Maximillian, Austrian appointee of Napoleon,

built this Castle in now-downtown Mexico City.

It is the 4th most visited spot here.  After his wife returned to Europe to gain support for him, he was taken before a firing

squad and killed.  He ruled 3 years.  His successors after the

revolution lived here in these lavish quarters.  The castle resembles castles in Europe of the same period--heavy tapestries, ornate chandeliers, big pictures, etc.  

 It was subsequently used as a Military School

and fortress.  

Harstons and Jackie

 Some of the many murals idealizing the

Revolution.  Everything in these museums is

in Spanish, so we miss a ton.  A guided tour in English

would cost $25.  We were too cheap!

 The following pictures are taken in sequence

from one side of the terrace to another, giving

an idea of the Mexico City skyline.

 Downtown Mexico City--statue honoring freedom.

 Neal ran into the cross pole behind him.

He was trying to fix our camera, which has now

died!  When it happened, it just spurted blood,

soiling his pant cuffs.  Luckily, we just happened to

have a doctor on hand, who daubed it with kleenex

and held it until it clotted like this.  It was pretty frightening

at first, as head wounds often are.

 Later in the day, Dr. Harston administered

first-aid to him in the Clinic.

 Probably one of my favorite things here is

having the security of having a doctor in the

house who is actually willing to talk to us!

 Statue of Abraham Lincoln, across the street

from Martin Luther King, near the American Park

 We went to an upscale neighborhood for lunch:

Polanco, and ate at Porter's restaurant.

Top:  Nola's lasagna

 My chicken Alfredo--interesting crockery

Dennis had ribeye steak and red potatoes.

 A wooden bike.