A G: Mexico City Day 4 by Gordon, Tour of Zócalo - Downtown Mexico City, Angel of Independence

Tour of Zócalo - Downtown Mexico City, Angel of Independence

~ Gordon

Our last day in Mexico City was very fun. We had a tour that talked about all kinds of interesting legends and facts. Our tour guide led us to Templo Mayor, and where the first Constitution of Mexico was written! She showed us yummy food. The tour was a perfect ending for our trip in Mexico City. Before we head off to the airport, we visited the very high Angel of Independence.

Tour of downtown Mexico City

At Zocalo

Our tour group in front of Metropolitan Cathedral

Government building

at Zocalo

Government building at Zocalo

decorating for Independence Day

on September 16

Government building at far

National Palace

Metropolitan Cathedral on its side

Main entrance of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Main entrance of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Main entrance of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Interior of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Interior of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Interior of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Interior of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Interior of

Metropolitan Cathedral

Our tour group first met at the main entrance of Metropolitan Cathedral, Zocalo. The tour started at 11:10 am. Our tour guide explained the history of Mexico City. Did you know that Mexico City is sinking? This is because in about 1514, the Spaniards arrived and expanded Mexico City by filling soil on the lake. Now, the soft soil is sinking and so is the city! Lots of evidence shows the city is sinking, from Metropolitan Cathedral, San Francisco Church, to Palacio de Bellas Artes. There was a government building right on the opposite side of the cathedral with a pretty big sign saying Mexico. The whole city is preparing for the big day, the independent day, September 16. The celebration starts on the night before.

Templo Mayor

The model of the Great Temple at Templo Mayor

Disc in the middle: sacrificed Goddess of the Moon

The precious disc of
Goddess of the Moon
was the 1st thing

to be discovered of

the Great Temple

Front disc:

Goddess of the Moon

Back disc:

God of the Sun

Templo Mayor museum

God of the Sun picture

with original color

Templo Mayor museum

Goddess of the Moon picture

with original color

Front: House of the Eagle, Templo Mayor

Back (red building): A high school of arts. Diego Rivera painted many murals on the wall

Our tour guide first brought us to the Great Temple and talked about the legend of the God of the Sun and the Goddess of the Moon. It was about jealous, victory and sacrifice. The legend began with Goddess of Moon jealous Mother Earth was pregnant again. She was afraid to share the love with another person. She plan to kill the baby before his born. But right before she arrived, the baby boy was delivered. Unfortunately, it was not a baby at all. It was a full grown man. He was God of the Sun. So there was a fight between God of the Sun and Goddess of the Moon. At the end, God of the Sun killed the Goddess of the Moon. The Goddess of the Moon was sacrificed by breaking neck bone, and chopped off arms and legs. What a power from God of the Sun!

Noche de Museos

The original face of

Angel of Independence

at Noche de Museos

The original face of

Angel of Independence

The original face of

Angel of Independence

National Archive of Medicines

At the 1st door crazy lady ordered

National Archive of Medicines

Roof of

National Archive

of Medicines

Tour guide telling story

of the 3 doors of

the building

National Archive

of Medicines

We went to Noche de Museos, where kept the first independence angel's head. The original Angel of Independence fell off from an earthquake. The one we see now if a replacement. We also went to the National Archive of Medicines, and listened to an interesting legend about its doors. They were built for a crazy woman.

Camara de Diputados

where Constitution of Mexico was written

At Camara de Diputados

where Constitution of
Mexico was written

Listen to tour guide

telling the stories

of Mexico revolution

& its constitution

At Camara de Diputados

Senado de la Republica

At the entrance of
Senado de la Republica,
our tour guide telling
history of Mexiho

Our tour guide telling stories

The building where 007 was filmed
across the street of
Senado de la Republia

The tour took us to a place where the very first Mexican Constitution was written. It was very cool. Can you believe that there was a president of Mexico for only 45 minutes? There was also a president that was what the Mexican people thought the best president ever. His name was Benito Juarez. President Juarez served 5 terms of Mexico President from 1858 to 1872. We even went to a building where movie of James Bond was filmed.

The Eje Central (Lazaro Cardenas)

The Eje Central

Left: Museo Manual Tolsa

Right: Postal Palace of Mexico City

Museo Nacional de Arte

Postal Palace of Mexico City at Eje Central

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Postal Palace of

Mexico City

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Stairs in front of the palace

prove evidence that

Mexico City is sinking

Palacio de Bellas Artes

The tallest building

of Mexico City

survived from

earthquake of 1985

Church of San Francisco

Mural of Church of San Francisco

Mural of Church

of San Francisco

Mural of Church of San Francisco

Church of San Francisco & its murals

Palacio De Correos De Mexico, which also means Postal Palace of Mexico City is a must visit landmark in central historical, Mexico City. This pretty building was built in 1903, which all the supplies came from new York, even 70 cm thick metal beams! The Architect who planned this was the same as the Palacio de Bellas Artes. A military officer built it, though.

Angel of Independence

Goddess of Justice

Goddess of War

Goddess of Peace

Goddess of Law

The Angel of Independence was very cool. It was made of gold and the statues of goddess at the bottom are made of bronze. The statues of peace, law, war, justice. It was rebuilt in September 16, 1910. The first Angel of Independence fell off from an earthquake in 1878.

Our tour in Mexico was really fun. We got a good tour that talked about so many history of Mexico. It talked about Templo Mayor, and the first Constitution of Mexico, along with food! Our tour guide showed us giant cakes. We saw the very high independence angel, which had once lost its head. What a wonderful trip in Mexico City!