We have been here for over 3 weeks and have been waiting to visit the Chapultepec Castle until our son visited. So, here we are!
We walked to the Park from our apartment. Along the way, we showed him some of our favorite buildings and murals.
Arriving to the park, it was really busy. Groups of school kids were visiting the castle, and the walk up the steep path to the top of the hill was really busy. The castle itself was also very busy.
The castle has a long and tumultuous history. Built in 1785 by a Viceroy who wanted a very stately mansion, it has been the home of the 'Emperor' of Mexico and several Mexican Presidents. It was turned into a Museum of Mexico History in 1939.
The rooms are palatial, and the murals throughout the castle are impressive.
There are many paintings, including this one celebrating the important battle against the French in the city of Puebla that is the basis of the Cinqo de Mayo celebration.
The castle has many important art and historic pieces.
But it is the castle itself that is the star. We loved the impressive views had from this hilltop venue.
After touring the castle, we walked down the hill, and went to the Museo Nacional de Antropologia. We had been here once, for a very short visit years ago, and had been determined to return for a more comprehensive visit.
Upon entering into the museum, you are struck by a massive waterfall feature, with a towering roof and carved central pedestal.
We enjoyed a very nice and fancy lunch at the restaurant, before heading into the many Salas that house priceless Mexican treasures. The Salas were separated by region, including Tenotchitlan, Maya, Norte, and more. The collections in each of these rooms were so impressive that they could have been stand-alone museums.
This is but a tiny fraction of what we saw:
The museum is so large, and so impressive, that it can be overwhelming. As our son stated, it would take a week to see everything in detail.
We headed back to our apartment for a break, before heading to Zone Rosa for dinner. We found a Oaxacan restaurant that featured different moles. But what we loved was their Dia de los Muertos display. The owner of the restaurant explained the significance of the display, and invited us to write down the name of a loved one to include in this shrine. There is food and drink on the shrine so that loved ones can come visit us and enjoy themselves.
We walked around Zona Rosa and saw and heard the thump-thump from all the busy nightclubs. While we wanted to enjoy a beer, we did not want to fight the crowds at the noisy clubs. So, we settled on something better: Churros!
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