Front door of the Cathedral Metropolitana

Mid-March involved a quick trip down to Mexico City for a wedding. I didn't have any lofty expectations for what I'd find in the city - everything I'd read or heard did not bode well for it being a relaxing, enjoyable tourist trip. I was pleasantly surprised to have my expectations trounced. Mexico City is a really interesting place to visit, fairly clean (at least where we ended up wandering) and not nearly as precarious as the guidbooks would have you believe (again, at least where we ended up - during daylight hours). This was a pleasant surprise.

Front of the Cathedral Metropolitana

Admitedly, we stayed in a really nice part of town and only frequented the most touristy of areas during the day... The one thing the guidebooks were very correct about: air pollution. The haze in some of these pictures will attest to the disgusting state of the air.

Top-front of the Cathedral Metropolitana

The Caathedral Metropolitana was built by the Spanish on the site of the Aztecs' Tzompantli in the early 16th century. Well, at least that's when they started it. For an idea of the scale of the building, see this picture: http://www.mtharris.freeserve.co.uk/mexico/mexicocity/cathedral1.htm

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

This is the Alter of Forgiveness, the first large, ornate and impressively beautiful alter you meet upon entering the cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

A large cathedral requires a large organ.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

I'm always astounded by the ornate detail work in Cathedrals.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

This is the corner of the Alther of Kings, the alter at the far front of the cathedral. (There were at least 3 others, not to mention little chapels for the Virgin and numerous saints.)

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

The Alter of Kings - just the alter, not the ornate, frighteningly gilded part around it. There is no shortage of gold in this cathedral.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

Two very quick moving be-robed people who had just done their vocal warm-ups behind closed doors.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

Another angle of the organ, being impressive.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

Chapel of the Angels and Archangels.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

Chapel of the Angels and Archangels.

Inside the Cathedral Metropolitana

This is the view down one side of the cathedral. The center area is about twice as wide and the naves/chapels on either side are equally as wide. No wonder it took 240-odd years to actually complete it. Spaniards of this era never did anything half-way.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

Here you can see the different stonework on the outside of the Cathedral.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

More fun with perspective.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

This door actually led into a very different part of the cathedral that was much brighter, newer, whiter and thus much less interesting to photograph. There was also a service of some sort going on inside.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

More of the stonework outside. Yes, these are all the original doors as well, if I translated the signs correctly.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

This is still another different door of the cathedral. This one opens up to the pedestrian plaza adjacent the Zocolo and the Templo Mayor.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana

It's just impressive.

Outside the Cathedral Metropolitana