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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

Unveil the Enchanting Streets of Puebla, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Embark on a journey through time as you explore the captivating streets of Puebla, Mexico. Puebla, the country's fourth-largest city, boasts a rich history and architectural splendor, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A World Heritage Gemstone Awaits

Just a two-hour drive from Mexico City, Puebla offers a world of its own. To be included on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List, a site must possess exceptional universal value. Puebla achieved this recognition in 1987, showcasing its significance across various categories like architecture, culture, and history.

Immerse Yourself in Puebla's Architectural Marvels

Wandering the streets of Puebla is like stepping into a bygone era. Puebla's historic center is a treasure trove of architectural gems, each street boasting unique beauty. Expect to be captivated by vibrant colonial buildings, adorned with intricate details and bathed in warm hues.

Beyond Words: Experience Puebla's Magic

While words can describe the beauty of Puebla's streets, nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand. Imagine strolling along charming avenues, marveling at historical buildings, and soaking in the city's vibrant atmosphere.

Plan Your Puebla Adventure Today

Puebla beckons you to discover its magic. Start planning your unforgettable trip to this captivating city and delve into its rich history, architectural wonders, and vibrant culture.

Below you will find some of her most beautiful streets and buildings.

Colorful Colonial buildings in Puebla, Mexico

Colorful Colonial buildings in Puebla, Mexico

All throughout Puebla you will see colorful Colonial buildings that have been restored to original condition. The streets are clean of trash and debris, and the sidewalks are wide and flatten out to the streets for easy access.

No broken curbs, no potholes, no missing chunks of concrete to stub your toe or fall into.

Lovely!

Notice in the center of this street is a map and signs explaining some history of this location. You will find these signs with historical information all over town.

Terrific Architecture in Puebla, Mexico

Stunning architecture and wrought iron

I don't know the name of this corner building, but the painting and wrought iron work is really beautiful. It can easily rival Europe.

The Circle K store on the bottom floor never had it so good!

Man sitting on the stoop, Puebla, Mexico

Man sitting on the stoop

Here is an older gentleman sitting on the stoop of this Church. Notice the Spanish style brass work on the door, and some talavera tile in the upper left of the photo.

The steps are stone, and the building itself has been made of local stone as well.

Three story brick and carved stone building

 

 

 

 

Another lovely brick and crafted stone building, with concrete balustrades and wrought iron balconies.

I can only imagine what the interiors look like!

Nicely done.

Casa del Afenique behind shoe shine kiosk, Puebla, Mexico

Casa del Afenique behind shoe shine kiosk

Afenique is a kind of sugar and almond candy, and this building is named for the intricate mortar work on its facade.

The home was left to the State in 1896, and was used to house the first public museum in the city of Puebla. The museum collection is over 1,500 pieces of historical nature.

Directional signs, Puebla, Mexico

Directional signs

All around the city of Puebla, you will find these directional signs letting you know where tourist attractions are located. Also, there are engraved metal signs posted on buildings and special stands explaining the history of the building or statue, as shown in a previous photo above.

One can easily do a walking tour on their own, with these directional signs showing the way, and the individual explanations given in both Spanish and English around town.

The Paseo Bravo is an urban park in the city.

The Museo Amparo is one of the most important historical museums in Mexico.

Calle de los Dulces is a street occupied by nothing other than candy shops. Puebla is known for their sweets.

Mercado la Victoria at the end of Calle de los Dulces

Mercado la Victoria at the end of Calle de los Dulces

 

 

 

 

The local sweets of Puebla have been considered a delicacy since Colonial times.

The first store to sell sweets and pastries on this street was founded in 1892 and became immediately successful. Soon the street filled up with other stores selling their ideas of delicious treats.

Now there are at least 40 of these dulcerias, with the owners often living upstairs above the shop.

Mexico has always had their style of desserts and sugary snacks, but the influence of the French and Arabians have made an impact on today's varieties.

Here you can buy the sugary skulls famous on Mexico's Days of the Dead and thousands are shipped all around Mexico from these shops.

This street is a must-see.

Rendition of a young woman making mole, Puebla, Mexico

Rendition of a young woman making mole

Puebla is famous for its mole, a sauce that begins with one or more types of chili peppers. The classic styles of the moles of Central Mexico and Oaxaca such as mole poblano and mole negro include two or more of the following chili peppers: ancho, pasilla, mulato and chipotle.

There are all sorts of other ingredients such as cumin, cloves, anise, garlic, dried fruit, ... and mole poblano has an average of about 20 ingredients. Oaxacan moles can have over 30 ingredients.

Chocolate, if it is used at all, is added at the very end of cooking.

Many families have their own varieties of mole passed down for generations, with their preparation reserved for special events in large batches.

Talavera pottery tiles on buildings in Puebla, Mexico

Talavera pottery tiles on buildings in Puebla

Talavera pottery made in Puebla is a mixture of of Chinese, Italian, Spanish and indigenous ceramic techniques. The authentic talavera only comes from the states of Puebla and Tlaxcala, Mexico.

What made production so prevalent in these states was the availability of clay and the great demand for tiles to cover churches and convents. There was a "golden age" of tile-making between the 17th and 18th centuries.

You will see this talavera tile on buildings all over Puebla.

The front building here has "El Parian" clearly marked on its awning. El Parian means "market" (coming from Tagalo in the Philippines) but now can also mean a craft area or store.

Cemitas sandwiches for sale, Puebla, Mexico

Sandwiches for sale

Puebla is known for their sandwiches too. Here they are called cemitas, and the filling comes on a sesame seed bun. They can have a pulled pork filling, beef leg, pounded and fried chicken breast or ham.

Actually, it's the bun that is called cemita, which was introduced by the French during the short, 4-year period of French Intervention in Mexico.

These cemita sandwiches are running less than $2USD. It makes for a very affordable lunch.

Notice all the talavera pottery in this store.

Colonial buildings in Puebla, Mexico

Another clean Colonial street in Puebla

Once again, there are handsome buildings, brightly painted and some have the talavera tile on their fronts.

This city has a stately attitude about it.

Wrought iron balconies and doors, Puebla, Mexico

Wrought iron balconies and doors

The legacy of the French is visible throughout the city illustrated by the elaborate wrought iron balconies and gates in Puebla.

In the historic government buildings and palaces, there are crystal chandeliers, another influence of the French.

Palacio Municipal, Town Hall, Puebla, Mexico

Palacio Municipal, Town Hall

The Municipal Palace in Puebla is the seat of the City Council. The current building was begun in 1887 and completed in 1906. This location was the seat of civil power since 1536, but there have been 3 different buildings on this location as the city grew and changed.

In 1714, in the second building, the corner of the second floor was reserved for the mayors. There was balcony, a chapter house and chapel. After the main door there was an audience room, a jail and the mayor's home.

Building signs in Braille, Puebla, Mexico

Building signs and street signs in Braille

There are many signs written in Braille on corners of buildings in Puebla.

Corporate buildings, hospitals, schools, universities and government agencies all have these signs in Braille.

Institute for Public Assistance, Puebla, Mexico

Institute for Public Assistance

Balustrades, talavera tile, and wrought iron balconies adorn the Public Assistance building in Puebla.

The corner of 9 East Avenue and South 2 Street, Puebla, Mexico

The corner of 9 East Avenue and South 2nd Street

The corner door on this bright orange and white building is a pastry shop, called Le Sucree Patisserie.

Looking down South 2nd street to the corner of 7 East Avenue, Puebla, Mexico

Looking down South 2nd street to the corner of 7 East Avenue

Again, no matter where you go in Puebla, the streets are clean, the sidewalks are wide, and the buildings are kept up. I imagine the UNESCO rating had a lot to do with this.

A stand selling tortas, tomales and atole, Puebla, Mexico

A stand selling tortas, tamales and atole

This is typical Mexican fare.

Atole is a traditional hot corn/masa beverage that dates back to the time of Mesoamerica, and comes from Nahuatl, the still-living language of the Aztecs.

Chocolate atole is known as champurrado or atole. It typically accompanies tamales, and is very popular during Days of the Dead and Las Posadas celebrations.

A tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish, made of corn/masa, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaf.

 A torta is a sandwich (a cousin of the cemitas) served on a roll or bun. Tortas can come in many varieties and can be served both hot or cold. Your torta Mexicana can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients including different types of meats, poultry and cheeses with beans, avocado, and peppers.

Museum of the Revolution, Puebla, Mexico

The Museum of the Revolution and previous home of Aquiles Serdan

 

 

 

 

Notice the bullet holes on the wall of this building.

Yes, real bullet holes.

This is considered to be the place where the Mexican Revolution began, November 18, 1910.

Aquiles Serdan was politically active in the anti-reelection of President Portfirio Diaz, and was accused of distributing propaganda against him. Police assaulted this building and Serdan and his family fought back. The police chief and Serdan were killed, and many members of Serdan's family were killed or injured.

Over time, the federal government acquired this building from the Serdan family and converted it into the Museum of the Revolution.

Curiously, La Gran Fama (see the Calle de los Dulces above) was operating its Dulceria next door at the time. Today, there is a placard in the shop naming the shop as a "witness to one of the most significant events in Mexico."

Puebla has a system of tunnels underneath the city dating back 500 years. Long considered an urban legend, these tunnels were rediscovered in 2015. This tunnel system is believed to extend for more than 10km, and are high enough so that a person could easily ride through on horseback.

Since they begin in the historic center of Puebla, and end at the Loreto fort where the Cinco de Mayo battle happened against the French, researchers consider that these tunnels were used by solders during the Battle of the Mexican Liberation.

For more photos and stories on Mexico, CLICK HERE

VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS! See Mexico for yourself! Beaches, Bars, Babes, Great Food, Live Music.

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

 

contact Billy and Akaisha at theguide@retireearlylifestyle.com

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