Named by the Aztecs and long celebrated by Mexican artists, writers and poets, the volcanoes Popocatepetl (poh-poh-ka-teh-peh-tuhl) and Iztacihuatl (is-tah-see-whah-tuhl) stand guard over the valley of Mexico - forming one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. In the nahuatl language, Popocatepetl means Smoking Mountain, while Iztacihuatl means Sleeping Woman. Ancient Aztec lore tells of a time when Tenochitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, was at war with a neighboring tribe. The empire’s most valiant warrior, Popocatepetl, fell in love with a princess named Xochiquetzal. Deeply in love, the two would marry upon the return of Popocatepetl from battle. The invincible warrior went off to war, but after failing to return for months, Xochiquetzal believed her beloved was slain on the battlefield - lovesick, she drank a potion that put her into a deep sleep.

Soon thereafter Popocatepetl returned victorious from battle, only to be told by the emperor that the princess lay still, her body resting in a temple. The teary eyed Aztec knight took his seemingly dead lover in his arms, and carried her outside of the city and into the high mountains. There he cried and wailed over the lifeless body of his dearest until the Gods took pity over his suffering and sent a deep blanket of snow to cover the two lovers. The pair were transformed into the great volcanoes that look down upon the valley. Since that sad day, Popocatepetl has been waiting for his Sleeping Woman to awaken from her endless sleep, and people say that when Popocatepetl volcano erupts… it’s really the valiant warrior’s passionate heart keeping his true love warm.

On July 31st, 2005, Popocatepetl erupted twice… the moderate eruptions sending a huge column of hot ash a mile and a half into the air, which later rained down upon parts of southern Mexico City.