Mexico City: Part Two

I needed to renew my passport, so I went to Mexico City again, but this time to a different area.  I've been to the city in the past, but haven't really taken the time to walk around and see things that much, so these last couple of trips have really impressed me.  It's a really amazing city!  There seems to be a good museum or two pretty much everywhere, and the food!   ...Well, the food is like pretty much everywhere else here, so it's kind of amazing.  Being in the Zona Rosa (a business district), because that's where the Embassy is, I walked to Chapultepec Park, thinking that I might go to the Museo de Arte Moderno, but then I ended up going to the Mexican History Museum, which is in a castle in the middle of the park.  Definitely a good choice!  The architecture of the castle is beautiful, and the views are some of the best in the city (outside of a high-rise, I guess).  The contrast between the castle and the city that surrounds it is pretty extreme and makes the museum that much more fascinating.
  The museum was more than just a beautiful building, though.  It had all sorts of artifacts from Mexico's history, from clothing and old maps to guns and jewelry.
  It's the longer I stay here, the more impressed I am with this country.  The History shows many instances of people making good decisions, and what's really impressive about that is that those are still upheld.  If only that could be said of everywhere....
  On the way to the museum, I found a taco place straight out of incredible-land, and in the process discovered a new kind of taco: the campechano.  It's chorizo and bistek, and they made them with cheese.  Add to that nopal and onion (both off the grill, of course), and the salsas that this taco stand had, and it's easy to see why there were lots of people stopping to eat.  A bunch of suits eating tacos at a little stand on the sidewalk!  Ahhh, yes!  It's on Hamburgo, where Biaritz dead-ends, and you can actually see it on this map.
  The first photo here is of the street in Tepoztlan as it was being prepared to be hit with the million-gallon beer bottle that is carnaval.  It's so peaceful....

Beginning preparations for Carnaval in Tepoztlan.

Paseo de la Reforma.  

Lunchtime.

Near the entrance to the Mexican History Museum.

The tower at the museum, and behind it, Torre Major, which is quite tall.

Part of the terrace around the Museum.

Some of the Niños heroes statues.

The central tower.

Around the tower.

A mural in the museum.

One of the entryways.

That must have been a real bear to carve!

Stairs going back down into the park.

The museum from below.

Near the Zocalo.  Dig the canon-downspouts.

The Cathedral with the big flag in the Zocalo.  Dig the lean.  I'm really not sure if this is actually leaning.  It's sinking, but I'm not sure if it's leaning.  That may just be some trick of the photo, or it may actually be leaning.

Another leaning church?!

Hmm, what could this be?