Up and down: A flying tour

If you’re in Puebla and need a morning break from the relaxation, culture and glamour, you needn’t go all that far. Just head yourself on road to the next, most extreme town, Cuautla, and treat yourself to a flying expedition.

 Cuautla is known for being the land of skydiving. And if you are setting you mind on this activity, i recommend starting with a light brunch and indulging in the quiet, relaxing, harmonic morning weather of this lovely settlement. The vast gardens, around since the 1500s, is home to several life forms, from evergreen valleys, a multitude of plantations, and of course, mounts colored with  thousands of trees. It’s known for its tranquil atmosphere and is a local favorite for strolling, reading, having coffee and enjoying the sprawling greenery in one of its parks, situated in the wild (that is completely tamed for your enjoyment).

Then walk down the streets toward the fields. This part of the excursion may take a while – between the art galleries, pastry shops and cafes, temptation lurks at every corner. In situations like this, I find it’s best to just give in, explore, and sample the neighborhood offerings.

When you do, inevitably, end up back at the fields, then you are ready to let go all calm and prepare yourself to an intensifying excitement. You are about to jump off a plain.

From there, it’s a trek to the skies. By this point you’re likely overstimulated and too stuffed with mixed sensations that give you that feel of butterflies in your stomach.

And what’s better end to an expedition than a 200 km/h free falling?

You are now living the life in Puebla, as it should be lived.

Interested in this experience?

http://skydivecuautla.com/

Urban exploration

You don’t get to feel a city’s pulse until you’ve been trapped on a few of its highways. To understand what I mean, do this: wake up in the fog-dipped countryside, speed through the open space of sparsely populated fields, then past the first signs of industry – factories, pristine and painted in candy colors or splattered with graffiti, past car dealerships and low-income suburbs, until the highway is choking on traffic and you’re stopped at a toll booth, the humming city emerging at this final checkpoint. Now we’re ready to enter Puebla.

Ideally, get a minimum of one week to explore this cultural goldmine, but with less disposal there’s only time for the essentials. Still, between traversing the Roman catholic cathedral, the smallest volcano, the bullring and the many lovely little towns in late spring heat, or early winter cool, there is time to soak in the sound of cobblestone streets, the distinct architecture [never enough fountains!], the fashion [popped collars going strong and neon colors blazing], to gorge on legendary typical Mexican food and to smile in bewilderment while stumbling upon yet another excavation site between a freshment stand and an overpass – centuries exposed and peeled away right there in the midst of modern life.

Later: an evening walk through the center, just before you shoe away to find some fun or rest for the night. Eventually it takes us to the most heart warming main square in the globe, surrounded by dozens of wine-swigging youths – laughing, kissing, smoking and dodging moderately shady types offering to take pictures for a small fee. Historical monuments for miles around are still annexed with teenagers and the like. Taco stands keeps action into the night hours, and you will duck in for a few more bites of magic.

Luchadores style.

No party would be complete without music, tacos, and an arsenal of Mexican wrestlers, that’s why I chose Puebla to get my fun on. Downtown Puebla and its vicinity are known for hosting a variety of diverse events, like the ones that take place at the Arena Puebla and its wrestling spectacles, rallying hundreds of combat enthusiasts and the most authentic taco chefs for an event they called “Lucha Lounge.” That happens every Monday night.

 Inside the arena, simulated violence stimulates the masses while a crowd began to form around the wrestling ring. Shortly after, a group of Luchador wrestlers dressed in matching black and red spandex suits, take the ring. Their opponents are giant shirtless wrestlers who called themselves devilish names. As the match commences, the first ones  fly through the air as the MC yells out various commentaries such as “There will be blood.” In the end, one team claims victory.

In this case was Los Diablos vs. Los Sanchos, a match which included the entertaining antics of “The artist formerly known as the hardcore homo Angel.” In a tiny pink ruffled bottom paired with striped knee-high socks and glitter on his face, Angel proved to be the underdog. He demonstrated hidden skills, however, as he whipped out sneaky tactics such as engaging in a lip lock with his fierce opponents. Angel’s victims flew out of the ring as the announcer joked that they were “afraid of love.”

Following the first set of matches, people flocked outdoors to see indie rockers perform inside a small bar. The band, which has been described as Smiths-influenced rock, has been popping up all over Puebla’s music scene and was nominated as one of the Top 100 Unsigned Bands of 2010.

Following a round of applause and several boos due to the band’s set being over, attendees trampled back outside. The evening continued with more tacos, fun, and cerveza.

There’s so much to do in Puebla, wether is pure entertainment, acculturation, or taking fresh air and time out from the routine.

Artsy-fartsy in suburbia: Artist's neighborhood art walk

Artist’s neighborhood is the perfect place to have an art walk (preferably during the day). It’s also a somewhat chaotic affair, strung throughout suburbs surrounding downtown: galleries in garages and lofts; museums in backyards, and hawkers peddling hand-crafted wares in front of their houses. Obviously it isn’t like walking into your local MOCA/MOMA, especially since the actual “museum” is 2+ miles long and a good 15 degrees hotter.

And pleasantly disorienting: my accomplice and I got lost almost immediately; thank god those starving artists had child laborers to provide us with chalk drawing-maps and cotton candy!

Unlike an actual neighborhood, there are no angry neighbors in these subdivisions, lending the ‘burbs an almost Midwestern milieu. If you’ve ever been to Chicago, it’s kind of like that — lots of closely-knit apartment houses with live music in the backyard, hawkers peddling homemade wares as you ponder which kind of craft to buy. Some of the acts here were damn good. There was the Daft-Punk-y type band with silver linens on their heads, a couple houses down, the 90′s alt-rock band; babbling on corners, the occasional street musicians and some random ethic performances.

Then there’s other Artists neighborhood’s locales, like the “Sketch café” in which you can pay for a 5 minute draw of yourself dressed as a pirate, an astronaut, a princess, the possibilities are endless, while enjoying a latte. The “Café brujas” where you can drink an uncanny, hot beverage, while a tarot reader discover the most fantastic things abut your own future, simply observing and theatrical act (completely free) or interact with painters of mythological creatures when they’re on action, mixing color, textures and different materials.

I know it’s unfair to rank something so DIY as the artist’s neighborhood art walk alongside a museum or any kind of professional establishment. The point is, does it somewhat inspire the soul, at least a little? Or is it an amateur effort among the masses to try and get noticed? The bottom line was that this was a homey community, packed with some extremely talented people; all trying their best to make it as artists, but in the end the art walk ratio might have left a little to be desired. But if you happen to be an adventurer, pursuing motivation and come see it yourself, it might help to know that what you’re lacking in talent, you’ll be making up for in culture.

The good news is that Artist’s neighborhood has the potential to be something big. The diversity of art here, and the talent behind it all, is what makes it so much fun. Good people making good things, and most of the time for a good cause. Plus you’ll burn some calories. Stop confining yourself already, and come seek that encouragement that only the ones who dare, get.

You can fin the Artist’s neighborhood walking west along 4 Oriente to 6 Norte.

Night owls and churches in Cholula

Cholula, Puebla is known as the town of churches, but to me it will forever remain as the land of night owls, and I’m not saying this because of the diversity of nocturnal winged creatures. I’m talking about other kind of creatures, human seekers of fun, to be precise, and I like being precise. The young-partier population here is phenomenal, so if you are looking for entertainment (whichever your intention is) this is the right place to be at. Cholula is famous for its nightlife, wether you are looking for a wild party or a relaxing gathering with your significant other, with live music and a romantic atmosphere, or simply a fine dinner. During daylight, you can enjoy a peaceful, but acculturating walk to visit all of the 365 old-fashioned churches looking for peace and salvation or join the clan of pedal-driven velocipedes and rent a bicycle to increase the level of fun during your enlightening absorption of Puebla’s culture, depending on your intentions, but when the face of the moon is completely set, lighting up your most attractive features, is when the real fun commences. And you sure will be wholeheartedly awaiting invitation into the soul-warming, entrance of one of its dance clubs, an elite bar (where only those that are really living the high life are), a sly, but non the less, coquet tavern, or a traditional Irish pub, right in the core of this picturesque little town.

I spent nearly two weeks here in the capital of night life impetuous merry, enjoying a bloody marry accompanied with green beans and Portobello mushroom sauté, conducting an after-walk horde of bikers  through the pyramids and painting a mural in the walls of a coffee shop-gallery.

Cholula is a small town about 15 minutes out of Puebla (15 by motor transportation), flanked by idyllic flower fields, lush, gorgeous architecture, blankets of fluffy clouds (the elevation is roughly 1.3 miles) and the solitary pyramids anyone will be having a chance to climb (or go in its insides).

Life here is easy but not simple. Fanciful residents and visitors adorn the streets at sunrise and until the place completely awakens to a day that for many of its residents predominantly consists of admiring the beautiful treasure its town is. Some folks step into Cholula seeking for fresh air and stick until their sprit is renewed by the never-ending happiness and fulfillment that is granted to everyone who dares to tame their thirst of living the life (which by the way is very accessible for the economy of a backpacker).

This was my first trip here, and my sense of satisfaction with the mission of making awesome memories completed is trumped by how very much more there is to be done in here. 

Dreaming big in The city of angels - Amparo Espinosa Rugarcía and the ESRU foundation

The concept of international volunteer work can conjure a number of different impressions. For Amparo Espinosa Rugarcía, founder of the ESRU  Foundation, the idea hits close to home, literally. After her father died in this small provincial city, leaving a legacy and his will to help.  She decided to take action and the Foundation was born.

Espinosa Rugarcía dreams big and wasted no time getting a staggering number of projects off the ground, granting all Puebla residents the opportunity to develop their highest potential, by including facilities, and programs for students of all ages, a several others education programs for those in need of prosperation and expanding the field for making the most of all individual talents [being erected as we speak], work favorable circumstances for all, and volunteer program for doctors, students, scientists and educators.

Warmly greeted everywhere it goes, the ESRU is a beloved foundation in México and rightfully so. Making Puebla one of the best places in Mexico to visit, subsiding and affirming that prosperity is ensured in this outstanding settlement. Signs of the foundation’s work are all around, from the improvement of quality’s education to the safety of it’s residence, being the state of Puebla. The city is transforming into a guarded substantial, flourishing zone, not only for it’s locals, but for every visitor and future inhabitants.

Puebla is, to have in mind , not only in the country, but around the globe, a potentially safe place to make a living, and totally worth consideration, for its education, its development as a society and what this can give as fruition, its magnificent sceneries, economical affluence, its activities and infinitum.

Learn more about how you can help Puebla grow at fundacionesru.org

Handicraft fashion & remarkable flavors at El Parián.

We might be cold in this early November, but just today I devoured my very first pre-hispanic Mexican candy, a turrón (a sweet, soft nougat cylinder, wrapped in colored cellophane or tissue paper that looks like an egg from Alien and tastes like a gift from the gods, mixed with a creamy honey feel), giving me yet another reason to warm up my heart in Puebla city. A turrón is just one of the hundreds of treasures spotted at El Parían.

“What’s El Parían  like in Puebla’s provincials mecca?” you might dubiously ask the screen, but un-wrinkle your nose and cast your fears aside – it’s actually pretty great. For one, there is a grand chance to meet our neighbors and the potential for human interaction, which can be a prized commodity in this decidedly pedestrian-friendly city. And in addition to rows upon rows of organic produce, candy made from amaranth and pumpkin seeds, using honey or the syrup of maguey, corn, or cactus fruit, there is a whole other section devoted to handcrafted jewelry, fashion, books, records and trinkets.

So once your totes are brimming with things like, candy repertoire, traditional Mexican dresses, colorful outfits and costumes with a strong influence of Mayan and Spanish culture in them, refuel with a fresh pulque (alcoholic drink made from fermented cactus sap) and walk over to the other side to feed your closet monsters. Unique, hand-made jewelry, wide-brimmed hats, comfortable sandals, ironic toys, dresses swirled in technicolor, leaves dipped in precious metals and the occasional pair of leather chaps are sure to sate and mystify into the afternoon.

El parían happens from 8:00am to 7:30pm and every day at 6 Norte 205 in downtown.

Celestial soil

To step on Puebla City is a transformative experience in itself – being immersed in a Colonial area with a capital “C” is the dream of any life-long urban dweller. Waking up to the songs and sounds of birds, the views of its clear kaleidoscopic, vivid skies and landscapes, and mystery personages setting up camp in its inviting cobbled streets served as daily conduit to the evidently beautiful architecture one never forgets  – supreme atmosphere that, here, can swallow us whole.

You might want to grab a chair, because I’m about to tell you a tale.

As the story goes, in the year of 1530 the bishop Julián Garcés had an enlightening dream in which a formation of seraphic angels took him to a magnificent open land with a crystal clear waterway right in the middle, and two more to each side. The field had all kinds of din insects, colorful, exotic flowers, and springs. The bishop cautiously observed how two of the winged seraphs outlined with strings the boundaries of what now a days is Puebla City.

Garcés woke up, and captivated in his early morning epiphany, narrated in detail his dream and lead an aggregation of Franciscan comrades to a place 5 leagues away from where he had slept the night before. Now known as Tlaxcala, it is precisely where he found the land he dreamed with, and is that exact place where Puebla was founded. According to the legend this is the reason why the city was called Puebla, ciudad de los angeles (city of angels).