Puebla

See the party we were invited to lower in the page.  BT at his best for the party below

Founded by the Spanish in 1531, Puebla is the fourth largest city in Mexico, with a population of 1.1 million.

A bastion of conservatism, Catholicism and tradition, Puebla can sometimes feel as if the colonial era in Mexico never quite ended. For the most part this is a positive thing, giving Puebla its fantastic colonial center, a stunning cathedral and a wealth of beautiful churches.

The city is well worth a visit, with 70 churches in the historic center alone, more than a thousand colonial buildings adorned with the a painted ceramic tiles for which the city is famous, and a long culinary history that can be explored in any restaurant or food stall.

Its charming architecture and well-preserved colonial imprint in no way make the city feel like a museum piece, and part of its attraction is that it’s so clearly a thriving city yet it still takes great pride in its past.

Dudes we had a great time.  I would say I could live here.  It is located 80 miles southeast of Mexico City in the state of Puebla. Situated at an elevation of over 7,000 feet among mountain ranges and snow-capped volcanoes, Puebla enjoys a year-round spring-like climate. A few city shots below

 

The layout of the city is of classic Spanish design, centered on a main plaza, today called the Zocalo (above). 

The Cathedral (above), took 300 years to complete. The Cathedral was begun in 1575 under orders of Philip II of Spain by architects Francisco Becerra and Juan de Cigorondo. The building was consecrated in 1649 even though only half of the walls and much of the roof were missing and the towers not yet built. The complex consists of fourteen chapels in various styles with numerous artistic works such as the main cupola and the main altar, both decorated by Cristóbal de Villalpando. The facade is classified as late Baroque in transition to Neoclassical, with Doric and Corinthian columns. Its bell towers stand at just under 70 meters high, the tallest in Mexico. The seating in the choir is made of parquetry of fine woods, onyx and ivory of Moorish design. The two organs were donated by Charles V (below)

In the crypt under the Cathedral, numerous statues of saints and angels made of onyx can be seen. We also went to many other mueseums.

The Museo Amparo (Amparo Museum above) is housed in two colonial-era buildings from the 17th and 18th centurie. The museum has fourteen exhibition halls with pottery, steles and sculptures from the Zapotec, Huasteca, Maya, Olmec and Aztec cultures as well as fine furniture and religious objects from the colonial period and examples of contemporary art. These represent the three epochs of Mexican history, pre-Columbian, colonial-era and post-Independence. Seven of the halls are dedicated to pre-Columbian pieces.

The Biblioteca Palafoxiana (Palafoxiana Library above) was established in 1646 by Juan de Palafox y Mendoza for the Seminary of Puebla. It was the first library in the Americas and is the only one to survive to the present day. The main room is in Baroque style and was constructed in 1773 by Bishop Francisco Fabian y Fuero who also named the institution after Palafox. Today the library contains over 42,000 books, 5,000 manuscripts and other items, which date from 1473 to 1910. The Library was named a Historic Monument of Mexico and UNESCO has made it part of Memory of the World

The Museo de Arte (Museum of Art) originally was founded in 1541 to be a church and a hospital. Eventually it was established as the Hospital of San Pedro y San Pablo under the direction of the Cathedral of Tlaxcala. In 1917, the hospital moved to new facilities in the city. In 1998, a project to restore the building for its use as Puebla Museum of Viceregal Art. In 2002, this museum was converted into the San Pedro Museum of Art, which exhibits works from various epochs.

The Church of Santo Domingo (above )is located on 5 de Mayo Street. The main portal is of pure classic style finished in gray cantera stone. It consists of three levels with paired Doric-like columns. The Chapel was built between 1650 and 1690 and was the first to be dedicated to the Our Lady of the Rosary. The chapel is filled with symbolism, as it is filled with images and elements which are representative of the Baroque of New Spain. This symbolism is principally meant to aid with the evangelization process. The chapel contains three themes important to the Church, the mysteries of the rosary, the virtues associated with it and the Virgin of the Rosary herself. The cupola is in the shape of the crown of the Virgin Mary.

The best-known mole is named after the city of Puebla, mole poblano below with chilies.  Wow smoking delicious!!!

Chills below and this area is know for them. 

Puebla was well known for its fine ceramics, especially for the style that would be called Talavera. Talavera pottery below

 

This has been due to the abundance of quality clay in the region, drawing some of the best artisans. Between 1550 and 1570, Spanish potter from Talavera de la Reina in Spain came to Puebla to teach the locals European techniques of using the potter’s wheel and tin-glazing. By the mid-17th century, the industry here had become well-established. Guilds were formed and ordinances passed to ensure quality. Blue was used only on the most expensive pieces due to the cost of the mineral used to produce it.

Another impetus to the rebirth of Puebla tile was that collectors found out about it. In 1904 an American named Emily Johnston de Forest traveled to Mexico with her husband and discovered Talavera. She established contact with scholars, collectors, and dealers who assisted her in building her collection. Eventually her collection was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

We stayed at the El Sueno, below an over the top boutique hotel.

wow wow wow.  Very artsy with finely decorated rooms and bathrooms.  They offered a full spa service with steam, sauna and fine dinning with great wines.  There was a roof top deck for cocktails. Photos below of the walk way  to our room

The Sauna, they call this another name which I forgot

Outside hot tub below

                                                                                                                                                                                         

            We went to this over the top smoking cool costume party.  Hectar below next 2 photos, the owner of the awesome hotel.

 

It was a costume birthday party with young ” beautiful hot chicks” Here I am trying to pick up a “hot Chick” below  and handsome young men all professional and well educated doctors, lawyers and so on.  Paul McCartney below????

 

We had:  cocktails below, way way to to many!!!!

 

 

Hors Devourves, seated four course scrumtioous dinner followed by a production of a play, music, light show and dancing.

 

 

 

It went until 6 AM and I had a very bad hangover.  Shots below

 


Hot Chick below in MINI skirt yea!!!!!

The play below and dancing below

 







La Conjura

To end the trip we ate at one of the finest restaurants in Mexico called Conjura.  Wow this was over the top!! The food, ambiance, service and wine selection.  It is in a catacomb like place that is huge and leads to an underground structure and then opens up into a housing complex of great magnitude.

This is fine dinning at its best.  We ate in a sub terranian crypt.  I had an incredible filet and Arden Salmon and Marie had a vegan dish.  Wine over the top. The great and fun loving owner below with his friend.

 

Sub terranean crypt and Marie, Arden and I below dinning and winning

Various photos below
ceramics above and hotel below.  Pool at the hotel which is more decorative as Puebla is not hot