FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR

[Music] The road from Mexico City to Puebla passes almost beneath Two of the most beautiful mountains in North America, Popocata Petrol and East Asia. Both over 16,000 ft and perpetually snow capped in spite of the semi-ropical sun. Aztec legends tell that Popocatapil is the lover of the sleeping woman in white and waits eternally at her feet for the moment of her awakening. The road to Pueblo winds across a high plateau, the oldest part of a very old Mexico. [Music] Cholula has always been a holy city. When the Aztecs first came here, they built a temple pyramid above another which must have been a thousand years old even at that distant time. [Music] The Spaniards came 400 years ago. They destroyed the Aztec temple and vowed that a whole city of churches should rise to erase the memory of centuries of bloody human [Music] sacrifice. As time passed, population shifted. It's jokingly said that Cholula now has a church for every inhabitant. But from the little church of the summit to great San Francisco de Atheek, they're all beautiful. Certainly should lead you to see this holy city of the valley of Pueba. [Music] Nearby Pueba is truly old, old Mexico. The passing of time has done little to destroy its Spanish colonial atmosphere. [Music] It was long a center of trade between Mexico and Spain. So the architecture of this old city shows a definite Andalusian influence. However, this beautiful grill work was made by a Yankee foundry established in Pueblo in [Music] 1825. Here you see the Andaluthian Moorish use of Pueblo's famous tile. This is laaza deaniki. It really means almond cake in Spanish and in English would translate roughly into the gingerbread house. [Music] Inside the gingerbread house is a classical example of this type of Spanish colonial [Music] architecture. Probably the most amazing example of this colonial era ornamentation in Pueba is in the Capia de Rosario. Not only was everything skillfully carved to the last degree, but the work was then given lasting brilliance by being entirely covered with heavy gold leaf. [Music] Pueblo is also noted for its fine sarapis which are not only colorful but very necessary in the nippy morning air. [Music] Beautiful tala tile and ceramic wear have been made here since the 16th century. Now you regretfully leave me puebla and wander with the road to a warmer part of the country. Modernity has crept in here too, but it's not cleared the road of older [Music] transportation. 14 Flores is a delightful little town almost hidden in flowers. So many millions of blossoms that even the children consider a charity if you buy them. This semi-ropical valley lies at the foot of majestic Oriaba, an almost perfect cone over 18,000 ft [Music] high. 14 delas Flores has a modern hotel more than worth your while. In spite of the nearby snow, the water is always [Music] warm. Banana trees at the foot of a magnificent snowcap volcano and soft winds laden with flower perfume. Nerves are ragged from city life. Where could you find a more perfect place to rest? [Music] You may have rest and peace and an abundance of tropical fruit. From healthful papayas to the exciting golden mangoes. And after having eaten perfectly, you may even have coffee with sugar in it. Both grown only a few miles from where you sit in this garden-like [Music] country. The attractive city of Oriaba is in the deep tropics. But it's situated far enough up the slope of the volcano of Orisaba to have an almost perfect springtime which lasts the whole year round. [Music] Orizaba is industrial but that adds to its charm because the way in which the industries came into being. Cotton spinning was a home industry here long before Aztec times. So modern Mexicans merely moved it from homes into centrallylo mills. They always had tobacco. So now they merely make it into cigars. Plan to spend easier next time. You won't start to pack for a week, and it may even be a month before you can get away from lovely Ortiz Zaba.