tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369896.post113323879994031247..comments2011-10-12T09:53:59.618-07:00two-wayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17754314777451499356noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8369896.post-1136738933196860232006-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:002006-01-08T08:48:00.000-08:00clay,the paseo de la reforma was one of my haunts as the companies that brought me to the city often put me up at the sheraton maria isabela and, as you note, notwithstanding the bankityblank bancs etc, there is sculpture and history everywhere.<BR/><BR/>I am told that it became the 'champes elysee' (i have never been to paris and no not know how to spell it) be at the time of the french occupation there was some spoiled queen or princess that missed paris and so demanded that the paseo become such for the new world...she wanted to see it extend from the palace so that she could parade with society (such as it was).<BR/><BR/>there was also a great story about the statue of Dianna...apparently sculpture of the mistress of the president of the oil company that paid for the statue.<BR/><BR/>I was also told that the reason for all of the steps that lead up to the base of the statue of Maria is that in the building there were good modern footings put in place and that the pedestal was originally at nearly ground level but that the ground has slowly sunk away and additional steps have been added from time to time.billnoreply@blogger.com