DAY 8 SEP 30, THURSDAY

PUEBLA

A superb day trip option for those wanting to enjoy a smaller-city experience from Mexico City involves a scenic drive past famous Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes to Puebla and Cholula. Referred to by locals as the "City of Angels," Puebla is a delight to explore and we decided on 1 3 day stay. We had the room at CDMX for 15 days, left most of our stuff there and took just a small bag to Puebla.

LOGISTICS

The bus ride from Mexico City’s TAPO terminal Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente Calz. Ignacio Zaragoza 200, 10 de Mayo 15290 is a cheap and comfortable way to get there (200 MXN or about $10 USD each way on Estrella Roja or ADO bus lines). https://www.ado.com.mx/capu CAPU terminal in Puebla.

There are buses from Mexico City's TAPO station to Puebla about every 15-30 minutes. You can take the metro to the San Lazaro station to get to TAPO. ADO runs the DF-Puebla route, as does Estrella Roja. Those buses go to CAPU, Puebla's main bus terminal. From there, it's a short cab ride to the Centro.

we arrived 3 minutes before PUEBLA 9 AM bus departure at CDMX TAPA Terminal. The ticket counter lady told us the next bus is at 11, but we can catch this one in a minute and pointed at the gate. we bought the tickets, we walked, put our bags through scanner, showed the tickets for checking and got into the bus they pointed.

Took 2 minutes. and the bus started off at once.

HISTORY

Puebla city was founded by the Spanish in 1531, and unlike other colonial cities in Mexico, it wasn’t built over an existing indigenous settlement. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated French forces in Puebla -- an event celebrated annually as the Cinco de Mayo holiday.

Surrounded by striking volcanoes and mountains, the city’s colorful and well-preserved historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site [there are 2000 heritage buildings]. Here you'll find an abundance of Spanish colonial treasures, including a wealth of beautiful churches and buildings decorated with painted Talavera ceramic tiles. While some buildings were damaged during the September, 2017 earthquake, most are open to visitors and are worth exploring.

We reached Puebla terminal CAPU in 2 hours, took an uber to our hotel.

After checkin, walked in the Historic center enjoying the colorful beauty.

Visited a church on the way.

MUSEO AMPARO

Reached the museum and entered

Beautiful exhibits.

There were some contemporary pieces on some floors

Back to the days of yore

Again came into a courtyard

Thought we have seen all the floors and went up to the terrace and enjoyed the stunning views

LAVENDER BUSHES IN PLANTERS

So beautiful and fragrant

On the way back, son noticed that we have missed one floor. I was fed up with the contemporary exhibits on many floors, which were downright abysmal and wanted to leave.

Thankfully we did check out the floor we had missed, it was AMAZING like rest of the traditional exhibits in that museum

It had period rooms too and was lovely.

COLORFUL CENTRO

LIBRARY

Popped into the Palafoxiana Library, a handsome building in Puebla’s Casa de la Cultura (40 MXN to enter, or about $2 USD). Founded in 1646, it’s considered to be the first public library in Mexico, and perhaps even in the Americas.