Last night Bob slept with a towel wrapped around his legs to ward off the cold. Now he's in bed looking like a Roman Catholic sister with one of my scarves around his head. The temp drops to 5 degrees at night and rooms have no heat.
After more than three weeks travelling with Susan, Alan and the boys, life seems strange, a bit lonely and definitely more leisurely. We're sauntering along looking at tile work and seeing buildings dating back to the 1600s.
Puebla is famous for its tile work begun by the indigenous people and enhanced by the Spaniards.
I'm taking a few Spanish classes and can see that within a couple of months I'd be very comfortable in the language. We both prefer Puebla to Oaxaca for a few reasons. There are no street vendors here -- at least in the historic centre.
That means no mess on the streets and way more room to walk because vendors take up a lot of the sidewalk. Also there's a visible professional class in Puebla, folks walking around with briefcases and so forth and more expensive items for purchase in stores.
Streets during siesta.
Bridesmaid dresses.
Many Mexicans are well dressed in this city and have disposable income. On the other hand newspapers are filled with political strife and mayhem. Thankfully not here.
This is still a land of contrasts. Despite the visible professional class, today I got almost knocked over by a guy coming out of a lane carrying a mattress on his shoulders. I'm protective of my purse and camera. But Bob said that a guy who was working on his computer in a restaurant left his table with everthing on it to go to the bathroom. So who knows.
We are definitely oddities here. When we stop to check our map, people ask to help. Folks are friendly and security everywhere -- armed federal, state, municipal, traffic and tourist police. Today on the way to class, I passed an older man sitting in the midst of five municipal police. He had collapsed and they were assisting him. The police are professional. They observe and don't seem to miss much.
People are educated. The Puebla university is mostly free, supported by the government and by the private sector that receives tax concessions in return -- although entrance comes with good marks. Book stores are everywhere and well stocked. A good sign.
I can't imagine living here though -- mostly because of the food. I don't like bread and sugar. People love tortillas, tacos, beans, eggs and pastry. They get their veggies cooked in salsa. So we both long for fresh fruit and vegetables. My clothes are getting looser!
On Saturday we're going to visit Cholula, a city not far from here and the site of the largest pyramid in the world and we've never even heard of it. Bonkers.
I guess the chilly air is preparing us for home on Sunday. As an aside, if you want to purchase prescription glasses or have dental work done, this is the country. I had two pair of glasses made at less than half the cost today. Teeth are next.
More to follow :)
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