MEXICO - CDMX - 1

Over the last couple of days I have done quite a bit of sightseeing in Mexico City and this post is going to show you some of that. Firstly though I must reveal that today started with a practice session for a new Olympic sport - Getting on and off a Mexican metro train at rush hour!

Keeping 23 million people on the move is a major feat and to keep things flowing and to provide the number of trains per hour required, the metro system has to cut station dwell times during the peak periods. Consequently the doors are only open for 15-20 seconds at each stop.  There is no time for the British niceties of letting the passengers off first, it's a case of "He who pushes hardest gets to where he is going"

First sight to see for us was the Bosque de Chapultepec a large park in the centre of the city and in the middle of that is the Castillo de Chapultepec the only royal palace in Latin America. After Mexico got independence from Spain the country at that time was vast including all of Central America and the now US states of California, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona etc. It appears that the Mexicans had a bit of difficultly controlling this large area and consequently ended up inviting the French to help them out. That at least is the official line but lets face it the Europeans were never invited to help with anything - France effectively took over Mexico. At this point the Castillo de Chapultepec became the official residence of Emperor Maximilian - who was the Habsburg monarch ruling Mexico at this time - and it took on a very French style. Later it became the presidential palace and is now open to the public as a museum. 

Bedroom - Standard Palace Fare

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows in this Gallery

The Central Tower was once an Observatory

Roof Garden

The mural is of Benito Juarez, a leader who championed Mexican independence. You know he was important to the country because the airport is named after him. All people who are important to their countries get airports named after them - John F Kennedy, Charles de Gaulle, John Lennon, George Best ,,,,,,,,,

The Zocalo is the main square in the centre of the city flanked on one side by the city's cathedral built in a very Spanish style and as you saw from yesterdays post the observation deck of the Latin American Tower  just up the road from the Zocalo gives good views of the city.