9781422271407

Poblano CHAPTER

Mexico City and Puebla Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, and the state of Puebla are located in the Central Basin, an area in the middle of the country known as Poblano, made up of valleys surrounded by Mexico’s three largest mountains. Puebla means “town” in Spanish, but the town of Puebla de Zaragoza (the state’s capital) has more than 3 million people and is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site. The most well known exports out of this region are Talavera tiles, traditionally blue and white; hand-stamped silver; and Cinco de Mayo, a holiday commemorating the Mexican Army’s defeat of the French on May 5, 1862. The people in this part of Mexico are called Poblanos—yes, like the pepper! In semi-arid, dry climates such as the Central Basin and the Northern desert, it only rains in the summer, which is a challenge for water conservation and growing crops. Plants that do grow here don’t need a lot of water and thrive in sandy soils. People even eat candied cactus as a sweet treat; it is sold in stores nationwide. Boasting fantastic architectural sights, this part of Mexico has hundreds of beautifully designed churches from the Baroque and Colonial periods. The Church of Our Lady of Remedies is a holy

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