Puebla one of Mexico's oldest towns, means "City of the Angels". Set in a valley with a backdrop of volcanoes and snow-topped peaks that was shrouded in cloud as we drove in. We could just see the volcano's outline.

Puebla is a fascinating old colonial town. The historic city centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site partly due to its impressively preserved Spanish colonial architecture with some 2,600 designated historic buildings and was all decorated in Christmas lights that made it so much more impressive than the part of Mexico City that I saw.
 
With the various delays like 15 minutes less could have been spent at Teotihuacan, we had a longer lunch than usual plus the van window episode, we checked into the Hotel Royalty Centro a bit later than normal. Being right on the zocola, one could not be any closer to the centre of town. Shame as it would have been nice to have spent a bit more time wandering the streets in the late afternoon warm sun as this was merely an overnight stop. It was 5 pm once our very short orientation tour indicating where the bank, ATM, key sights, etc were pointed out was over.

I was in 2 minds … do I would take the 80 pesos / NZ$ 7.50 / US $6.10 Turibus open deck double decker “hop on hop off” bus 90 minute tour of town or not? It was 5.30 pm when the tour would leave and with sunset at 6 pm, most of the tour would be in dark so I had thought. Well to my surprise I am glad that I took this tour as the photos will show the town in a different view all lit up. Plus we had a magnificent sunset with the volcano in the background as well. Then there was the amazing water fountain and kids running through it all lit up with their coloured lights. Magic!

Had a few minutes before dinner to go into the Metropolitan Cathedral of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. It’s towers at 73.9 m / 244 ft are considered to be the tallest in Mexico. Marble floors, rich gold leaf interior and main altar depicting kings and queens of 17 century Europe.
 
Dinner at the Hotel Colonial with Filete a la parrilla and a Caron beer for 202 pesos / NZ $ 19 / US $ 15.40.
 
We had a taste of mole poblano which is a rich, spicy sauce containing chocolate, cinnamon and nuts, as well as different types of hot peppers. It is often served over chicken. For many their dinner was chicken and mole = a bit much was some of their comment.

Then an after dinner sweet treat from las Duyas and for me a churro at a sidewalk table overlooking the zocola.

Puebla was founded by the Spanish in this valley in 1531 to secure the trade route between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz.

By the end of the 18th century, the area had become a colonial province with its own governor, which would become the State of Puebla, after the Mexican War of Independence in the early 19th century. Since that time, the area, especially around the capital city, has continued to grow economically, mostly through industry, despite being the scene of a number of battles, the most notable of which being the Battle of Puebla. Today, the state is one of the most industrialized in the country, but since most of its development is concentrated in Puebla and other cities, many of its rural areas are very poor, forcing many to migrate away to places such as Mexico City and the United States.
 
Culturally, the state is home to the China Poblana, mole poblano, active literary and arts scenes and festivals such as Cinco de Mayo, Ritual of Quetzalcoatl, Day of the Dead celebrations (especially in Huaquechula) and Carnival (especially in Huejotzingo).

It is home to five major indigenous groups: Nahuas, the Totonacas, the Mixtecas, the Popolocas and the Otomi, which can mostly be found in the far north and the far south of the state. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.