Mexico: Cuetzalan del Progresso, State of Puebla (November 2018)
(This banner shows the
typical footwear of Indian people in Cuetzalan.)
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Cuetzalan is a small town founded in 1547. It is
located in the northern part of the state of Puebla, approximately 170km from
the city of Puebla (~3h30 by bus) and 75km (straight line) from the Gulf of
Mexico. Sitting on a mountain ridge at an elevation of 900m, its climate is
usually warm and humid. The population is mostly of Indian descent, speaking
Totonac and Nahuatl. The village is the site of a
vibrant indigenous Sunday market.
The village:
Streets and
houses of Cuetzalan.
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Central plaza,
with the clock tower at the center and the Parroquia
San Francisco de Asis on the right.
Parroquia San Francisco de Asis.
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Other views
of the Parroquia San Francisco de Asis.
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Santuaro de
Guadalupe, also called Iglesia de los
Jarritos, due to the decoration of its spire with
rows of clay jars.
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Capilla de la Purisima Concepcion, the oldest church in Cuetzalan.
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The market:
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Danza de los Voladores:
The Danza de los Voladores (″Dance of
the Flyers″) is an ancient ceremony that is still performed in isolated
pockets of Mexico and today it is often associated with the Totonac people.
Originally, the ceremony was only performed by men; but in a few places,
including Cuetzalan, women have been allowed to be voladores. Actually, one of the voladores
below was a woman. The ceremony is not without risks. Jesus Arroyo Ceron, the man who first trained women to become voladores, fell to his death during the Cumbre
Tajin 2006 cultural festival.
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Ruins of Yohualichan.
Yohualichan is a smaller version of El Tajin,
located some 50km north in the northern part of the state of Veracruz. Both
cities flourished between 600 and 1200 CE and are believed to have been built
and populated by the Totonac people. Their pyramids are characterized by layers
of square niches.
Botanical garden Xoxoctic:
This beautiful garden with plants from
the rainforest, such as giant ferns, orchids, and more, is located about
halfway between the center of Cuetzalan and the
archeological site of Yohualichan.
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