Puebla and Cholula Oct 30

 

Oct 30

 The morning begins quietly and gently.  Quite a contrast from last night with the motorcycles revving their engines.   As we walk through the zocolo to breakfast, we see a single person sweeping up from last night, an occasional person walking briskly.  Juan has arranged for breakfast and when we enter the hotel that was once a private home, there is a table all set up for us.  We have a choice of omlet or chilequiles.  Almost everyone orders the omlet.  Mine was filled with huitlecouche which is a mushroom that grows on corn ears.  Yum! 

                                                           Offrenda at the restaurant 

Several members of the group are needing a break and go back to the hotel.  The others do the walking tour with Juan. I have some business to do like open enrollment for my health care.  Sometimes our US lives follow us and demand attention.  I also did a little more shopping to replace items from my suitcase.

Then it is on to Cholula, famous for the largest volume pyramid in the world.  There has been significant building at this site since about 600BC.  It was a big trading site for hundreds of years.  The Spaniards noticed that the natives continued to visit the pyramid site.  Solution to that, build a church on the top so that when people came, they would be visiting a Catholic chapel. 

Because of COVID, the tunnels that the archaeologists dug are closed to the public as well as the archaeological structures at the base of the pyramid.  So, since the only thing open is the church at the top of the pyramid, up we go!  The way up is a steep ramp.  Somehow, it really doesn’t seem that bad.  The view at the top is good.  We can’t make out Popocapetal but can see the sleeping woman as well as Pico de Orizaba which is another very high volcano which has a large telescope on the top.

We enjoyed lunch on the square in Cholula.  The musicians, the food, the view, were  all good

On the way back to Puebla, we stopped at to small churches.  The first was built by the locals for themselves.  The figures are more rustic and have an indigenous look rather than the European look of most of the saints represented in the churches.    Pictures weren’t allowed in the church and I was good and didn’t take any.  Every inch was covered with decoration. 

The next church where we stopped is covered with tiles on the outside.  A wedding party was coming out of the church when we arrived.  It was fun to hear the festive music of the brass band and see the attendees who were dressed to the nines. 

After our happy hour, we walked to the zocolo for dinner.  We ate at a restaurant overlooking the park. I had the chiles nogadas again tonight.  I think these were even better! 

  A festive atmosphere permeates the air.  Kids dressed up with little plastic pumpkins to collect pesos and candy.  Adults with painted faces.  The offrenda by the fountain in the center of the park addressed people who have lost their lives due to injustices.