Puebla the alternative

We were lucky to be hosted a few days in Puebla (southern of Mexico City) by Stephanie and Mauricio and little Johann, thanks to CouchSurfing. To spend couple of days with this Franco-Mexican couple of activist teachers gave us the opportunity to discover the city and the state of Puebla in a different way, off the beaten track.

The three of them live on the outskirts of Puebla in a small, cozy house. This does not prevent them from building a straw house, a little outside the city. Their goal: to show that it is possible to build a house, which is environmentally friendly, without much money. Every object is salvage material, glass bottles serve as walls, advertising tarpaulins protect walls made of straw during the rainy season, pending the construction of the roof with poles from socially responsible wood or bamboo indutries. The house is small but cozy and warm, everything possible will be built by themselves, including furniture, so as to prevent thefts during their frequent absences. Kitchen and dining room will be outside on a covered terrace enclosed by nets. Living outside in this latitude seems pretty much appropriate. A natural swimming pool is under construction to enable them and their neighbors and children to swim when hot weather. They received during the dry season many people to help in the work of the house and train them to build environmentally friendly homes.

We also saw with them the project of "collective Tomate," a very interesting project in a "sensitive" neighborhood of Puebla whose goal is to make the area more attractive to residents themselves and also for the rest of the city. Many artists painted house walls, gave painting lessons to people so that they were themselves involved in the project. The result: stunning designs on the walls, not vandalized yet, a nicer neighborhood and people engaged in a project that directly affects them. Unsurprisingly, I was seduced by the project!

To finish off our stay in Puebla, we took the opportunity of Mauricio's business trip in Pahuatlán, just labeled "magical village", the northern State of Puebla. We left all five plus Paul and Elsa, a French couple also hosted by Stephanie and Mauricio. 5 hour drive in their old Ford pickup, with Paul and Nico at the back when it was sunny and 7 in the cabin during the rain! We have experienced the joys of contortion, but it was worth it! We went in a small village far from the tourist areas in the heart of the rural population. We made a detour by San Pablito which enabled us to meet a healer, the last of his generation and also the last to know all the secrets. He recounted the history of the village and its traditions, which are also compiled in beautiful little handmade booklets on "papel amate" paper, typically manufactured on site. A marvel. We were also invited to the first communion of the daughter of the mayor, an unexpected opportunity to discover within the traditions and culture of these people. Banquet and folk dances on the programmes!

This short week in Puebla was very rich in discoveries and has uncovered a part of Mexico a little different from what we had seen so far. Thanks again to our guests!

(Article also written by Karine, one of my best friends who came from France to visit me in Mexico for three weeks, and editor in chief for the occasion)