I bet you are wondering where you might want to stay in Cholula? Well, GOOD NEWS, we found a few wonderful places. Our favorite by far is the Hotel Real de Naturales.
We get a discount - so be sure to mention you are with the Aspnes-Paleta wedding. The rates are:
2 person room (Like the picture) ~$50 /Day 4 person room ~$68 /Day (Depending on the exchange rate) (Limited number of Hair Dryers) :P
However, there may not be enough hotel rooms for everyone. So, RESERVE EARLY!!!!
But don't worry. We have a backup hotel. Hotel Plaza Santa Rosa on the Zocalo. The rooms aren't as nice, but they are a little less expensive. And they have a beautiful 3-D mural. For reservations use the above contact (Fabian will get you a discount here too.) http://www.mexicoquerido.com.mx/puebla/es/servicios/hoteles/hu.php?_id=35
Feel free to arrive to Cholula how ever you like. We have found the easiest way to go is to fly directly to Puebla, Mexico (PBC). Cholula is only 15 minutes away.
If you can't find a flight to Puebla you can fly to Mexico City and take a bus from inside the airport to 4 Poniente Terminal Puebla on the Estrella Roja Bus Line (about 2 hours.) The bus tickets are sold on the main floor of the airport across the skyway over the road (as shown in the map below or there is a cool interactive map here.) The buses leave every half hour and are a very comfortable way to travel.
Once in Puebla, you can take a taxi to Cholula or rent a car.
We encourage people explore Mexico City but driving in Mexico City is an extreme sport and we want each one of you to arrive to the wedding in one piece.
In Pre-Columbian times, Cholula was a sacred city, a place of pilgrimage, and a large and important commercial center. Later it became a refuge for Toltec scholars. It was also the victim of one of the Conquest’s cruelest episodes: the Cholula massacre. But it survived and reestablished its identity during the Colonial Period. Cortez described Cholula as “the most beautiful city outside of Spain.”
Cholula, whose Nahuatl name means “place of flight,” became one of Mesoamerica’s principal religious centers. After 35 centuries of continuous occupation, this city is the oldest continually inhabited city in the Americas and has endured as a sacred place despite events such as the 1519 massacre and pillaging ordered by Cortez.
A center of religious worship since pre-Hispanic times, Cholula lies at the foot of an enormous pyramid crowned by a church, a symbol of the regions’ cultural syncretism and Spanish domination. According to legend, when Coretz arrived here during the Conquest he thought he saw a great number of towers and domes and exclaimed with astonishment to have seen “as many as the days of the year.”
WALKING TOUR OF CHOLULA
Cholula is a wonderful place to walk. If you are staying at the Hotel Real de Naturales, you are just a few blocks from the center of the city and from the Pyramid. The main plaza of Cholula, which has numerous restaurants and cafes, is a good spot to relax and enjoy the ambience of this charming city. Just off the plaza to the south is Avenue Morelos, which leads to the Pyramid. This street is filled with shops, including Talavera de las Americas, which sells quality Talavera Pottery. Other shops contain indigenous textiles and artifacts from the area.
Pyramid of Cholula
The Great Pyramid of Cholula is the world’s largest pyramid in total volume.It is 213’ high and its base is about 400 meters per side.Since the 1930’s archeologists have dug 5 miles of tunnels through the pyramid, identifying at least four stages of construction between 200 BCE and 800 CE.Visitors can enter the tunnels on the north side and emerge on the east side.
Opposite the entrance to the tunnel is a museum that contains a large cut-away model of the pyramid and well as many artifacts from the area.It is well worth a visit because it offers a nice overview of the history of Cholula.Look for the Bebedores (drinkers) and Mariposas (butterfly) Murals and for sculptures of Quetzalcoatl (the plumed serpent and Cholula’s main god).It also contains several items from the Toltec era.
Digs on the south side of the pyramid have revealed the Patio de los Altares, an area of astounding acoustics probably originally used for public ceremonies.This site dates from 4-6C CE.It is surrounded by taludes (slopping walls) surmounted by tableros (verticle panels), and dotted with remarkable altar-plaques.Part of a huge staircase has been reconstructed.
On top of the pyramid is the Church of Nuestra Senora de los Remediosdating from1874.This church has been rebuilt a number of times due to earthquakes.The wonderful view from the atrium takes in Puebla, the volcanoes, and Cholula’s many other churches.
La Plaza de la Concordia (the Zocalo)
La Plaza de la Concordia is the zocalo (main square or town center) of Cholula. The Zocalo is surrounded by many resturants, hotels and shops. In the Zocalo you will find a park with many street vendors and street performers (including juggling clowns)
and a stage for concerts and other events. On the west side of the zocalo is an arcade called El Portal Guerrero.It was built by indigenous people in 1593 to be used as a shelter during local festivities.In 1646 it was rebuilt and today has 46 arches and Doric columns that form a long gallery
containing numerous restaurants and cafes.On the north end of the zocalo is San Pedro ParishChurch which was founded byBishop Palafox in the 17C.Just off the Plaza is Casa del Caballero Aguila originally a 16th century home.It now houses a museum that features artifacts from the area as well as exhibits of contemporary artists.
Convento de San Gabriel
Though founded in 1529, the Franciscan San Gabriel Convent was actually built between 1549 and 1552.It was constructed on the site where the main Pre-Columbian Cholulan temple dedicated to Quetzalcoatl once stood.The main church in the complex has a single nave with rib vaulting and Gothic tracery decorated in the neoclassic style. This is the church where we will get married. To the left of the main church is the Capilla Real also called Capi Indios (Indian Chapel).It has 49 mosque like domes and a total of seven naves as well as side chapels.It boasts some 70 different vaulted ceilings and cupolas.The architecture is reminiscent of Arab mosques built in Spain and is one of a kind in Mexico
Talavera de la Reyna
The technique of making glazed ceramics, originally from the town of Talalvera de la Reina in Spain, arrived in the State of Puebla in the mid 16th century.Though Talavera production fell into decline in Spain after 450 years, it reached new heights in Mexico.Today it is the art form most identified with the State of Puebla.
Though easy to find, not all Talavera pieces are of the same quality.In 1997, Mexico established regulations to guarantee traditional production practices.Currently, only 18 workshops are certified producers that follow these guidelines.One of them is Talaverade la Reyna in Cholula.In addition to the workshop, the company has a
showroom where you can purchase tiles, dinnerware, vases etc.Showroom hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00-6:30 and Saturday from 9:00-1:00.Guided tours of the workshop are available Monday–Saturday between 9:00-1:00.The workshop is located on Camino a la Carcana, outside of Cholula.The Talavera from this workshop is also sold at the Museo Amparo in Puebla.
Popocatepetl
Popocatepetl is an active volcano and at 17,802 feet is the second highest peak in Mexico.It can be seen regularly from Mexico City.It is one of the three tall peaks in Mexico that contains a glacier.It has had 20 major eruptions since the arrival of the Spanish in 1519 and today is monitored carefully.In December 2000, thousands of people were evacuated by the government based on the warnings of scientists and the volcano created its largest display in 1200 years. Cholula often will get ash from the eruptions however it is not close enough to be in danger from an eruption.
Aztec Legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl Mountains
There are many versions that account for these two mountains in Aztec mythology.One tells the story of an Aztec princess Ixtac who wanted to marry prince Popo from another tribe.After a lifetime together, these two die, are buried and become two mountains.The two mountains, Popocatepetl (“Smoking Mountain”) and Iztaccihuatl (“Sleeping Lady”) are named after the lovers.
Mountain Biking
About a 10 minute ride from the Zocalo is a great hill for mountain biking. It contains many kilometers of single track with a elevation gain of aproximately 300 meters (1000 ft). You will find beautiful views of the volcano, Cholula and the pyramid. If there is enough interest I will set up a Mt. Bike ride on Wednesday or Thursday before the wedding.
Live Music
There are many venues for live music in Cholula. Near the pyramid you can find some local music, jazz and other types of "sit down" music. Closer to the University you can find bars that have everything from raggae to rock to funk to get your boggie on.
