Good day to you! It is time for yet another review of one of my travels to Mexico City. In this post I will cover Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, and Zócalo. All of these areas are relatively close to each other and fit into a similar vein as far as type of attraction. Chapultepec is a very large park in Mexico City, to give people a visual I compare it to Central Park in NYC. However, Chapultepec is much, much bigger. In the past it was not well maintained, but in recent years CDMX has spent a lot of time and money pouring resources into attractions around Mexico to clean, remodel, and make Mexico City a thriving tourist attraction. All of their hard work has paid off as Chapultepec is a beautiful park that felt very clean, well maintained, and safe. We were only there during the day, but I believe it is locked at night. We walked past several lakes, through a few museums (all free), and saw many street vendors as well as other historical sites dotted within the park. Within the park is Castillo de Chapultepec, there was a bit of a wait to get to the ticket counter, but not as long as I was imagining by the length of the line. They had an efficient system inside that moved people quickly. Once past the ticket counter you walk up a long steep hill (a very important feature to the areas history) to get to the castle. The castle and grounds are very well maintained and a beautiful sight to see! Inside are pieces from the history of the castle, art (modern and historic), and a detailed history of the area and the castle. Signs are again in both Spanish and English, which was much appreciated on our part. I found it fascinating to read about history from another culture's perspective. In the US our history almost always paints us as the heroes, but in cases where the US was in conflict with Mexico we were described as the adversary, which of course makes sense, but was also interesting to see my own country from another perspective. We spent several hours in the castle and on it's grounds. The views from the balconies are stunning! To see the surrounding park and Mexico City in the distance, it makes it apparent the importance of this geological feature to the history of the area, as well as providing lovely views you would otherwise miss. We went to Zócalo at least 3 or 4 times as there are many attractions near it as well as shopping, restaurants, and large events held there. Fun fact, the square has been in use since the time of the Aztecs! The largest Mexican flag in the country is in Zócalo. I got to see the largest and second largest Mexican flags in the same year (the second largest is in Ensenada, see blog post below for that trip review)! There are currency exchange shops all around the Zócalo square. There is also lots of shopping, street vendors, malls, and restaurants surrounding the square. Temple Mayor, The National Museum (both of which I will cover in my next blog post), and the beautiful Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, are all on the perimeter of Zócalo square. The cathedral was the largest I have ever been inside, and the most beautiful I have yet seen in person (I haven't been to Europe yet, so I'll let you know how I feel when I get there). Inside there are several separate areas dedicated to prayer, an organ the size of most people's homes, and much more. When you approach the very front of the cathedral there is a beautiful carving of a biblical scene, as you approach Police are there to ensure you remove any and all head-wear (in respect) and to protect it. Taking a walk through this cathedral is a beautiful sight even if you are not Christian or Catholic. Just outside the church grounds were ceremonies and blessings from the Aztec religion. It was fascinating to see such religious contrasts only feet apart. But the cathedral was built from pieces of the Aztec temple site next door. Overall, I would recommend visiting Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, Zócalo, and its surrounding attractions. These attractions are very well kept, are stunning pieces of history that are interesting as well as give you a feel for how times have changed and how they have not. These are places that pictures alone cannot do them justice (though I would argue that to be the case for everywhere I visited in Mexico), to truly have a feel for the spacial layout of these areas and to be able to touch and see the details of their history is something you need to experience in person. Have you been to Chapultepec, Castillo de Chapultepec, or Zócalo? What was your favorite part? Much Love, Jess
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
March 2022
Categories
All
|