Our MTC President & wife, Elder & Sister Tenorio
volunteered to take the No American couples to
Puebla, the 4th largest city in Mexico, and home to
two large volcanos and the largest pyramid in the
world--even surpassing those in Egypt.  These pictures
are mixed up, so you will just have to figure them out.  This is
the Calls, finishing their chicken soup appetizer.  Note
the beautiful dishes, and unusual bowls for the soup.

We are in the Plaza and amphitheater

where children between 6-7 were sacrificed

to the rain god during times of famine.

The acoustics here were phenomenal.

This plaza had several altars.

As we left the pyramid, this artisan was

creating beautiful pictures out of colored straw

attaching them with beeswax.  I bought a very

small picture for 100 pesos (about $6)  I was

fascinated by his painstaking work.

This is from the top of the largest pyramid

in the world.  Not the highest, but the biggest in

circumference.  

Many years ago an archaeologist was 

driving near this huge grass-covered hill.

It had several levels.  He was sure the grass 

was covering a series of pyramids.  

When the Spanish came, the natives tried to

cover up the pyramids (9 levels) because they

didn't want them defaced.  

The Spanish built a Catholic

Church on the top of it.  When the

scientists saw the hill, they organized crews

to dig 5 miles of tunnels into it.  They

found all kinds of steps throughout the

the inside of the pyramid.

The Mexican pyramids were constructed

as temples in contrast to the Egyptian

pyramids which were built as tombs.

We have seen this tradition a couple of times.

The actors climb the tall pole while in costume. 

They sit on the top to rest and tie their ankles

to ropes, then they wind the ropes tightly around 

them, and free fall and start spinning until they

completely wind down to the bottom.  The actors

play drums and lutes while they spin.

This lady is selling us grasshoppers

to eat.  The saleslady popped one in her 

mouth to illustrate how good they are.

This is our tour guide in the tunnel

He had never heard of the Book of Mormon,

but he is going to get one!

This is a model of the 9 layers of pyramid

stacked one on top of the other over the years.

The guide said this was an Olmec head.

That would be the same time as the Jaredites.

This awning protects some murals similar

to those we saw at Teotihuacahn

Marketing his wares.

The ticket booth for the pyramid.

Not one step more.

The uncovering of the pyramids is

just beginning.  This is the ground level.

This coffin with a bloodied Christ

is in the entrance to the big downtown

cathedral.  The story is told of this town 

being the "City of Angels" because the villagers

created a bell, but it was too big and high to be

lifted into the tower.  During the night, somehow

the bell was raised into the tower.  It is believed

that angels put it in place.

This is the fancy restaurant recommended

to us by several people.  Note the murals

and the tile work so popular here.

Puebla is noted for its Talevara crockery.

It is white with blue designs.  One part of the

city had shop after shop selling this pottery.

Harstons are enjoying our appetizers

in beautiful, unusual cups.  They served

us chicken soup.  The brown pots hold spicy salsa.

This couple is the Tenorios.  He is the MTC

President, and were our tour guides and hosts for

this trip.

Neal couldn't resist taking a picture of this

vintage VW.  It was missing a front seat and

the engine flap was swaying in the breeze.

We love this little red bird.  We see him

all the time, and Neal tries to get a picture

of him, but he is often elusive.

We took a turibus ride through the city on

the top deck of course.

This is back to the pyramid.  I don't know how to

sort nor do I know how to get the pictures uniform

in size.  So, you just have to hang tough with me.

Puebla is the 4th largest city in Mexico.

It is quite clean and very modern.

This is the Governor's mansion.

Our turibus ride took us through a huge Memorial Park.

We were surprised there were so few people there.

It is common to see military convoys in

full gear.  This was downtown from the

turibus.

This man was selling all kinds of nuts, beans, lentils, etc. in his

little wagon.  He had a lot of competition selling the

same kinds of grains.

This huge tower was in the middle

of the Memorial Park.  The first step

started at about 6 feet high.

Neal is fascinated by the two volcanos

near Puebla.  One is active, and spewed forth

2 days ago.  He was shattered that

we missed it.

These are murals in this fancy restaurant.

These men were photographers taking

pictures of the elegant food and table settings.

This is more of the Memorial Park.

These are some of the Talevera vendors.

Intricate tile work graces the sides of

many buildings in downtown Puebla.

This church is just one example.

More pictures of the Tenorios.