Late Sunday morning, we headed out for a big day of exploring. Our first stop was Tlachihualtepetl, the Great Pyramid of Cholula. It is the largest pyramid known to exist today with a total volume estimated at over 4.45 million cubic metres (yes, it is larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, which is about 2.5 million cubic metres). The pyramid was constructed in four stages, starting in the 3rd century BC through to the 9th century AD, and was dedicated to the Aztec god of wind and learning, Quetzalcoatl. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church that was built in the 16th century sits on top of the pyramid.
Unfortunately, the church was closed due to damages caused by the earthquake that hit the region in September. The pyramid; however, was accessible so we got to go through the labyrinth of tunnels. Don’t worry, we didn’t get lost because visitors were allowed to go in only one direction and only through the open passages. I just used the word “labyrinth” for dramatic effect. The tunnels were designed for small people and definitely not for the claustrophobic. If you are claustrophobic, never go in a place like that with Phil because when you’re in the middle of it with people in front and behind you, and no end in sight, he likes to talk about earthquakes and power outages 😐
We made it! No earthquakes, no power outages, no panicked-humans stampede.
Tlachihualtepetl
Popocatépetl
After exiting the tunnels of the pyramid and finally getting a nice view of the Popocatépetl volcano, we went to the center of Puebla City to have some lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon there. Puebla looks like the younger sibling of Guanajuato with its colourful buildings and relaxed vibe. We were not expecting much and were pleasantly surprised at how beautiful and vibrant it is. Some of the buildings in the city were closed because of earthquake damages, including the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, while some were held up with scaffolding, but the city seems to be on the road to recovery from the disaster.
Phil tried the mole poblano, which originated in Puebla. The sauce is typically made with fruits, chili peppers, nut and spices like black pepper, cinnamon and cumin. It is an acquired taste, but worth trying if you’re in Puebla so you can tell all your friends that you had a mole poblano in Puebla 🙂
Puebla City Center
Puebla Streets
Tea Time!
Templo de Santo Domingo
Mole Poblano
Scaffolding on a Building
Street of Art and Artists
We spent the later part of our afternoon in what was my favourite part of the city – the Barrio del Artista, which is a neighbourhood that is full of local artists and art stores. We didn’t buy anything, because motorcycle, but we did take the time to appreciate and admire the local talent before heading back.
