View from the Top Deck – March 2020
The population of greater Mexico City includes more than 22 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in the western hemisphere and the largest city in the Spanish speaking world. So we knew we had to prioritize what we would do and see during our seven days in Mexico City. This post focuses on historical monuments that we saw during our enjoyable ride on a red double-decker Turibus.
El Angel de la Independencia – The shiny bronze depiction of the Greek goddess Victory stands 36 meters tall in the middle of a traffic circle. Our bus passed by her twice so we were able to capture quite a few photos. She commemorates the 100th anniversary of the start of Mexico’s War of Independence and is one of the most beloved symbols of the city.
Monumento a Cuahtemoc – While riding on Paseo de la Reforma, we saw the statue in honor of the last Mexican ruler of Tenochtitlan Cuauhtemoc. It highlights the mestizo (mixed origin) identity of modern day Mexico.
Fuente de Cibeles – Depicting the Roman goddess Cybele pulled in a carriage drawn by lions, this statue is a bronze replica of the original marble piece in Madrid, Spain.
Monumento a Cristobal Colon – In the middle of one of the city’s busiest intersections stands Christoper Columbus lifting a veil from a globe and surrounded by four friars of historical significance.
El Caballito de Sebastián – It was very easy to notice this piece of steel art because of it’s bright color and drastically different style from other sculptures on our tour. The 28-meter horse head serves both an aesthetic and an environmental function. It is a vent for vapors from underground drainage.
Hemiciclo a Benito Juárez – We viewed this beautiful marble semi circle from the tour bus, as well as each day from across the street at our apartment building entrance. Two female statues stand on each side of Juarez above the 12 columns. They represent the Mexican homeland and the law.
Monumento a la Revolución – The 65-meter tall structure not only looks imposing, but also contains remains of revolutionary heroes and an observation deck with 360 degree views of the city. Originally designed to be a legislative chamber, the monument’s construction began before the revolution. Later the building was modified and re-designated before its official unveiling in 1938.
Fuente de la Diana Cazadora – Mexican president Ávila Camacho wanted to add fountains to Mexico City to make it more beautiful. Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt, represents strength, beauty, and freedom. Her statue serves as the centerpiece for the fountain unveiled in 1942.
Avenida Paseo de la Reforma – The 14-kilometer wide avenue that runs diagonally through the center of the city includes not only many significant monuments, but also colorful center flowerbeds. We had a great view of them from the upper deck of the bus.
