'''Puebla''' is a city in Mexico. It is located in the Puebla Valley, surrounded by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, slightly over 110 kilometers (68 miles) south-east of Mexico City. The city proper in 2005 had a population of 1.5 million people, while the metropolitan area had a population of 2.1 million.

Understand

The city of Puebla is the fourth largest city in Mexico with 2.1 million inhabitants and the Capital of the State of Puebla. It was founded on April 16, 1531 as "La Puebla de los Angeles". It was the first city in central Mexico founded by the Spanish conquistadors that was not built upon the ruins of a conquered Amerindian settlement. Its strategic location, halfway between the port of Veracruz and Mexico City, made it the second most important city during the colonial period. During the seventeenth century, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz lived in the city until her confrontation with the Bishop of Puebla.

The city_fs main claim to fame, however, is Cinco de Mayo, a festival commemorating the May 5, 1862 defeat of a French expeditionary army by Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza. It was after this battle that the name of the city was changed to "Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza". The forts where the battle took place are a major tourist attraction of the city and the site of an annual month-long carnival marking the anniversary of the battle. The city is also famous for its cuisine, being said it is this city where "Mole" -a famous Mexican spicy thick sauce- was invented.

Get in

Traveling to Puebla from Mexico City is fairly straightforward and can be best accomplished via bus. There are two major bus terminals with continual service to and from Puebla throughout the day and night: first is TAPO (occasionally known as Terminal Oriente) and the Benito Juarez International Airport. Taking an Estrella Roja bus from the airport costs about $170 pesos (~$17USD) for a one-way ticket or $320 pesos (~$32USD) for a roundtrip. A one-way ticket on ADO or Estrella Roja from the TAPO usually runs about $40 or $50 pesos (~$4 or $5 USD). Buses leave for Puebla approximately every half hour from both locations.

There are two bus terminals in Puebla: the Centro de Autobuses Puebla (CAPU), the main bus terminal, and Estrella Roja_fs 4 Poniente bus terminal (only Estrella Roja buses go there). Both ADO and Estrella Roja run buses to the much larger CAPU. If you_fve never visited Puebla before, the CAPU is your safest bet to get you to your final destination; there are secure taxis and the CAPU is a major intersection of several public transportation bus lines (known as combis or camiones).

Get around

Traveling within Puebla can sometimes be stressful as the local public transportation system is entirely privatized, leading to hundreds of bus routes, none of which are mapped out. If you know where you are going, you can ask around as to which route will take your destination, but often transfers are necessary for long-distances, which can be confusing, especially if you are not familiar with the language. The general fare rate is $4pesos (~$0.40USD) for combis. (Safety note about buses: they are generally safe, but they tend to carry pickpockets, especially when crowded. Always have a hand over any bags/backpacks that you have.) The buses generally run from about 7AM to 10PM.

Taxis are, naturally, more expensive, but in Puebla they are almost always safe. They tend to run between 40-70 pesos for a ride. Negotiating a fare before entering a taxi is normal as the taxis do not carry meters in Puebla. If the taxista does not offer you a fare that you like, you can always just wave them off and wait for the next taxi.

See

  • Los Fuertes (Fuerte de Loreto and Fuerte de Guadalupe) - The forts, which sit atop the Cerro de Guadalupe is where the Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862. This successful defense of the city by General Ignacio Zaragoza from invading French forces is commemorated every year in Puebla throughout the month of May and specifically on May 5 (''Cinco de Mayo'' in Spanish).
  • Zocalo (City Center)- Puebla's historic downtown contains beautiful colonial architecture and was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 1987.
  • Cathedral - Built between 1575 and 1640, it has two of the tallest church towers in Mexico.
  • Palafoxian Library - A library built in the 18th century which contains a unique collection.
  • Los Sapos (Art District)- Many painters have ''ateliers'' offering their paintings and a block away, every Saturday and Sunday, there is a flea market where you can find handicrafts and some antiques.
  • Flowers in Atlixco
  • Metepec
  • Huey Atlixcayotl - A festival in the municipality of Atlixco that occurs the last Sunday of September.
  • Cuaxcomate, the world's smallest volcano (now extinct), is located in Puebla.
  • Cholula - A neighboring town 10 kilometers away filled with as many as 365 churches and an archaeological site.
  • Africam Safari - A Zoo park where wild African animals live freely.
  • Do

  • Visit other towns, if you can, such as Cuetzalan in the Sierra Norte de Puebla, or Atlixco.
  • Go to the National Park on Popocatepetl or National Park La Malintzi and spend the day hiking or camping there.
  • If you like night life, try the ''antros'' (clubs) in Cholula. Many don't charge cover. Alcohol ranges from $450-800 pesos (~$45 to $80USD) a bottle if you want to get a table in the clubs. There is also abundant live music throughout Puebla. Smaller and less popular antros are also located in the Los Sapos district, only a few blocks from the Zocalo.
  • Visit the churches of Tonantzintla and Acatepec. They were built and decorated during the late 1600s and early 1700s in the Baroque style. Both are extremely lavishly decorated outside and inside.
  • Take a tour around the city on a tour bus. This may seem very tourist-ish but this is a really cheap (80 pesos) easy way to get a quick view of some of the coolest attractions in the city. It also is a way to get a good bearing before you decide to set off and dive into some of the attractions the city has to offer. The tour is in spanish, but if you don't speak Spanish it's still a fun way to explore the city.
  • If you are in the mood for authentic Italian cuisine, head over to the nearby town of Chipilo, just 15 minutes from downtown Puebla and near Cholula and Atlixco. This town was settled by Veneto immigrants from northern Italy in the late 1800's. Take a stroll around the Piazza, the Chiesa (Church), and try the many restaurants it has to offer such as Piazza delle Sole, Caffe Ristorante I Dagot, Ristorante Venezia; or have a cafe in the original "The Italian Coffee Co." and people watch. Gelato at Topolino is also a good way to have dessert. And do not forget to buy pastas, cheeses, cold cuts and wines at the Nave Italia store. Stop to listen to the people speak their 19th century Venetian dialect which still survives in Chipilo. Take a stroll around the town which still holds many aspects of typical rural Venetian towns. Truly a unique gem in the middle of Puebla.
  • Buy

  • Talavera (Fine china-like wares.)
  • Local crafts and artifacts from El Parian.
  • Jewelry, antiques and crafts from Los Sapos.
  • Eat

  • Eat the street food. Travel books will almost always tell you not to, but generally speaking, it is entirely safe and can be one of the best "cultural" experiences of your trip.
  • Street foods to try: Quesadillas with mushrooms, sausage (chorizo), pumpkin flower (flor de calabaza), or huitlacoche (corn truffle, an Aztec specialty)

  • Memelas (tortillas made with mixed masa and beans red or green salsa on top, then topped with onions and cheese)
  • Elote (corn on the cob with parmesan cheese, mayonnaise if desired, and chili powder).
  • Pelonas (fried sandwiches filled with meat, lettuce, cream, and salsa)
  • Gorditas (similar to memelas, but topped with chorizo, chicharron--fried pig skin)--or chicken, avocado slices, salsa, onions, and cheese).
  • Potato chips, usually fried the same day (extra crispy) and topped with lime juice and hot sauce.
  • Mixiotes Piece of Chicken or "Carnero" (Goat) in a special sauce made out of juajillo chile
  • and spices with an avocado leaf cooked in vapor all wrapped in foil paper or special mixiote paper.

  • Chalupas a tortilla with green or red sauce then topped with onion, chicken or beef shreds, and cheese. (Traditional chalupas have no cheese.)
  • Cemitas a special bread that looks like a torta prepared with milanesa, avocado, queso oaxaca in shreds, papalo, aceite de comer and chipotles.
  • All street food generally costs between $8 and $15 pesos ($0.80- $1.50 USD).

  • A must is something with "Mole poblano".
  • Tacos Arabes - Very good. Made with Lamb or pork. Originated from the high arabic population in the city.
  • Chiles en Nogada
  • Pozole
  • Pambazos
  • Pipian
  • Adobo
  • Chanclas
  • Just in the "zocalo"(main square)there_Ls a place called VITTORIO_LS ,its famous for the excelent and delicious mexican and italian food ,very nice and cozy they have indoor and a terrace and more important very clean.They made it through the world guiness record for making the biggest pizza ever;and in the night upstairs they have the "BAR LA VITTA E BELLA" for an amazing collection of folding knifes and other cool stuff. Near the main square (zocalo), you can eat at El Mural, probably the best mole poblano in town also famous for other seasonal dishes and it_fs Spanish cuisine; for drinks with a view to the square go to Hotel Royalty, popular with locals and tourist. Hotel La Purificadora, a few blocks away offers a more sophisticated dinning and lodging experience. For those who want to venture to other neighborhoods, go to Restaurante La Noria with a beautiful mexican patio, enjoy contemporary Mexican cooking in what used to be a nice Hacienda. For more avantgarde food, go to Intro on Calzada Zavaleta, where Chef Angel Vazquez will pamper you with a weekly changing menu.

    Remember that Puebla has the most culinary schools in Mexico and these new professionals enjoy showing off their skills to locals and visitors alike.

  • .

    Drink

  • Pulque
  • Agua Miel
  • Tequila
  • Agua de Limon
  • Agua de Tamarindo
  • Agua de Jamaica
  • Horchata
  • Chocolate Mexicano
  • Atole (Cornmeal Drink)
  • Cafe de olla (coffee with cinnamon)
  • Pasitas (in los sapos)
  • VITTORIO_LS for a nice drink while viewing the zocalo and the catedral, its located just in the zocalo (Portal Morelos )
  • <drink name="El Mural de los Poblanos" alt="" address="16 de Septiembre 506" directions="" phone="222-2426696" url="www.elmuraldelospoblanos.com" hours="13:00 - 23:00" price="20 USD" lat="" long="">Traditional Cuisine</drink>

    Sleep

  • '''Casona de la China Poblana''', [http://www.casonadelachinapoblana.com/]. This 5 star contemporary hotel is housed in a construction typical of the Colonial architecture of the XVII Century as is named China Poblana, in memory of Catarina de San Juan _gvenerable servant of god_h. This boutique hotel blends in perfect harmony the classic style of the colonial era with the luxuries of the modern times.
  • '''Del Portal'''. Can get a room (very small balcony) that faces the zocola. The rooms don't have air conditioning only fans. The hotel provides small bottles of water. A bottle of ''pepto bismal'' would be an essential item to take just in case. They did not have wash cloths. Take some Dove facial cloths and used these as wash cloths. They do provide towels.
  • Holiday Inn Puebla. Oriente No.211, Centro Historico. 2-222-2236600. S$80-$120. ttp://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/puedt. Located in the heart of the historical district, the Holiday Inn provides upscale lodging for a reasonable price.
  • El Sueno Hotel. oriente No. 12 Centro Historico. 2-222-2326489. ttp://www.elsueno-hotel.com/english/spa.html. This Modern style hotel offers good deals on rooms with many amenities and hotel spa. The food offered by the hotel isn't traditional Mexican, instead offering Mediterranean dishes.

    Stay safe

    Buy bottled water. No one in Puebla drinks the tap water. Do not eat raw veggies or fruit unless they can be peeled or they have been well washed. Keep in mind that the vegetables can still be washed with tap water, making them unsafe for comsumption.

    If you have a backpack the locals can spot you as a tourist. If you carry a purse wear it around your neck and arm. Although, it is better not to carry one. Stay in populated areas. Being a tourist in Puebla during the day isn't bad because the city does attract many tourist but it would be best to try and blend in at night.

    At night the nicer restaurants prefer their patrons to dress nicer than just wearing jeans.

    Wearing shorts is another way locals can tell you are a tourist. Most people in Mexico in general will not wear shorts.

    If you are staying in a hotel and you want to take a taxi, someone working the front desk will most likely be able to call and arrange for a cab to pick you up, or you can hail one off the street, if you speak enough Spanish to be able to negogiate the price with the driver. In Puebla there are a multitude of taxis but your best bet will be a radio taxi which are easily identified by there black and yellow color. The radio taxis (222 2377777) are the best cabs in appearance and since they are registered they are also the safest. If you run into a friendly cab driver, it is a good idea to get his cell phone number, so you can call whenever you need safe transport.

    Get out