El Castillo de Chapultepec
We wasted no time in visiting Chapultepec Castle. As soon as it opened to the public that week, off we went to see one of Mexico City's most popular and most famous attractions. Getting there was easy as it was located on the opposite end of the Paseo de la Reforma where our hotel Le Meridien was. We just walked and enjoyed the views of the fountains and monuments along the way. There were beautiful mansions and posh hotels on each end of the avenue.
I no longer recall the price of the admission to the castle but it wasn't much per person. It made me rather sad because in the US, museum tickets are astronomically high.
Given that it was Holy Week, kids were out on break and many locals went sightseeing with us. In fact, there were more of them than us foreigners everywhere we went.
Here is a view of the main entrance to Chapultepec Castle. There is still quite a distance between the admission ticket office to the castle and the walk was uphill.
This is the monument dedicated to the defenders of the land. This is actually the monument one sees as soon as one enters the park.
The castle was full of exhibits from murals to paintings to artifacts to European styled living quarters.
This was one painting that truly caught my eye. I found it a bit gory since it featured some beheadings as offerings to the gods. But, it really happened.
An art panel
Just like I mentioned earlier, there were lots of paintings and murals inside the castle. Some were so huge, it was impossible for me to take one clean shot of the entire artwork. What I did was take a picture of each scene depicted in the painting.
This was the other part of the long and huge painting on exhibit. Actually, there is another scene I no longer uploaded in this post.
There were lots of paintings of noble men who played a vital role in shaping Mexico's history.
A view of the courtyard
This was a monument in the castle garden.
This was my favorite painting among the many on exhibit.
This was the second floor of one wing of the castle.
We waited for the stairs to be clear of visitors so we could get a clean shot of this mural.
Another very patriotic painting
If I am not mistaken, this huge painting is what one sees as soon as one enters the castle.
Of course, what's a castle without its Asian inspired room, right? All European castles have one!
The elegant dining room for the lucky ones who got to live here.
Here's the rear view of the castle. This side actually faces the Paseo de la Reforma.
The very European bedroom
Standing next to the monument dedicated to the defenders of the land.
A close up view of the monument dedicated to the defenders of the land.
A coat of arms
Inside the castle and in front of a modern mural taken in the courtyard
Another very patriotic painting
A gilded carriage