Puebla de los ángeles
During the stay in Mexico, and one of the reasons for having gone there, was a visit to the city of Puebla, about two hours away from Mexico City, to meet the little baby of one of my god children. I have seven god children, but this baby is the first “grand god child”, although the family connection does not really exists with that name, is the easiest way to explain our relation. He was born October 14, 2017 and is a sweet, quiet and smily little one. Of course his parents and grandparents, as well as his auntie dot on him and according to his mom, his first fortune cookie read “you shall be the center of attention of many people” and he is indeed. it is hard to say if he resembles his mom, but he certainly has his dad’s eyes and as he continues growing, we shall find the similarities to all and sundry members of the family. The visit was a full success, the kid is just super and the city where he was born and lives is very beautiful.
During my stay we visited two new museums, new for me at least, that were extraordinary. One was the Museo Amparo, in the center of the city, with lots of great exhibits covering the culture of the region and one particularly interesting wall where they illustrate the comparison in a time line of different cultures of the world, so it is possible to see that while in Mexico we were building fantastic pyramids in Europe they were in the Middle Ages, and so on. Many hours would be necessary to study all the comparisons, some of which are hard to believe as in many instances we have been led to believe, wrongly it appears, that the European palaces and cathedrals are examples of a more advance civilisation, while pyramids and temples of the Americas are proof of backwardness. Nothing could be further away from reality. The analysis of that very well presented comparative table helps to put each and every culture in its right place, in time and in importance. Maybe I can share with you some of the elements.
Museo Amparo – Puebla
The second museum visited during the visit to Puebla was the Museo del Barroco, housed in an extremely modern and well set museum, all but baroque, which helps to enhance the beauty of both eras. The sections inside cover music, architecture, painting, literature, sculpture, life and death. The museography is very well and clearly done, the pieces are great and looking at all these in the context of an ultramodern museum is just mind bogging.
Puebla is famous for the Mole poblano, which has become an example of the typical Mexican cuisine, although Mexican cuisine is so diverse and varied that one single dish does not really represent it. However, when in Puebla eat poblano, so we had to try mole in many of its forms and colours, pipian which is made of pumpkin seeds, tlacoyos (tortilla based), tamales (corn fower stuffed with different sauces and meats and steamed), camote (sweet potatoes ) and whatever came in front of us. In Mexico it is not difficult to find something to eat, what is difficult is to choose from among the various delicacies around, such as huitlacoches – corn mushrooms, pumpkin flowers stuffed, fried, cooked, etc, quesadillas (corn tortillas with cheese or any other filling available) and for breakfast what more Mexican than a nice hot frothy chocolate! with sweet bread such as conchas, orejas, puchas, banderillas, campechanas, semitas and many others.
Mexican markets are very colourful experiences, it does not matter if it is a food market, clothing, arts and crafts or all of the above together. It is impossible to miss them, they show their wares with panache and elegance in the color combinations, you cannot miss the pinks, yellows, red or blue, bright green or golden colours of all things, blouses, pots and pans, the unavoidable t-shirts, handbags, dresses etc. In the food markets the fruits and vegetable stalls besides showing all kinds of fruits and vegetables to more than cover your 5-a-day needs for a year, they are presented so that you would like to try them all. you want an avocado for today and one for three days from now, just ask the seller, she/he will choose them for you and will be perfect, needless to touch and crush ll fruits and veggies, just let them choose for you. Among the many fruits on display, the mango always pulls me with a very strong magnetism. Its color, yellow-orange, well mango color is joy and happiness in itself, its flavour, do not even mention it, because there are several varieties, and sizes but the shape and color is almost always the same. A mango smells heavenly, tastes delicious and leaves you with a feeling of wellbeing that cannot be compared to any other. The best are the Manila variety, with firm flesh, incredible color and smell and it just melts in your mouth. Should you decide to make sherbet with its flesh is heavenly pleasure, in a fruit salad, you do not need many other fruits to be happy and you can have a mango any day, at any time and it will never disappoint you.
The Volcanoes
Between Mexico City and Puebla we find the Popocatepetl also known as Don Goyo and its bride, the Iztaccihuatl or Sleeping Woman. These two volcanoes guard the big City, protect it and also sometimes threaten it, particularly Don Goyo that some days wakes up coughing and spews ashes all over the place. The threat is there, but it has not really fully woken up for many decades, and the people who live in the surrounding hill for the most part refuse to leave even when told that the eruption is imminent. The Popo has the typical conical form of most volcanoes, although in one of the last few eruptions, the cone became irregular, like in a diagonal. However, in the center, if you are courageous enough climb the Popo you will be able to see a lake of melted snow. My father climbed and went down to the lake several times in his youth, even I was introduced to snow on the bottom of the Popo, at that time it was always covered in snow from the middle up but this was over 60 years ago, many moons ago and now when I saw it last the Popo was totally devoid of snow, probably due to the lack of rain, which at that altitude turns into snow, probably again climate warming or any other phenomenon I do not know about. The legend of these two volcanoes es very romantic, since it is said that he, don Goyo or el Popo is an Aztec warrior that is guarding his beloved lady during her sleep.
- Popocatepetl
This morning I received from other of my god children an incredible photo of the Itza just as the sun is coming out, here it is with my thanks to the photographer.
On Saturday I received another great picture, this time from the other side of the volcanoes, sent by my god child, the mother of the baby visited short time ago. With her permission, please enjoy it, the Popo looks more magnificent than usual.
Looking for some photos of the Popo I found quite a few of my father from almost 80 years ago, inside the crater. They might be interesting.
These are photos, on top, of the second crater of the Popo, lower left the main crater with two vents and the lower right is my father, especial attention to his shoes! All taken April 8, 1939!
Mementos of my life 