Cholula

The photos explained: View from church over Cholula to the mountains; mis compañeras Eva y Emily; the Cholola Zocalo with church in the background and video of drummers (the filing is rubbish, the sound is what's important!)

Now, I’ve been to Cholula! Cholula is a small town just outside of Puebla. It was recommended to me before I came to Mexico. It’s full of artsy-craftsy shops and locals selling their wares on the street (including fried or dried and chilli-fied grasshoppers. The high point (literally) is a big church built on top of an ancient pyramid (not sure whether Mayan, or some other ancient people). They’ve re-built some of the base of the pyramid. There was a ceremony going on in the church, though you could still peek in, great views of all around (including the mountains) and a dachshund that made me laugh trying to eat out of a cup. Bizarrely, the catholic church was blasting out Simon and Garfunkel.

Nice place to be, but really a smaller version of Puebla which also has loads of artsy-craftsy market stalls. Quite cold today – like August Bank Holiday Monday without the rain, but I think that’s about to come. We’re way above sea-level here (well over a mile apparently), which I suppose should make it generally cooler, but it has been uncharacteristically hot for October (so Gelos and the nice lady in the launderette tell me).

After more craft stalls we ended up in the Zocalo (main square) where there was a presentation of cultural groups, organised by the local council, including: chubby child ballerinas; traditional Mexican dancing (long frocks being swirled about); traditional Mexican dancing with blokes (definitely the inspiration for the jive); indigenous dancing (teenagers – male and female – jumping about in Aztec type gear wearing feathered head-dresses), and a kids drumming band. I am trying to upload the video as inspiration for the Swindon Samba Band! Also heard a brass band play ‘Land of Hope and Glory’!