visiting puebla, poblano style.

last weekend we had our first long weekend of the year. with high gas prices, flights have skyrocketed in price and our options have become slightly more limited. i shouldn't complain, as they flights aren't really THAT expensive... but they are definitely pricey compared to last year.

sarita and i were able to get a reasonably priced flight to mexico city, so we decided to jump on a bus to puebla, a city about 2 hours east of mexico city. it was a four-day weekend, and to top it off, it was mexican independence... which is always a huge lively celebration.

officially called puebla de los angeles (city of the angels), puebla is actually the fourth largest city in mexico. it is surrounded by mountains, volcanoes and boasts a cool agreeable climate. when sarah and i told people we were going to puebla, people responded with pretty vague answers... "oh..... cool" or "really?" or as jen clarke would say, "i would rather die then go to puebla". well, that certainly got our hopes up. we definitely arrived with low to no expectations, simply craving a temporary change in surroundings.

as it turned out, we were pleasantly surprised by puebla. however, there were certain circumstances that increased our enjoyment of the city: a) we were okay with being extremely lazy. b) we decided we would do some of the lame lazy touristy things. c) through a random connection, we got to explore the area around the city with a local, which is always a treat. d) we slept a lot. e) there was a million things going on because of the independence day celebrations. f) we didn't have to think about work. and it was great.

friday
we arrived late on friday evening and literally fell into our beds, even though the mattresses were hard and the pillows were thin and lumpy. our hotel was an old monastery near the main zocalo, and we got our exercise each day as we had to climb up three steep flights of stairs. the first time we climbed up the stairs we were breathless and out of shape -- by the end we were taking them two at a time!

saturday
on saturday, we slept in and had a lazy breakfast in the zocalo. following which, we hopped on the 1.5 hour tourist bus that gives you a great overall view of the city. it was such a relaxing way to see it all -- from the top of a double decker bus! they even had the commentary in english. we also got to play a little musical chairs on top with locals when our headphones weren't working. it was SO hot up there that people had to resort to creative means to protect their heads - for example: one lady was spotted wearing a burger king takeout bag upside down as a hat. how greasy. puebla has lots of different neighbourhoods, so it was a great way to get a tan AND get oriented to the city. our next stop in the sarah tambien tour was to find a random restaurant. one of the teachers who works at our school is from puebla, and sarah taught her daughter last year. her family owns a restaurant and she insisted that we drop in for a visit! we were warmly welcomed into a cute mexican restaurant called 'rocky's tacos', and we got to taste some of the unique poblano fare. i got to drool over the amazing mole sauces, and we got to try one of the local specialties called chiles en nogada (only available from july to september, it is a pepper stuffed with meat and dried fruit, topped with a nut sauce and pomegranate seads). they wouldn't even let us pay for our lunch. when you get out of the tourist area, you begin to realize that mexicans are truly some of the nicest people on earth. a lovely mother and daughter were sitting next to us, and curiously asked where we were from. by the end, we had a place to stay the next time we decide to visit tabasco. wherever that is. after lunch, we found our way back to the city center and went on another expedition to find the more 'funky' area of town. we rummaged around in an antique market, finding everything from old records for 50 bucks to working cameras from the turn of the century to skeleton keys. sarah even found a large tool for her car. we later found out that it was actually an extremely large bottle opener. fitting. now she can drink and drive in style. by this point, we had really exhausted ourselves and decided we needed to do what all mexicans do: siesta. our good friend anita, part owner of 'rocky's tacos' took us out for a night on the town. we walked back down to antique market, but voila! it had become a meat market of a bar scene. we felt famous, as when we sauntered up, we were propositioned by many young joven bartenders, wanting us to visit their bar. apparently this was normal, because anita took it all in stride and kept saying "gracias. gracias. gracias" but walked on by. we also learned something new from all of this hubbub: apparently saying "gracias" is more polite then saying "no gracias", which we have always done.

sunday
we got picked up by our very own tour guide, anita, in the early hours of the am. I was feeling exhausted, so I made them wait while I went to get coffees in the main plaza, not sure when I decided that coffee became a ‘no excuse’ part of my day. it was amazing having a car. she took us to quickly and easily to all the places that we had been hoping to visit, and MORE! we started in cholula, a city that was freezing, but also had one of the coolest pyramids that i have ever seen. It is actually has the widest base of any pyramid in the world. over the years, it has been built over multiple times, and it actually has a church and a forest on top of it now. but, you can still explore the tunnels underneath and see the pyramid from the inside. after exploring this unique place, we actually climbed up to the top of the pyramid to see the spectacular view from the top. we had been told (and seen postcard views) of the two HUGE volcanoes, but unfortunately, the clouds were obscuring our view. at one point, we think we may have had a glimpse of the top of ‘popo’, one of the volcanoes, but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. the day continued with a drive to two other towns that we would not have otherwise visited, one known for flowers, and the other for churches. and to be honest, I would have to look up the names to tell you what they were called.

monday
on monday, we hit the ultimate jackpot and found the only african safari in mexico. that's right folks, africam safari. and now that wasn't a typo, i think its called africam because african was already taken. lions, tigers, bears.. oh my. all from the comfort of a luxury mexican bus. something did seem a little strange about giraffes in mexico, but i wonder if they even know the difference. hot is hot, right? it was sarah's first drive-thru safari, complete with a tour guide sporting a full 80s style hair wall and silly photos taken in the gift shop. the day was capped off with a revolting half hot half cold frozen vegetable salad from the serengeti cafe. you don't know what you're missing. we returned from africam to enjoy an afternoon of lattes and reminiscing over past journal entries. and then, it was siesta once again.

tuesday
the return journey essentially took all day between the cab/bus/plane/cab, but before we took off, i got my last taste of poblano mole. this time, it was served over eggs, and it was quite possibly the most delicious chocolaty goodness that I have ever tasted. i am not sure I will ever be able to think of puebla without thinking of those mole eggs.

and giraffes, of course.

a love hate relationship.

being in monterrey and asfm for a second year has its pros and cons.

i love...

-knowing how to be a teacher, asfm style. i can't tell you the amount of time i save not having to read every single lesson the minute before i teach it!

-feeling comfortable in my city and knowing my way around.

-the car.

-the tutoring jackpot i seem to have hit. four hours a week at a fairly comfortable wage equals all of my spending money!

-did i mention the car?

-my new classroom. i have windows to the outside world!

-"new recipe" night. i have learned to make chickpea patties and an amazing salad with pears and pine nuts.

-paloma, the dog that ally/sarah/elise adopted. i am her godmother and therefore get all the benefits without the commitment.

-season 1 of melrose place that i purchased and am using for pure escapism. so corny, but decadent.

-super fitness damas VIP, the new gym that i joined with a whole bunch of ladies from work. each machine has a personal tv, and the atmosphere is incredibly motivating! soon we will be super fitness damas ourselves.

-the book that sarah tambien and i want to write on our adventures, or at least talking about it.

-brazilian night: meat served off of swords, karaoke 'til bed.


BUT i don't love...

-the HUGE GIANT DISGUSTING bat moths that seem to have taken over the city. one was on my car window this morning and didn't leave during my whole drive to school. and somehow one snuck into ginny's room. YUCK.

-the politics, asfm style.

-having a broken finger, but that has nothing to do with anything. i just hate it, so i thought i'd add it in here.

-the muy expensive flights this year.

-missing friends that left and moved on to other adventures.

-the new strict dismissal policy that was implemented for the school, partly due to safety issues that have arisen in mexico.

-work on weekends. so i still don't really do it. just when i absolutely completely have to.