Mexico, visiting Puebla

We wanted to see a little bit outside of Mexico City, and thus were recommended to visit two places, Puebla and Taxco.  We wanted to go to Taxco with jaime who was arriving later, so we decided to book a tour to visit Puebla.  The shuttle was to pick us up at 8, then we took a little bus to another location, where we paid and organized with others going on the same trip, and got onto another bus.  then that bus had to stop for gas.  and then we were finally off on our first day trip.

Puebla was about 1.5 hours away, but i think it took us about 2 hours to get there with traffic, which is horrendous.  now the most amazing part to me, is that as soon as you start heading out of the valley that mexico city is in, your climbing, and then hit the peak, and in front of you is a wonderful clear blue sky.  it was such an amazing sight, after spending the last 5 days in greyish overcast smog filled skies.  and it was so much warmer too.  and the stark difference between city/countryside is well…. stark.

leaving

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blue skies!

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in addition to being in a valley, Mexico City is also surrounded by two active volcanoes.  and the guide was talking it up the whole drive, and when we eventually stop where we should be able to see it, it was covered in clouds!

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the first stop was actually cholula, spot where the famous hot sauce is made.  also its famous for having 365 churches.

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The reason you go there is for this church!  which is the San Gabriel church and monastery.

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and then we went to Puebla.  A Church!

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and as your walking around you just see cool buildings like these

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they are famous for their tile work

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and the inside of another church

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puebla’s government building on the zocalo

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and we finished with another church!  yay!

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driving home, we got stuck in the famous mexico city traffic.  what should of been an hour and a half was more like 2 and a half.  i think we slept much of it.  or at least i did.  so it ended up being a long day.  but i think it was worth it just for the experience of being out of the city.