Waking up for the first time in Mexico City was unreal. The long flight is over, the traveling from Mass, to Maine, to Maryland, to Mass, to Rhode Island, to Mass, to Maine, to New Hampshire….is DONE. For the moment we can now breathe, breathe in that thin Mexico air.
We headed down to have breakfast at the hotel and discuss what needed to be accomplished today. They had a buffet, which made me extremely happy. Mexico has the greatest fruit juice, and I enjoyed several glasses with my eggs. Bex said we needed to call the plumbers and let them know we were here and needed to have the house worked on. We contacted them and they said they could meet us at the house at four, which gave us the day to enjoy.
We went to Chapultepec Castle. This building was originally built as a country home for the Viceroy of New Spain in 1785. The succeeding Viceroy tried to sell the castle, but ended up using it as a general archive for the Kingdom of New Spain. After Mexico gained independence, it served as a military college. In 1847 the students of the college unsuccessfully defended it against U.S. Marines during the Mexican American War. The students are remembered here as the “Ninos Heroes” and this battle is remembered in the U.S. Marine song as the “Halls of Montezuma” Yes, I am kind of a history dork.
Since then, the Castle served as a residence for Emperor Maximillon, during his short reign and then the Presidents in the reestablished Republic of Mexico. In 1939, the President moved and declared Chapultepec Castle a museum and open to the public.
Just our luck, it’s open EXCEPT today. The president was holding a meeting of diplomats there. Secret Service looking individuals and heavily armed police (AKA semi automatic guns) were all around the castle. So we wandered through the park and enjoyed a traditional Mexican snack, potato chips with lime and hot sauce. Bex found a train ride she remembered taking as a child so we decided to partake. We figure they’d bring us as close to Chapultepec Castle as we were allowed to go.
We headed down to have breakfast at the hotel and discuss what needed to be accomplished today. They had a buffet, which made me extremely happy. Mexico has the greatest fruit juice, and I enjoyed several glasses with my eggs. Bex said we needed to call the plumbers and let them know we were here and needed to have the house worked on. We contacted them and they said they could meet us at the house at four, which gave us the day to enjoy.
We went to Chapultepec Castle. This building was originally built as a country home for the Viceroy of New Spain in 1785. The succeeding Viceroy tried to sell the castle, but ended up using it as a general archive for the Kingdom of New Spain. After Mexico gained independence, it served as a military college. In 1847 the students of the college unsuccessfully defended it against U.S. Marines during the Mexican American War. The students are remembered here as the “Ninos Heroes” and this battle is remembered in the U.S. Marine song as the “Halls of Montezuma” Yes, I am kind of a history dork.
Since then, the Castle served as a residence for Emperor Maximillon, during his short reign and then the Presidents in the reestablished Republic of Mexico. In 1939, the President moved and declared Chapultepec Castle a museum and open to the public.
Just our luck, it’s open EXCEPT today. The president was holding a meeting of diplomats there. Secret Service looking individuals and heavily armed police (AKA semi automatic guns) were all around the castle. So we wandered through the park and enjoyed a traditional Mexican snack, potato chips with lime and hot sauce. Bex found a train ride she remembered taking as a child so we decided to partake. We figure they’d bring us as close to Chapultepec Castle as we were allowed to go.
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