Sunday morning in Mexico City. In a country where things don’t really get started each day until around noon, Sunday starts even later.
The major roads through the city were closed down this morning to allow for a road race – which was perfect timing to give us a chance to wander down some of the main boulevards without so much traffic.

We took a leisurely morning stroll of about 3 miles down to Chapultepec Forest, their version of central park. Weather has been fantastic here.. high 50s in the morning to mid 70s in the afternoon. Although, at an elevation of 7400 feet, you do a bit more huffing and puffing than you’re used to.

Morning from our breakfast nook.

The Angel of Independence – one of Mexico’s most recognizable images.

A museum within Chapultepec Castle.

The top tower of Chapultepec Castle. At the highest point in the city a castle was constructed by the Spaniards in the 1700s after demolishing previous Aztec temples. This is the location of the final battle of Chapultepec – during the Mexican-American war. (Mexicans call it “The invasion of the North Americans”. These are the ‘Halls of Montezuma’ in the US Marines’ Hymn.

Close up of one of the carriages used by Emperor Maximilian I when he ruled Mexican in the late 1860s.

The mascot of Chapultepec is the grasshopper, since the name is Aztec for “The top of Grasshopper hill”.

After hitting the museums and forts, we headed back down to do afternoon market shopping. Being Sunday afternoon, market stalls and booths were everywhere and it was packed.

Brenda looking for treasures in the antique market district.

Windows of another building we toured.

Brass and bronze knockers, handles, keys & etc. Brenda bought a small pair of handles with a lion motif for a future John Mayse drawer project.