500 Years Later, Adventure In The Land of Aztecs - Chapter One

Chapter One: 
Chapultepec

(Continued from Prologue)

Somewhere deep inside the lush forest, by the shore of Texcoco, I heard the screams of North American jaguars (or shall we say, pumas?).  I got scared, like many others who ventured into the land of the Aztecs. - some never returned home As I approached the entrance to the only royal castle in the history of North America, the screams of puma grew even louder. Was I stalked by those foul, yet sinister animals? I certainly felt that I was being followed. I turned around, a man suddenly appeared. He took out a whistle like item, and blow into it. The next thing I heard, was exactly the same sound that turned many adventures into nightmares some 500 years ago.  Then the man said to me:

"Amigo, for only 100 pesos, you can have this."

....................................................

Former Royal Palace and the Modern skyline of Mexico City

What's the hard way to wake someone up from a dream that involves living in a royal castle by a beautiful lake? First, the lake is drained to make sure that your subjects houses won't be flooded - so you have someone to tax on. Second, the same subjects you thought were yours started one heck of a revolution just for one thing - kicking you out. 

Chapultepec Castle

This was exactly what happened to Maximilian I, a 100% authentic Habsburg and the Emperor of Mexico - for two months. Disney storylines would probably convince you that there will always be good endings to true princes and princesses. I guess from Maximilian's experience in Mexico, oh well.......

In the Emperor's former palace, a huge mural depicting Benito Juarez, the President of the Republic and major opponent of the Emperor, as the hero who had the supports of the Mexican public.

The former palace, now the National Museum of Mexico, also has murals depicting other major historical events such as the Independence of Mexico

Another mural depicting the Mexican Revolution

While some other murals depicted the "Spirit of Mexico" in a more abstract, yet powerful way

Maximilian's old royal castle, now Mexico's national museum, is one of the best places to see the Mexico City from above. The castle at one point was even captured by the United States army during the Mexican-American War, which ended with Mexico ceding its northern territories like Texas, Arizona, and California to the U.S.The ground where the castle is located in, Bosque Chapultepec, is home not only to "The Central Park of Mexico", but also arguably the best Museum of Anthropology in the world.

Interior of the Palace's former living quarter

A street that crosses into Bosque Chapultepec

Building on exhibition inside Museum of Anthropology

Illustration of Tenochtitlan and Lake Texcoco during the Aztec rule

The Aztec Sun Stone- An impressive Pre-Columbian artifact

For size comparison purpose

What I really liked about Mexico's national museums & historic sites is that they all have one flat, yet affordable price for all. That means you can visit a world wonder for as little as 75 pesos, when many other places in some other countries are charging 75 U.S dollars. I like how the nation puts education before profit. Yet you will realize that these great places were maintained to perfect conditions, leaving the possibility for generations of people in the future to enjoy and learn from the same wonders we see today. 

Exquisite Pre-Columbian artifact in display at the Museum of Anthropology

Affordable admission fee allows families to take children to Mexico's great museums and get educated

But what will the future look like? Certainly not all Mexicans agree with each other. On Paseo de la Reforma, you can spot pictures of missing university students hanging along the pedestrian walk. Many were angry at the Mexican government for doing nothing at stop students being kidnapped, murdered, or simply disappear out of nowhere. The future presented through this scope seemed to be sad and hopeless. Young, educated Mexicans were in danger, the country's future bright minds were in danger.

Angel of Independence and Paseo de la Reforma

Just a short walk away from Paseo de la Reforma is the trendy neighbourhood of Polanco. There were no shortage of world class luxury brands and Mexico's, and some of the world's wealthiest people live there. I did notice that the neighbourhood was also full of yuppies - young people who strive for the "Mexican Dream" like many others across the globe. One day the rich and the powerful of today's Polanco fade away, and those yuppies were working hard to make sure that they will be the ones to succeed and inherit tomorrow's Polanco. 

View of Polanco from the Chapultepec Castle

Polanco's Great Britain themed Metro station

One thing about the future, is that you never know about it. When Maximilian came over to Mexico from France, had he ever imagine that he would be deposed in disgrace? When citizens of the Aztec Empire admired the miracle of a "city on the lake", had they ever imagine that Lake Texcoco would one day disappear? When Moctezuma built arguably the greatest city in the Pre- Columbian America, had he ever imagined that one day it would be conquered and buried 3 meters under?

Emperor Maximilian never imagined that a statue praising the overthrown of his reign would be erected right in front of his former palace

Maximilian also never imagined that his royal castle would one day have the view of skyscrapers, and an avenue that celebrates once again the overthrown of his reign

Of course, no one back in the Aztec world would imagine that the beautiful lake of Texcoco one day would look like this

As for that great city, it will be a different story, at a different time.

(To be Continued)