Spring Time in Puebla

La primavera en Cholula

Even though my hometown of Las Vegas is already experiencing beautiful weather, I am aware that much of the Northeastern United States is still under a blanket of snow. I guess this is my chance to rub in all of your beautiful faces the awesome weather we have here in Puebla, Mexico. Last Sunday, a friend and I went to the small town of Tonantzintla to see a church we had heard a lot about in our sociology class this semester, and a in a Mexican culture class I took last semester. After waiting an hour for my friend (time change barely happened here on the 3rd) and taking three different buses to get to this little pueblito, we finally found the church, which is really the only attraction in Tonantzintla. The church is world-renowned for its indigenous-influenced baroque style which pays homage to the indigenous beliefs of the indians who were forced to build a church on the spot where they once worshiped the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. The towns name in the native náhuatl means 'the place of the holy mother' or something like that. Tontantzin's adoration was replaced with the Catholic Spanish image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Sadly no pictures were allowed inside, so you all will just have to settle for Google images search results and pictures I was able to take of the outside of the church.

Inside the church of Tonantzintla - Thanks Google

Indigenous influences, such as feathers, fruits and darker skin

Tonantzintla from the outside

Church bells

Mexican Homer Simpson look-a-like

The Virgin Mary, or Tonantzin? You decide!

"Welcome to the longest-named town in the world"

After touring the church and trying some Aztec chocolate drink, we headed down to Cholula (about 2 miles away) on foot. After not wearing sunscreen and burning, I am happy to say that I am now about two shades darker. This Mexican sun is relentless. Anyways, along the way we found so crazy cool street art.

... And the award for most random goes to...

I was excited to see such cool works of art on in such a random place as Cholula, which is like a suburb of Puebla. I guess less people means more privacy and a higher chance of evading the police. I wish Vegas had stuff like this. So finally we made it too Cholula and got to see the ruins of the ancient pyramid there, and also take in an indigenous ceremony known as 'la danza de los voladores' or dance of the flying men in English; it's a cool and quirky ritual that thankfully has survived the Spanish conquest:

So all in all, it was a great day and I got to experience just a little bit more of Mexico's culture. The day before on Saturday, I also captured a few more images of Springtime in Puebla:

That's all folks, ¡hasta pronto!

Taxco: City of Silver

So one of the perks of my study abroad program in Mexico is that the staff arranges several day-trips each year where they give us starry-eyed gringo students the chance to immerse ourselves even more in the culture and history of Mexico. This last Saturday I had the chance to make it on over to the silver mine city Taxco, a fairytale-like town situated in the mountains of western Guerrero. It was really cool that as our Ibero van weaved through the vomit-inducing roads, out of nowhere appeared the white-washed walls and red roofs of Taxco in the distance. It seriously looks like some twister picked up an Italian town and dropped it harmlessly onto the mountains of Mexico.

Taxco (tass-co), Guerrero

Besides the silver for which they're world-renowned, this city (Pop. 50,000) also boosts a beautiful baroque church downtown known as the Templo de Santa Prisca, which among the many nearly identical white and red buildings, stands out in a beautiful contrast with its tall and colorful facade and dome.

The inside was equally impressive.

I still find baroque style to be overwhelming. I couldn't imagine building/designing a church with this style, let alone cleaning it. After the church, we hit up the main silver market where people come from all over to get a good deal.

Taxco silver market

I don't know if the low cost of living here in Mexican has made me more frugal, but I don't think that the prices there were all that great, especially since we were supposedly at the source of all this silver, though one shop owner told me that the silver reserves there are almost exhausted and that the price of gasoline have made the price of silver go up. With that said, I still bought a few items (only after haggling). After shopping and an ungodly amount of food, we set off back for our simple lives in Puebla. Here a few of my favorites that should be filed under miscellaneous:

No biggie, just a plant growing out of a wall

I'm guessing everyone has really strong legs

The town is basically piled onto itself

Prohibited: Affectionate couples in the atrium (Puebla should have this sign)

Puerto Escondido: A Hidden Treasure

Hand-painted jellyfish!

Last time I visited Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca was all the way back in October of last year before heading on to Oaxaca City for its Day of the Dead celebrations. Looking back, it's hard to believe just how much time has passed since then, how much Spanish I speak now and even how much I've grown as a person. Last time I was there I loved it, but could only stay for 2 days. So this time around I decided to spend more time and was there for 4 days, getting the chance to explore the town and more of the beautiful beaches that Puerto Escondido has to offer.

José, the sad, tied-up mule we stumbled upon on the beach

Hand-painted advertisement for veterinarian office

We stayed in the ridiculously cheap, though trendy Osa Mariposa in the Southeast side of Zicatela beach, which is renowned worldwide for its huge waves, attracting thousands of surfers and beach bums from all across the globe who wish to get a little taste of this Pacific paradise. The hostel is actually run by Denver-native Dave Paco who once traveled all the way from Los Angeles to Tierra del Fuego en Patagonia Chile. A couple of pictures of the place:

HAMMOCKS

The last time I was there, I only got to explore Zicatela beach and a random lagoon, but this time I got to see the other main beaches, including Puerto Angelito which was overrun with food stands, screaming children and trash, and Carrizalillo which thankfully was just the opposite; sparsely crowded with family-owned and thatched-roofed food stands and clear, beautiful water. It was definitely my favorite spot in Puerto Escondido. I was almost tempted enough to take the surf lessons offered on the small beach, but decided against it since I'm saving up for my April Spring Break travels to Chiapas and possibly Guatemala. Here are some of my favorites pictures from Carrizalillo:

You have to walk down into the cove in order to find Carrizalillo.

Cool street art all the way from Oakland

The water was super clear

This visit was so much better from the last one in every way; the weather was better, the food more delicious, and the beaches more beautiful. I even found parts of Zicatela beach that I hadn't noticed before. The sunsets were gorgeous and it was really cool watching the sun go down with some of my fellow compatriots as surfers rode their last few waves before the dark and cool of night set in. Now I give you a few of my favorites from Zicatela beach:

Cool hand sculpture

Perspective from the mirador

Cacti and waves; a swimming combination

Nothing beats a Pacific sunset

City lights start to come to life once the sun settles in for the night

Besides the 18-hour return bus ride home, the two armed blockade/checkpoints along the way, the second degree burns, mind-numbing hangovers and bug bites encountered by several of my friends, Puerto was an awesome weekend beach getaway. The town is interesting, the beaches are clean, beautiful and desolate. I was really surprised by the lack of people there, but I guess it does make sense. Airfare is really expensive to fly straight into the town, and a bus ride from Mexico City is at least 17 hours, with all that said, plus the narcotic war raging in the Northern extremes of the nation, I guess I understand why it's such an unspoiled spot. If you're a surfer or an admirer of nature, it's definitely worth the time. Here's my friends and I (minus Colleen who took the picture) on Zicatela beach, just a few yards from José, the sad mule neighing disapprovingly in the distance:

 

- Bryce