The only castle I’ve ever been to here in Mexico is the Chapultepec Castle.

Honestly, it is my favourite historical site in Mexico an I love going.

Yesterday I enrolled Daddy and together we took the bus en route to Chapultepec Metro Station. Chapultepec is a forrest that is located in the middle of the city, next to Reforma and other pretty places. Daddy and I entered through the Lion’s gate and we made our way over the bridge to the Altar to the Nation, where Daddy insisted to take some pics.

After fooling around with the camera, we made our way to the castle. To get to the castle, you have to go uphill for a looong while. There is also the option to take a train for $13 MXN (less than $1 USD) which covers a roundtrip. If you are like Daddy and I, then you will stick it out walking.

Very near the castle, almost at the entrance, there is an amazing view of the whole city skyline.

After hours (more like 15 minutes) we finally got to the castle!!! YAY!! The fee is $51 MXN but students, teachers and retired people can go for free (Daddy forgot his retired ID and had to pay full fee). You can take pictures along as they are without flash.

Now, the Chapultepec Castle used to be many things, but the actual castle was finished by Maximilian I of Mexico, who made it all European like (as he was well-versed in European architecture), then it was the Military College and finally was a Presidential Residency until the 1940′s when it was opened as the National History Museum.

There are 3 parts of the castle exhibit. The first one is the History exhibit, where you can see all of Mexico’s history from the pre-hispanic period up to the Revolution. The second one is the walkthrough the rooms that were inhabited by the Presidents and the Emperor and Empress and the last one is the temporary exhibit, which this time was about Alma Reed.

This is the castle as seen from the entrance

Daddy and I fooled aroud the gardens before entering the castle. I needed to unwind some of my energy as the tourist were getting scared with all my squealing.

Now, going inside the castle, we started by the history exhibit, then we went upstairs to the temporary exhibit and we saved the room walk-through for last.

Here are some of my favourite pieces of the exhibits:

Cuauhtémoc, last Aztec Emperor. The Spaniards tortured him by burning his feet in order to get him to confess the location of the Aztec Gold.

Our National Emblem as first seen by the Aztecs in the prophecy that stated that where they see this symbol, they should settle there.

Those people knew how to write in style.

Emblems and Medals from Maximilian I

Late 1800′s dress and shoes. Isn’t it impressive? People were looking weird at me for taking pics from the dress.

The next exhibit was the Alma Reed one. Alma Reed was an American journalist who came to Mexico and feel in love with someone. I don’t remember much since Daddy told me really fast but the point is that there is a love song about her.

Pretty penmanship. People from that time used to have such pretty handwriting.

Outfits worn by Alma Reed during her time in Mexico.

Then Daddy and I stumbled into a room full of things that Russia gave to Mexico and it also had pretty pictures of young ladies all done up. It was quite beautiful but most of my pictures are blurry. Here are the non-blurry ones:

On our way to the “Russian Room”

Accessories and Cameos from the “Russian Room”

Staircase, on our way out of the castle again

This is on top of the aforementioned staircase

Finally, we went to see the rooms. I think that after the gardens the rooms are my favourite part of the whole castle.

Another amazing dress…

This are the inner gardens, they are beautiful.

Carriage, I don’t remember whose it was, but some old lady wanted to know who used it.

Balcony, it has a breathtaking view of the city.

Maximilian’s Room. I like the colour scheme and that chandelier, OH MY!

“Niños Héroes”statues and view of the city as seen from the upper balcony.

View of the city from one of the many balconies.

Stained glass, that hall is full of them and they are all very impressive.

Next to the inner gardens, I love that marble floor.

View of the castle before going down.

After that, Daddy and I left and went to the Lake and Reforma. Then we got tired and bored and went back home. Next weekend we’ll be going to the Anthropology museum for the Tsar Exhibit and to ride bikes in Reforma. I really like to go to historical places with Daddy, he knows a lot of stuff about history, well he and I know a lot of things. We both are history junkies.

This is my new Twitter display, what do you think?

Kisses,

Julie.

Posted on: March 15, 2009 8:16 pm
Filed under: Julie By Juliette Maxwell