I wish I could say that arriving in the colonial city of Puebla was dejavú, but the truth is, nothing looked familiar. I first visited Puebla in 1973, staying in a boarding house for the first month of studies at the University of the Americas in nearby Cholula. In August 2017, it is a bustling modern city that’s kept much of its old-world beauty and charm. We were pleasantly surprised.

The convent of San Francisco one of the oldest churches in Puebla circa 1535
I had reserved an Airbnb in the historic district and spent a bit more money than usual. We were not disappointed. In Mexico it is common to walk an unremarkable street of high privacy walls and intriguing doorways. We stepped through one of those doors to inner city paradise.
During our stay, our hosts directed us to the best mole (MÓ lay); is there any OTHER reason to go to Puebla? We wandered exquisite old churches, artist markets, homes converted into museums, and even a free concert. I did not expect to fall in love with Puebla. This city is definitely a contender for retirement locations.

Tres moles – poblano, rojo and my new favorite pipian (pumpkinseed)
No trip to Puebla would be complete without a visit to La Estrella de Puebla, the Star of Puebla, a very large ferris wheel. After some deep breathing I joined Lisa the adventurer and I’m so glad I did. No fear!

The weather made this adventure challenging, but we did not give up.
Puebla was so much fun and worth the time. Our AirBnB hosts certainly added to the experience.

Luis and Malu (who fed us many local delights).
The world is filled with many delightful people and places. Puebla unexpectedly is near the top of our list.
DOS TORTAS
Share Your Thoughts