Since we made outdoor plans for our 3-day weekend during the dry season, of course it rained buckets. And of course, on our last day of said weekend, when we were desperate to salvage something and get out of the house, the weather broke into blue skies and sunshine -- just long enough to get us over the mountains before the nastiness all returned again.
I originally wanted to visit Cholula, home of the hot sauce and lovely church/pyramids/volcanic views. It is just outside of Puebla, so when the weather made it no longer worth it, we drove on to Puebla.
We followed the signs to the historic center of colonial Puebla, and parked at what looked like the Zócalo (town square). We checked out the directory which informed us that we were in fact at the Zócalo and that a large cathedral would be found on the other side. Instead, there was a Comex (a ubiquitous Mexican paint shop). The actual Zócalo was about 4 blocks further along. What is it about Mexico and signs?
I originally wanted to visit Cholula, home of the hot sauce and lovely church/pyramids/volcanic views. It is just outside of Puebla, so when the weather made it no longer worth it, we drove on to Puebla.
We followed the signs to the historic center of colonial Puebla, and parked at what looked like the Zócalo (town square). We checked out the directory which informed us that we were in fact at the Zócalo and that a large cathedral would be found on the other side. Instead, there was a Comex (a ubiquitous Mexican paint shop). The actual Zócalo was about 4 blocks further along. What is it about Mexico and signs?
Lovely Paseo Bravo -- not the Zócalo.
Centro Cultural Poblano -- next to the Not Zócalo Paseo Bravo
The Virgin of Guadalupe Church
So when we did finally arrive at the Zócalo, we popped into the TI (or whatever they call the Tourism office) and asked about things to see while we were here. The gentleman was very helpful, and finally Raul asked on behalf of his small-bladdered women where we might find a bathroom. Here I became ever so grateful to have a husband who both speaks fluent Spanish but is also such a companionable guy, because the TI fellow snuck us into City Hall (it was a holiday so no one was working) and let us use the bathrooms there. Very swanky.
Being a Monday, all of the museums were closed, but being the day before Candlemas, all of the churches were open (we walked in on many people getting their baby Jesus figures blessed in preparation for the Holy Day). One that we happened to stumble upon was the Church of Santo Domingo de Gúzman. It was fairly plain on the outside, and the inside wasn't too much, until we came to the very back and the Chapel of the Rosary. It was exquisite with all of the lovely carved filigree and gilding.
This is the Cathedral at the end of the Zócalo (not a paint store).
They were having Mass when we arrived, but the Cathedral is big enough that 1000 tourists can slip in and explore the other 90% of the building without even being noticed. The building is one city block deep. This is one third of the organ.
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