Bosque de Chapultepec

(Chapultepec Park) Although Emperor Maximilian ruled Mexico for only a brief period, he left a French influence upon the city, including wide, tree-lined boulevards. One of the finest of these is the Paseo de La Reforma, a 12-kilometer-long thoroughfare, which remains as one of the most important and beautiful boulevards in the city. It crosses through one of the city’s highlights, the Bosque de Chapultepec, which dates back to the 16^th century. The park is host to many museums, lakes, fountains, amusement parks, statues, theaters, and shaded walkways. It is pleasant to stroll through the park, which is the playground for the city. Here you soak in the local color with parents buying cotton candy and balloons for their children, vendors selling fresh produce, shoeshine men busily buffing shoes, lovers snuggled on park benches, mothers pushing baby carriages, and snack stalls tucked throughout.