I have realised that this is a phenomenal city with so many features that it would take a full week to really get eveything down here, unfortunately I don’t have that amount of time to explore this megapolis. So instead yesterday, I concentrated on walking directly from the hotel to the Chapultapec Castle down the Paseo De La Reforma. This was a good three hours to explore since it took about 30 mins to get to the Castle and associated museum.
While walking down the Paseo, we passed one of the most famous momuments in Mexico City, which was El Ángel de la Independencia (Angel of Independence). El Ángel was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico‘s War of Independence, celebrated in 1910. In later years it was made into a mausoleum for the most important heroes of that war. It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Mexico City, and it has become a focal point for both celebration or protest. It bears a resemblance to the Victory Column in Berlin.
So of course there I am looking at it… it is quite interesting since there are three plaques inside with a small little lady inside who implores you not to take pics….
So once we were done with the Angel, we continued walking down the Paseo, to find another wonderful fountain. It seems that Mexico City is a city of fountains and churches…all thanks to the Spanish who came before 🙂
After another 20 mins, we reached the Bosque de Chapultapec
Once we got to the top of a long walk up the hill, the Castle was amazing with some great views and a fantastic museum at the top. Of course, the 48 pesos for me – tourist tax was a bit much, but in relative terms, this is really not much at all 🙂
Once past the view point, it was to the museum and some wonderful art depicting the Mexican revolution. It seems protest and revolution are really part of the cultural fabric here.
finally we left and continued till the Museum at about 2.30pm…..