Friday, I took a stroll through Chapultepec Park, visiting the Castillo de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Castle), current home of the Mexican History Museum and where legend has it six young soldiers plunged to their death voluntary rather than surrendering to the United States during the U.S.-Mexico conflict (known simultaneously depending on who you ask as the Mexican-American War, the North American Invasion, or the War of North American Aggression). The mural at the Castle and the monument to these 6 niños heroes (heroic boys) are striking, the Castle beautiful.
(Castle, up close)
(gorgeous black and white tiles of marble surrounding entire Castle)
(interior courtyard at the Castle)
(interior walkway)
(ceiling mural, one of the niños heroes)
(monument to the 6 niños heroes, Castle faintly in background perched atop a hill)
On Saturday, I ventured to Teotihuacan, an old settlement in the state of Hidalgo that reached its height in the first several centuries, C.E. The Temple of the Sun (Templo del Sol) was finished around 100 C.E. and took over 300 years to build. Yes, as the photo shows, it's HUGE! Almost 200 feet tall and 700 feet on each side.
The complex of ruins is both impressive and massive and speaks to the large population scholars think populated the area (with estimates of up to 250,000). The city itself covered an area about 11 square miles. and from the northernmost end of the site, the Temple of the Moon (Templo de La Luna) to the southernmost, it's about 4km.
The photos hardly do it justice, but here's a sampling of them.
(Temple of Sun & Temple of Moon, from a distance)
(Temple of the Sun)
(an interior courtyard in the ruins, Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl)
(contemplative view from the Templo de la Luna)
(well preserved carvings from the site)
I spent Sunday afternoon at the Anthropology Museum (Museo de la Antropología), which is quite possibly one of the richest collections of ceramics and other artifacts from ancient cultures in Mexico. For those who have been to the Smithsonian museums in DC, this holds a larger and more varied collection. You could spend days in this museum. Below are a few selected photographs.
(courtyard of the museum, with exhibitions along both sides and behind spot where photo was taken)
(ceremonial and religious items from central Mexico...I think)
(ceramics from Oaxaca)
Then, in my final farewell, I saw the astonishing performance (no, I'm not being overly extravagant here!) of the Mexican folkloric ballet. Live mariachis, unbelievable costumes, and and an interactive show. A great way to end the trip...
Final reflective thoughts on the trip to come...
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