Hola! Bienvenidos! Welcome to beautiful Cholula!
Buenos dias! Good morning Country Collectors. If you tuned in last week you know we are in the Mexican
state of Puebla. And as much as we enjoyed its capital city we have moved west just 13 kilometers
to the historic Pueblo Magico of Cholula! We can't wait to show you around but before we get started
make sure to hit that subscribe button and ring the bell so you don't miss out on any of our
future adventures! And stick around to the end when we share some more of our recommendations. Let's do this!
To get here from Puebla was super easy. We paid 80 pesos for an Uber and it took about a
half an hour. Well now that we're here let's check out our place! We booked this airbnb for $37 USD a night.
It has a well equipped kitchen and dining area, a nice sized bedroom with a very comfortable bed.
It's located in a cozy apartment complex with dedicated spaces to relax outside. It's a quiet
space except for the church bells, fireworks and jazz club next door. It's a very lively city. We
recommend heading over there though. They have great music, food and cocktails. And don't forget
those jazz hands! Adam made me do that! Well let's hit the streets and see what Cholula has to offer!
So when we found out about the city of Cholula Adam said, "the place where they
make the hot sauce?" Which would make sense right? But after doing some research we found out that
it's actually made in Chapala, Jalisco but it was inspired by the city. Which is the oldest
continually inhabited city in North America! Chances are if you're visiting Cholula the
main reason is to see the Great Pyramid as well as Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
which was built on top of it. But before we get to that we have some other fun things to
do first. Let's go! When you arrive to Cholula you're gonna notice it is a city of two towns,
San Pedro and San Andrés which are separated by the archaeological zone. San Andrés is a bit more
hip. It attracts a younger crowd due to its large population of university students. And San Pedro
is a bit more traditional and family oriented. But they both have a great food scene and nightlife as
well. We definitely recommend checking them both out. But since we are staying here in San Pedro
it's where we're gonna start! And you know the best place to do that is in the zocalo! This large open
area is the main meeting point in town. It's a great place to come down and spend some time,
browse the open air market, and enjoy the landscaping. And check this out! This artist made
a bird house as well as a bird. Though I don't think this bird is going to fit in that house!
He ate a big breakfast!
They also have this lovely little kiosk up here where you can get a 360 view of the entire zocalo!
And it looks like Adam is the squirrel whisperer! I don't know why I like squirrels so much more in
Mexico but I love them here! Yeah they're funny. Surrounding the zocalo you will find some great
restaurants, cafes, statues. They have a beautiful fountain as well as the massive El Convento de San
Gabriel Archangel. Built in the 16th century this convent is one of the oldest convent complexes
in Mexico and like many of the colonial churches here they were built by slave labor, that being the
hands of the indigenous. I know it's easy to look at these buildings and just think wow they're so
beautiful or grand but it's so important to know the history behind them so if you would like to
learn more there are guides on site here that can help you with that. Just up from the zocalo is the
municipal market! We haven't been there yet but if you know us we are suckers for local markets
so let's head there and see what we can find! Welcome to San Pedro's main market. This place
is open at 7am to 7pm todos los dias or every day. It looks pretty sweet! Whenever you head to a
new place we recommend popping into the markets. It's where you're going to get a real taste of
the local culture as well as where you are going to find some specialty foods. So let's go see what Poblano
treats we can get our hands on! Ooh sounds good to me! And as soon as we walked in we are already
hitting the jackpot. This is a local beverage here it's made from cacao, water and some sugar.
She's frothing it up which is what is giving it this beautiful bubbliness on top. Let's try it out!
Wow! It is like super cacao it also is served traditionally in one of these bowls here that just
makes it even more authentic for me! I'm digging this! Sorry you're going to get your own babe!
That's okay! Mmmm
Let's go see what else we can find in here. I'm feeling a little peckish! You have a chocolate
mustache! Oh I do! At least I have a mustache because if you don't know me I can't grow a
mustache so I'm very happy about it. And if you're staying here for a little bit this is a wonderful
spot to come down and get your produce as well as your meat. There's a few carnicerias in here.
And not only can you come and buy some fresh cuts of meat they're also cooking it up for people. So
if you need a snack you can get that here too! I really like this place. It seems like they have
everything from pickled vegetables to pinatas! It's a one-stop shop. Now let's go look for some more to
eat. We have found ourselves here at La Fonda Violeta and we are not only drawn here by the huge vats
of moles and dishes that they have out front but these lovely ladies right here! They are so
sweet! And we asked them what they recommended and they said the most traditional like Cholulan or
Poblano dishes are the mole poblano and the pipian verde. I went with the pipian verde which
is a green mole but it is made with toasted ground pumpkin seeds. And I got it over enchiladas stuffed
with cheese, so this is a good vegetarian option. And Adam got... The chilaquiles with mole poblano
which are made with poblano peppers and chocolate. Which means I've already had chocolate twice
today! I'm super excited let's jump in! Oh man that looks so good. I watched her fry this up in the pan.
Wow! That mole is very thick and it has a super rich flavor. The chocolate is subtle and there's
some spice on the end. I'm really digging it! One of my favorite things about moles
is the variety of them. You can have the same mole but it tastes completely different from one person
to the other just depending on how they make it. I have never tried this before, let's taste it out!
Wow! Very creamy. It's light. You can taste a bit of that pumpkin and boy does she have a
heavy hand with that spice. It's really tasty! That delicious meal was 100 pesos and it was
perfection. But the best part was right here. Maria Elena not only prepared it but she is
the sweetest lady you will ever meet. So make sure to come by La Fonda Violeta and say hello and grab
some delicious traditional food! All right we have a lot more to do let's hit the road!
Gracias! Gracias!
And what a gorgeous day to be exploring the city with you! We are so happy you're here with us! After
that savory lunch we were craving something sweet so we came over to Coyotitla Heladeria and got something
A-MAIZ-ING. That's right! This ice cream is made with maiz, leche (milk), some sugar and then natural
flavors. This one here is blue corn. This is made with cacao. And then this can you guess what it is...
It's Chile en Nogada which is also a specialty dish here from the region. It looks so good! Let's
jump in! Wow what a unique experience and they even serve the corn ice cream in a corn husk. This
could be more corny than me! I don't think it's possible. I don't think it's possible either but you know what I'm gonna jump
right into these! Let's start with the chocolate. Mmmm number three for me today. Right. And the blue corn.
Oh wow that's even more delicious than the chocolate. And now I''m gonna go for the specialty, the Chile
en Nogada. And as you can see it is actually representative of the colors of the Mexican flag.
I'm feeling very patriotic as I eat this! I love the pomegranate seeds. Mmm wow you know it's it's
grainy and it kind of sticks to your tongue so the flavor is just like this wash in your mouth. I am
really enjoying this! You gotta try some of this babe. This is a tasty treat for sure! When you're in
Cholula you're gonna wanna head here! We're gonna finish these up and then go and head to the pyramid!
Come along! There are a couple of spots to buy your tickets into the archaeological zone but
we recommend coming here to Avenida Morelos. You can see the spot right across the street here.
The tickets are 85 pesos each and included is the entrance into the Site Museum which is just
across the street. There you're gonna find a replica of the pyramid as well as some artifacts
and information that can really enrich your experience here. Well let's go and head into the zone!
After leaving the site museum while you're heading to the archaeological zone you will run into the
Regional Museum of Cholula. Its eight exhibition rooms detail the history and culture of the region.
And it's one of the most comprehensive museums we've been to in Mexico! And I have to say we are
loving the weather here. It is July right now so it's the summer. It has been raining a bit in the
afternoon and at night but it is nice and dry. And we're up at 5,000 feet (actually 7,000) so it might take a little
bit to get acclimated to. And make sure you're drinking a lot of water! And as we're walking
through this ancient city I want you to picture it thriving! 2,500 years ago in 500 BC is when
this civilization began and over the years it was home to ancient cultures such as the Olmecs, Toltecs
and Mexica. And you can do your own research but if you don't want to they do have guides available.
We heard the price was 250 pesos and they will take you through this entire archaeological zone
and explain everything to you in detail. This site was a very important religious and cultural center
where many made pilgrimage to to honor the god Quetzalcoatl in which the great pyramid was built for.
I'm so glad that we went to that museum first and saw that model because it's hard to picture
this pyramid behind me here, but it's actually massive. It's 60 meters tall and 400 meters at
its base making it the largest pyramidal base in the world and the largest pyramid by volume. It
was built over a thousand years by the different cultures that lived here. And I am so impressed
when I look at it! Something feels sacred here and I understand why the people made pilgrimages from
all over the country to be here. During the Spanish Conquest, Hernan Cortes came through Cholula on the
way to Tenochitlan. While he was leaving he got wind that the Cholulans were planning an attack,
so before they left they rounded up the city's warriors and nobles to this spot right here
and said their goodbyes. That day in the days following thousands of Cholulans were executed,
their religious sites destroyed, and the city was ransacked. This is known as the Cholula Massacre.
After the massacre, Hernan Cortes ordered the building of 365 churches in this area here. Only 37
were completed, including this one right here that they built on top of the pyramid. Let's go check
it out. And when you exit the archaeological zone you're gonna find yourselves here in Parque Soria.
This gets especially busy on the weekends. There are a lot of street food vendors and a market
here as well. And a little further down there is a lively area with bars and restaurants. This is
also where you can find the San Pedro Cholula sign which is a great place to snap a photo! All
right let's go head up to the church. And this has a bit of an incline so just be prepared for that.
I have seen some people working out here in the morning. Definitely great exercise. And I found that
walking up stairs if you go side to side it makes it a lot easier. Kind of like traversing the steps.
There's a church bell! Just a few more steps. We've almost made it! Si se puedes! Si se puedes! (Yes you can!)
You almost made it babe! That small trek up here was absolutely worth it. Here is the beautiful
iglesia shining in that afternoon sunlight. And from here you get a 360 degree view of the
entire city and we recommend coming in the early morning or evening when the cloud cover has
dissipated over the volcanoes and the mountains. It is open from Monday until Sunday 7am to 7pm. And
while we're up here appreciating this beauty we want to appreciate our newest patrons! Jen, Brandon,
Will, Jessica and Jared! Thank you so so much! You guys are the coolest! Yeah you helped make all
this possible and we're just super appreciative of you. If you'd like to join our Patreon community
we'll put the link in the description below! But we have a lot more to do today so we better head down!
Come along. And something we unfortunately didn't get to explore are tunnels that actually go
underneath the pyramid. They're closed to the pandemic so hopefully when you come
they'll be open. Let's keep going! We have found ourselves on the other side of the
Iglesia now in San Andrés and we just sat down here in this lovely park! It is so peaceful!
People are just hanging out, riding their bikes. The view of the church is stunning. And they also have
some colorful letters over here so you can snap a photo here as well. And keep those peepers peeping
people because the street art on this side is something you don't want to miss! Yeah and if you
come here and you want to work out they actually have a huge sports complex as well so definitely
check that out! And if you don't want to work out that's okay too. Me and you can hang out! Oh my gosh!
Adam's gonna try to moonwalk by the sign. He's like I wish I could moonwalk, I would totally do that!
I needed a little pick-me-up so we stopped by Barbarista for a nice iced coffee
and while I was inside I noticed they had some delicious looking desserts and it was just calling
my name. It was saying, "Adam, Adam, eat me!" So I picked up a beautiful piece of carrot cake right here.
That's our weakness, carrot cake! Man it's just so good with the cream cheese icing on it! Give me a
minute I'll be back with you guys in just a few! That carrot cake seemed to just go pew and disappear!
I may have eaten most of it, it was so good! I completely understand
why it was perfection! Yes well now Adam's gonna finish his coffee and then we are gonna head to
the center of the barrio. The road we're on now is Avenida Cinco de Mayo. It's the main street in town
that heads down to the center plaza. You're gonna find restaurants and bars here as well as some
beautiful murals like this little guy right here! Hey buddy! So cute. We have made it to the central
plaza of San Andrés and let me tell you it is completely different than it was this weekend.
On Sunday when we were here there was a massive celebration going on centered around their parish
here that was dedicated to Our Lady of Remedies. And the entire street was closed down. They had
food vendors and other vendors selling souvenirs. There was also a carnival as well as cultural
performances. We had the pleasure of actually going inside the church and let me tell you
the flower arrangements were out of this world! Absolutely beautiful. And they also had biblical
depictions running from the door up to the altar that were made out of colorful sand and glitter.
It's definitely a sight to see. And wow there are some giant raindrops coming down right now. I just
heard that crack of the thunder in the sky. Like we said in the afternoons they do tend to get some
showers this time of the year so I think we might have to call it a little bit early today. Yeah
they normally only last like an hour or two hours but we were almost done with this video anyway so
let's sit down and give them our recommendations. Ooh that's a good idea! And like Puebla City,
Cholula has an awesome culinary scene. We'll start with Big Kahuna Burgers. Oh that's a good one! If it
sounds familiar it should because it was inspired by the movie Pulp Fiction. It was delicious and
the burgers were humongous! They certainly were. The next place, if you are craving some asian
inspired comida we recommend going to DANG! Noodle Bar. It was like a hip hop noodle bar. New York City kind of
theme. Oh man the noodles were so good as well as a dumplings. Some of the best ramen I've ever had! Yeah
he got the pork ramen right? That's right. And I got the thai green curry that was delicious as well.
Last night we actually went up to a bar called San Pedrito bar restaurant. It has a nice
terrace that overlooks the iglesia. And we just got a couple drinks there. And they had a secret
entrance! We got there and we're like how do we get in? And the guy's like don't worry don't
worry, and all of a sudden you're inside in this beautiful bar! Yeah it was wonderful. We definitely
recommend it. It's great. Yeah go up there in the evening. You can't see the sunset but you can see
it reflecting off the clouds above the church. It's beautiful. And last but certainly not least
Recaudo. I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly. (Not even close haha) They had vegan, vegetarian and meat options.
Something for everybody. We had some delicious hummus to start as well as some beet ravioli that
was stuffed with goat cheese and I think spinach. And then we moved on to lentil meatballs and
ended with the stuffed peppers. You can see the wind has just picked up! Oh man yeah I hope we don't get struck
by lightning. We gotta make a run for it but thank you so so much for coming along with us today.
It would have been nowhere near as much fun if you hadn't been here. If you enjoyed this video
please give us a big thumbs up, comment subscribe, and don't forget to
DLING, DLING, DLING, DLING the bell!
We'll see you, next time! Adios!