
I
forgot to say that you have to get your ticket in the mini castle right upfront
before the locker area. It was only there where they checked the ticket,
although I don’t know if that is always the case given how it’s free admission
today. Back on topic, a part of the castle houses the Museum of National
History. I went upstairs first, and was immediately impressed by the wall to
wall murals that I saw. The painting on the ceiling depicts the suicide jump of one of the Niños
Héroes, with the Mexican flag still wrapped around him.
My selfie suggestion is that of a ceiling selfie. If you have a selfie stick, point it toward the ground so you can capture the entire ceiling in the frame. The result should look like the kid is falling right over you. It’s surreal like that. Both sides of the wall are painted with murals as well, while the one in front sports three identical stained glass windows emblazoned with the national emblem of Mexico on top. A lot of selfies are taken here, so be extra careful to avoid accidents.

Facing
the stained-glass, the hall to my right was closed, while the one to the left housed
a collection of royal luxury items. There were jewelry in see-through glass
cases, opulent chandeliers, a giant green door made of what I can only guess to
be jade, and some really huge jars of the same hue. It’s going to be Instagram
heaven for those who know how to take good photos of fine intricate details. Everything
from the ceiling to the walls is a good photo-op waiting to happen, if only it
wasn’t that crowded.



In
an adjoining room is a display of portraits of former viceroys that ruled the
country back during the Spanish colonial era. You can exit either balcony for a
good view of the vicinity. In the hall directly below it
is an exhibition focusing on Mexico’s history, particularly the clash of cultures brought
about by the Spaniards’ colonization of the country's Mesoamerican tribes.
This is the part I enjoyed the most because it was an impromptu history lesson,
a very visual one that wasn’t text-heavy.



There
aren’t many artifacts present in this museum. Most of the art pieces are
paintings and murals. If you want to see more relics, head over to the National
Museum of Anthropology, which should be right next to the Museum of Modern Art.
As my time today was limited, I am postponing that museum visit for another
week. Back to history, the murals and paintings you’ll see here are all amazing, perhaps because of their size, although I think the vivid colors are also to
thank here.

Looking
at those works of art and reading the short texts accompanying them, I learned a lot
about Mexico's colonial history. I found out how tribes ganged up on one another by
allying with the foreigners. In a way, the divide and conquer strategy the
Spanish employed in their conquest of the Philippines was also used here, and
it was super effective. That’s what happens when you have locals that are too regionalistic to form a
united front. Betrayal becomes the rule to ensure survival, until a new social
order is ushered in to replace the older one.



Another
favorite of mine is that hall that tackles the geographical history of the
country, on how territories were gained and lost as a result of the various
conflicts that molded the Mexican state during its infancy. Texas seceded in
the 1830’s, while the Mexican – American war ultimately led to the annexation
of California, Arizona, and New Mexico by the United States. There was even a
map showing how big Mexico used to be, until the US solidified its status as
the de facto superpower in the region.

I
skipped the halls with displays of dresses and outfits for certain eras.
Somehow, I just didn’t find them interesting enough. The exit leads to an open
area where you will find the fountain and that monument which I never really
checked out close enough to have a clue what it’s all about. Boasting panoramic views of Reforma’s skyline, the trellis by the
veranda overlooking the park was the one that caught my attention. The area has benches if you want to sit down and
just admire the view.

Before
calling it a day, I went ahead and checked out the alcazar, which was all about
the royal family. The place used to be their abode, before fate led them to death
by firing squad. Disinterested, I headed straight to the balconies for more
bird’s-eye views of the park and the city until my phone finally died, signaling
the end of the tour. All in all, it has been an interesting half day trip, and
cheap to boot! Without being charged for admission, I only spent MXN10 (~PHP26)
for the RT ride on the metro!
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