Those Who Came Before....Chapultepec

THE MEXICAN CASTLE THAT DROVE A BELGIAN PRINCESS TO MADNESS......
Photo credit: thedailybeast/Castillo de Chapultepec

I knew Mexico City had a castle and a connection to grasshoppers but after two recent trips, I still didn't really understand why. And this is surprising because I try to learn about the places I travel and understand its history. In fact, this is part of the experience and I like to imagine all the peoples that came before me. Almost as if their traces lingered like ghosts and I could see the lives they lived, complete with celebration and sorrow. Some places have deeper, more powerful and tangled traces than others, Chapultepec is such a place.

Today I read an article about the the Mexican Castle its history, a mad princess, and the fish collection of a 15th century Aztec King, suddenly I realized I really knew very little about the only royal castle in the Americas, the hill it sit's upon and the area surrounding it, "Bosque de Chapultepec" (Chapultepec Forest) now one of the largest parks in the Western Hemisphere and home to this unique piece of architecture.

Instead of trying to rewrite history or the previously linked story I am going to share some of my images and suggest you follow the link and read it yourself.

At the base of the hill, you'll find the Castle Roadhouse and the first hint of the Colonial style architecture.

Photo credit: Aaron Spohn

As you begin to climb up the spiral road of Cerro del Chapulín (Grasshopper Hill) you'll rise out of the forest and begin to look out across the park and catch glimpses of the massive surrounding metropolis.

Photo credit: Jamie Sinz

As you climb the hill you will encounter Aztec carving remaining for the hills earlier Mesoamerican development.

Photo credit: Aaron Spohn

Ornate hallways of marble and stained glass worthy of a royal abode.

Photo credit: Aaron Spohn

A rooftop garden that would afford a royal family a secluded area for respite and any cool breezes available.

Photo credit: Aaron Spohn

Ornate wood carved dining area give a real sense of the regal lifestyle. Not surprisingly most of these delicate rooms complete with furnishings are closed to traffic, however exterior doors are wide open to the winds and the sometimes smoggy air of the city. It seems like a conservation challenge.

Photo credit: Aaron Spohn

The visit here is well worth the hike through the park and up Cerro del Chapulín. Understanding the history in advance helps to appreciate the history and the traces of those who came before you. Mexico has a tortured history of civilizations built and then conquered. Much of Mesoamerican, colonial and modern Mexican art pays tribute to the suffering of the conquered.

Secondary link to the article:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/chapultepec-the-mexican-castle-that-drove-a-belgian-princess-to-madness-and-an-austrian-archduke-to-the-firing-squad

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