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Mexico: Native American baroque and Tequila Distillery
April 2019
Baroque Museum and Baroque Churches in Puebla
Puebla, founded in 1531, is the largest and best preserved Baroque city on the American continent and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The exhibitions at the museum are put on experimentally which produces the exhibits theatrically. There is not only the classical exhibition of paintings on the walls, also pieces hang from the ceiling and they are draped like backdrops of various showcases. Not only Baroque art is shown, also insights into the Baroque society of the 17th and 18th centuries are granted.
Although we are usually not churchgoers, we were fascinated by the architecture and the mostly lush interior of the baroque churches.
Camouflage Canada
American travelers with their monsters of motor homes seem no longer want to be ashamed of their president's behavior. This is probably the reason why we saw in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico some American vehicles with American license plates, but in front and back with Canadians stickers.
Speed bumpers in Mexico
A few decades ago in Zurich a city council went down in history as “Schwellen Ruedi”. At the time, he was jointly responsible for the construction of the controversial speed-reducing bumpers in residential areas. What was a novelty in Zurich at the time is now a must nationwide in Mexico.
The majority of Mexican motorists can only be prevented from racing through a village with the most brutal methods, i.e. with bulky thresholds. Normally, these speed bumps are preannounced by a signal board. It becomes problematic if the sign is missing and the "topes" in the shade of a tree are not recognizable. When driving with speed more than 20 km/h you risk a reorganization of the cabin inventory or a search operation for the axle.
Speed restrictions are not considered in Mexico. If you exceed a limit of 10km/h, you will easily be overtaken by a bus or truck. However, it must also be mentioned very positively that when driving behind a slower vehicle, the vehicle immediately swerves to the side as far as possible and clears the way for overtaking.
The police are very tolerant of speeding by locals only. In cities we watch constantly how police vehicles are overtaken by Mexicans who drive too fast.
The best we saw was a taxi driver, who overtook with us as passengers in a 50km/h speed limit zone with over 80km/h a police vehicle with two officials in it – that’s Mexicot...
Pelicans
Brown pelicans are often seen flying in formations just above the water surface. Their wings up to two meters long turn brown pelicans into extremely graceful flyers. They are excellent swimmers, but their walk on land seems awkward. The Brown Pelican together with the Chile Pelican are the only pelicans that dive into the water to catch fish.
Tequila Siete Leguas
Siete Leguas means Seven Miles. The founder of the Tequila factory, Don Ignacio González Vargas, was a big admirer of Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary leader whose horse was called "Siete Leguas". Because he was so enthusiastic about Pancho Villa, he named his Tequila after that horse. Siete Leguas is one of the oldest tequila factories in Mexico. Our distellery and tasti was very interesting.
In the tasting room we could taste the various distillates. First there was the Blanco, the original Tequila, then the Reposado, which at Siete Leguas is stored for an average of eight months in white oak barrels. The Añejo, which matures at least 24 months in an oak barrel, has a beautiful color and a great aroma. The real kicker is the D'Antaño, which has been stored in oak barrels for five years. It doesn't always have to be cognac or armanac to drink - Cheers!
Highways in Mexico
In Mexico on highways towards the USA we meet protesting native people instead of the cashiers at some toll stations. With reasoning that the highways are located on their land, they demand and take the toll fees for themselves . An advantage for us, they only demand a donation, which is a lot less than the normal toll fees.
We also pass a large-scale, state fruit inspection. When the official asked us if we had any fruit with us, we informed him that after a few days relaxing on the beach we have to go shopping in the next supermarket. As we mentioned we have no more tequila either, he replied - poor people keep going!
Photos
Mexico: April 2019
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