talked to teachers about how they have implemented the new project-based curriculum in classes of 35-50 students. Teachers have a significant amount of autonomy after the reform and seem to combine more traditional methods to ensure students have mastered the basics before implementing around 15 interdisciplinary projects each year, depending on the students mastery and the depth of the projects.

The school clearly emphasized care for the environment in its physical aspects, and teachers mentioned environmentalism as a theme in project-based learning. Having learned more about the importance of the land to the indigenous groups in Mexico, this theme ties in with the reform movement's goals of more directly teaching about and honoring Mexico’s indigenous history.

After a quick stop for lunch at the UDLAP cafeteria, we headed to el Cerrito or Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl for "made-by-hand mountain"), which is the largest pyramid by volume in the world. It’s also where we met Gabby, our tour guide, who won our hearts with her deep knowledge of history and cheerful and patient manner. We started in a small museum and learned some of the history of the pyramid before starting our climb to the top. The pyramid was built by the Olmec-Xicalanca, Toltecs, and Cholutecs. They started with smaller pyramids and then built new, larger pyramids directly on top of older ones, like russian nesting dolls, as Gabby put it. By the time the Spaniards arrived to Cholula, the pyramid had been abandoned and was covered with grass. The Spaniards built a cathedral to the virgin of los remedios on top of the pyramid, apparently unaware of what was underneath the vegetation (doubtful since they made a habit of building cathedrals on top of ancient temples).

religious temples). 

After learning some basic history, we headed outside, where Gabby basically skipped up the long incline to the top of the pyramid, continuing to share her wealth of information without a second to catch her breath. Our group on the other hand, just having arrived the night before to the altitude of 7,000 feet, struggled, until we were cheered on by a group of middle school students on a field trip. 

Their chants of “Si se puede” propelled us to the top, where we were rewarded with a view of the ornate cathedral as well as of the surrounding city.

As a treat for all of our efforts, Gabby even ordered the group a taste of Pulque, a drink fermented from the Agave or Maguey plant that originated with the indigenous groups here in Cholula.

Karen Blixen Museum - A Day Surrounded In Beauty

 

Karen Blixen Museum

A Day Surrounded In Beauty

To see beautiful flowers and lots of books, two things Karen Blixen loved, is about a 30 minute train ride from Copenhagen. After getting off the train at the Rungstead Kyst train station, it is about a 20 minute walk through town and lovely lavender fields to the Karen Blixen Museum. Her 40 acre property, off of the stunning coastline of Rungsted, is a bird sanctuary. Her love of nature can be seen in her home and throughout every view of this amazing place. 

Rungstedlund is the charming, historic home of Karen Blixen. She is one of Denmark’s famous authors. One of her first books, Out of Africa, became an Academy Award winning film. She was born at Rungstedlund in 1885 and died there in 1962.

Her home has been turned into a museum. A chance for us to peek in and see how and where she lived.For as grand as the property is outside, inside is a charming eclectic home. When you walk in, the first thing you see is a cute gift shop to the left and a lovely cafe to the right. Look straight ahead and you can see the beginning of the many acres that make up this bird sanctuary. After walking through the cafe, the official tour begins in the next room. Here we see huge posters sharing the biography of Karen’s life. It is in this room we can see original copies of Karen’s books, put in the order she wrote them. There is something truly remarkable about seeing these great works of Karen while standing in her home. These same rooms she lived in and worked in. Throughout the museum many life sized photos of Karen fill the rooms. These pictures help to tell the adventurous story of her life. Once we leave this room we have to put slippers on over our shoes so we don’t damage the floors. We start our tour upstairs where her bedroom is and walk through each room, many things in the rooms left as she left them. Her vibrant personality and attention to detail can be seen in each room. 

Karen Blixen had a great passion for art, music, and literature. Not only is she an author, she was an avid reader. She read everything from religious books to fairytales. Her love of literature is seen when you enter the library. The library is filled wall to wall with books. Since they are behind glass covered bookcases, we do get to touch them, however there are some second-hand copies on the desk that we can look through. That was pretty amazing to do, it’s like you are touching history. These books have been around for years and now I have had a chance to see them up close. 

Karen brought the outside in her home with flowers from her garden everywhere. Making flower arrangements was like painting for Karen, each one was carefully done and told a story. Karen created these beautiful arrangements for all her guests. This tradition continues today. As we enter the museum as guests of Karen, we get to see beautiful flower arrangements in every room. We not only get to enjoy these arrangements inside, when we walk outside we can see the beautiful flowers we saw inside in their natural habitat. It is truly breathtaking to walk outside and see a field of green with colorful flowers throughout. The Bird Sanctuary is beautiful and peaceful to walk through. There are some places you can sit quietly and just enjoy the beauty of nature. We walk through, some alone, some in small groups. Everyone makes their way around the land at their own pace. Finally making our way to Karen’s grave. Her grave is simple and humble compared to the dramatic and adventurous life she lived. She is resting in nature under the 300 year old beech tree on the land that she loved, the land she has shared with us all to enjoy.

Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg Castle: A Day of History and Beauty

On July 4th, our CIDRE group set out from Copenhagen to visit Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, and the trip itself became an adventure. What should have been a simple train ride turned into a mix of transfers and detours because part of the track was under construction.

We walked to Østerport Station to catch the S-train. At first, everything went as planned, but we soon had to step off at Bernstorffsvej and board a replacement bus. The back-and-forth of buses and trains stretched the journey out, but it also gave us a chance to see bits of suburban Denmark that we might have otherwise missed. By the time we arrived in Hillerød, I felt both relieved and excited to finally be so close.

The walk from the station made the first glimpse of Frederiksborg Castle even more striking. Surrounded by a lake and rising above the water with its red brick walls and green copper spires, the castle looked majestic and welcoming. The setting itself was worth the effort to get there.

Inside, each room revealed a new layer of Danish history. The Chapel of Orders stood out with its bright light, gilded details, and coats of arms, while the grand halls displayed portraits and paintings that told the story of Danish royalty. I found myself slowing down in each space, taking in how art, architecture, and history were woven together under one roof.

Just as memorable as the castle were the gardens. The Baroque layout stretched across terraces with fountains, flowerbeds, and carefully manicured hedges. Walking along the paths, I was struck by how perfectly the gardens framed views of the castle itself. They were peaceful yet grand, a place to pause and reflect after exploring the ornate rooms inside.

The day reminded me that travel isn’t always seamless, but the rewards often outweigh the obstacles. Visiting Frederiksborg Castle was more than checking a site off our itinerary—it was an experience of history, beauty, and place that will stay with me long after our trip.

Walking Through Extinction at Stevns Klint

When the bus doors opened at Stevns Klint, we stepped out into a landscape that felt completely different from the busy streets of Copenhagen that we had grown used to over the last two weeks. Instead of bicycles whirring past rows of colorful buildings, we were greeted by wide open skies, rolling fields, and the dramatic sweep of Denmark’s coastline. 

Our day at Stevns Klint began quietly, in a small museum near the cliff’s edge. The tour guide ushered us into the darkened theater, where a short film introduced us to the site’s deep history. On screen, the rock layers we would later stand on came alive. What we saw was white limestone that had been laid down over millions of years, interrupted by a thin, dark band of “fish clay.” Although only a few centimeters thick, this clay layer marks one of the most dramatic turning points in Earth’s history when the asteroid struck the Yucatan Peninsula about 66 million years ago. This extinction event not only marked the end of the “Age of Reptiles”, but it also paved the way for mammals (and eventually humans) to thrive.

The museum invited us to peer into history, while interactive elements drew us in. Some members of our group got a chance to visit the past via virtual reality goggles, and others sat down to color with colored pencils. These activities struck me as clever ways of making paleontology tangible for all.

 

 

Stevns Klint even has a mascot: a cheerful little mammal called Lucky, to represent our early ancestors who survived when the dinosaurs did not. Before leaving the museum, we checked out the gift shop where there was something for everyone. Here I purchased my very own stuffed Lucky that will serve as my class pet for years to come.

"Lucky to be here" -Stephen Jay Gould, American evolutionary biologist

Leaving the museum, the shift was dramatic. After quiet exhibits and films, the cliffs and fields felt alive with wind, wildflowers, and wide views. A climb up the sandy hill brought us to the edge of the cliffs, where the Baltic Sea stretched out in endless blue. Standing there, it was easy to understand why UNESCO declared Stevns Klint a World Heritage Site. This is a place where science, beauty, and cultural heritage collide. As an 8th grade science teacher who covers Earth’s history and the evolution of life in my curriculum, I felt a deep sense of excitement and gratitude standing there. It was powerful to connect what I usually explain with diagrams and textbook images to the very rocks that record this turning point in our planet’s story.

A short bus ride carried us further along the coast to Stevns Fyr. To prepare for our journey, we briefly stopped for an ice cream and fries. Next, we trekked along the coast, pausing for photos practically every two minutes. 

Finally, we finally arrived at the lighthouse. Rising tall against the horizon, it has guided sailors for over a century. Climbing its narrow spiral staircase was a tight squeeze well worth it. At the top, the view was breathtaking. We saw miles of coastline, boats of all kinds, and even bright white wind turbines dotting the sea. 

The final chapter of the day unfolded at an abandoned church, Højerup Old Church, which stands precariously on the cliff’s edge. Built in the 1200s, it once served as a thriving parish, but erosion has steadily eaten away at the land beneath it. In 1928, part of the church actually collapsed into the sea. Today, the remaining structure has been stabilized. We were afforded the opportunity to step inside its stone walls. Standing in the choir that now opens directly onto the sea below, I felt the haunting beauty of impermanence. The church is fragile, battered by time and tide, yet it endures as a place of reflection, memory, and awe.

The only real disappointment of the day was that the staircase leading down the cliffside was closed. I had hoped to stand at the base and look up at the dramatic layers from below, but safety concerns kept it off limits. Even so, the views from above were unforgettable and still gave a powerful sense of the site’s scale.

For me, the day at Stevns Klint was not just about geology or history. The cliffs and fossils we saw taught us that catastrophe and renewal are both part of Earth’s story. As we boarded the bus back to Copenhagen, I carried with me not just photographs of stunning views but also an experience I will never forget. To visit Stevns Klint is to walk through extinction and survival in both the past and the present. In the end, Stevns Klint reminded us of what was lost, what was saved, and what still lies ahead.

Sagnlandet Lejre living history park

Sagnlandet Lejre living history park, aka the “Land of Legends”, is an expansive and immersive experience that has something interesting to explore for visitors of all ages - the Iron, Bronze, and Viking ages especially! 

This 43 hectare spot in central Zealand is committed to allowing visitors to experience a breadth of historical eras via direct interaction with livestock, artisans, and architecture of each represented segment of local history. It would be limiting to simply call Sagnlandet a “Viking Village’, though it certainly does teach much on the Viking age - most impressively with the spacious Viking kings’ hall, a traditional long house/meadhall reconstructed to look as such a building might in the era of Beowulf and the Danish kings of old. The park is arranged in such a way as to encourage exploration - of artisans, livestock, ancient villages, sacred sites, or secluded walking trails. 

The Viking aspects are only a fraction of what we were able to experience on our visit. There are also segments of the park with recreated and functioning Iron Age and Bronze Age settlements - complete with knowledgeable historical reenactors - as well as a farm operating as one might have in this region in the 19th century. There are artisans in textiles, blacksmithing, and pottery working with period-appropriate technology to create beautiful handmade goods, and plenty of goats and sheep scattered about, with some willing to be gently petted by animal lovers. There is also an auroch pen for those interested to see large horned bovines; it is not advised to attempt a pat on the head for those fellows.

Exterior of the Viking King's Hall

Sagnlandet is clearly intentional in its appeal to young people. There are archery games, archaeology digs, rowboats, and Viking bowling geared toward children so that they might engage with experiential education at the living history park. Children are also welcome to explore the extensive trail system that runs around and through the park; the park is situated on rolling hills that provide panoramic views of the entire landscape and a few moments of solitude from the clanging of hammers and anvils. 

On one such hill is the ancient dance labyrinth, which is a ring of stones laid out in a circular spiral intended for use on the summer solstice. This labyrinth is an example of Sagnlandet’s efforts to represent the daily lives and worldview of all the peoples who inhabited this place; there is an explicit emphasis throughout the park to make living history as inclusive and honest as possible. There seems to be no desire to avoid, sugarcoat, or deny any aspects of the historical generations of the place - only a priority on making history come alive for visitors and an embrace of the complexities that historical knowledge often brings to light.

Ancient Dance Labyrinth

The various historical, material, and agricultural aspects of Sagnlandet are substantial in depth and breadth - the living history park there could easily make for a full day visit with a picnic lunch in hand - and this makes it a place that is exciting and interesting to visit for people with a variety of historical and cultural interests.

Viking Stone Ship grounds

Iron Age Village

 However, the common thread that weaves through the entire experience at Sagnlandet is that it is openly committed to portraying the layers of lived history in this particular place with honesty and fidelity. Whether it is the Viking stone ship sacred burial ground, the archery demonstrations, the Iron Age forge in action, or the textile looms, Sagnlandet does well at its task of presenting history as something to be experienced as part of a story, and a story that is meant to weave seamlessly into the fabric of its local and national community. The interpreters there, as well as the choices made by curators and the physical space itself, all point to a priority on experience as a gateway to historical understanding and the power of lived stories to give visitors there a sense of what it might be like to be a person living in a time and place. Even as a non-Danish visitor to the park, I felt a tangible sense of understanding this place (and Denmark more generally) because I was able to interact with stories presented at Sagnlandet.

Textile artisan workshop

Interior of the Viking King's Hall

My teaching career has repeatedly shown me that learners respond best to history when they can see themselves in the narrative being presented. The living history on display at Sagnlandet invites visitors of all ages to do just that - to immerse themselves in the story of a people and a place in order to better understand themselves. Coming from a country where there are such frequent battles over whose stories are told and which ones are ignored or excluded, it was a breath of fresh air to experience a place committed to the idea that the best way to make history come alive is to tell every story as specifically and personally as possible. Sagnlandet does an admirable job at this challenging task and is worth a repeat visit on my next trip to Denmark.

Auroch. Don't pet him