Fans of Puebla--
Can anyone explain the numbering of the addresses in the Centro of Puebla? I get the avenidas and calles, even, odd, north, south, all with reference to the Zocalo. But I'm confused by the specific house number. For example, the address of the Spanish Institute of Puebla is 11 Oriente #10. What block is it actually on?
Also, how easy is it to walk in the centro of Puebla? Is it hilly, or pretty flat?
Thanks to anyone who can help. Unfortunately, I was not blessed with a sense of direction, so I like to overcompensate by figuring out exactly where places are before I get there.
Elena
joyelena
1
aralittle
Hi there Elena!
Im in Puebla at the moment and its a lovely city.
The Spanish Institute if on 11 Oriente!
Centro Puebla is flat no hills so no problem there!
Good luck!
Alex
2
xoyotitla
Hola Elena, El centro historico is mostly flat and not hilly. There are some inclinations but with exceptions like the hill area around La Paz central Puebla is flat. "Oriente" means east, "poniente" means west. Most streets are one way which means, if by vehicle you may have to go a block or two out of your way to circumnavigate the one-way street system. I find this very frustrating and inefficient. Other than these points I think the specific address of home or business is fairly accurate, that is if they are marked. Buena suerte
3
joyelena
Gracias a ambos, Alex y Xoyotitla. Since I will be on foot, for the most part, the one-way thing won't be a problem. But tell me, would I expect Number 10 to be on the first block of 11th where it becomes "Oriente"? In other words, what are the cross-streets? Me explico?
Sorry to be such a directional idiot.
Elena
4
xoyotitla
Joyelena, I'm not sure about your last question but I think you would be within a block of your destination either way. LP Mexico has some nice maps of Puebla and Puebla Centro. You might also try www.mapquest.com At the home page click on "outside the U.S." and select "Mexico", then enter Puebla for your city. You can zoom in on the area around El Centro and get an idea of the layout. I hope this helps. Buena suerte
5
tiredandretired
Though I have spent significant time in Puebla, the last a couple weeks ago, I simply don't remember the layout.
What I am talking about is many Mexican cities are laid out with odd streets or Avenues existing on one side of the center, and the even ones on the other side. like this:
13 11 9 7 5 3 center 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
I know Cordoba is like that, but as I said I don't remember Puebla. But, if you understand this concept, it will only take a minute with a map or street signs to find out if it is that way or not.
In a city like this, such as Cordoba, 41st St. will be more like 80 blocks from 40th street, not the next block.
Also, for example, Mexico City, houses on a street are numbered sequentially. In the US, it is common for the 1000 block of a street to have house numbers 10xx, on the 1100 block numbers such as 11xx.
In Mexico City, buildings are often numbered sequentially. So, #150 may be a long, long walk from #1.
The general rule of thumb in Mexico is, don't be surprised at anything...
6
livit_spanish
Puebla uses a grid system throughout the city, which is noted most prominantly in the city center.
As "tiredandretired" mentioned, there is a center dividing street that divides the east and west sides of the city. There is also another dividing street that divides north and south parts of the city. The dead center of the city is the "zócalo" or main town plaza where these two dividing streets cross eachother.
From the center the streets to the west and south are numbered and count upwards with odd numbers. To the east and north the streets are numbered with even numbers.
Poniente means "west and Oriente means "east". An "Oriente" or "Poniente" number street is the same street, changing it's name when you cross over the dividing street (19 Poniente is the same street as 19 Oriente). The same way north-south streets change their names when they cross the dividing street (2 Sur and 2 Norte are the same street).
The address of 19 Poniente #313 is to the west of the dividing street. "#313" means it is on the three hundred block between 3 Sur and 5 Sur. (Remember that to the west number count upwards with odd numbers. 5 Poniente #2305 --> is on the 23 hundred block between streets 23 Sur and 25 Sur).
The address of 19 Oriente #413 is to the east of the dividing street. "#413" means it is on the four hundred block following the 4 Sur street.
Norte
10
8
---------------------------6-----------------
4
2
Poniente Dividing street Oriente (from west to east-->) 13 11 9 7 5 3 dividing street 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
3
5
7
9
11
Sur
When you get the hang of it, you'll be able to find anything and locate yourself anywhere in the city.
7
livit_spanish
I figured my map would come out a little better than those numbers above in the previous post, but it just confused things. Try this map of the city center of Puebla, you'll havea much better idea: http://www.livitspanish.com/puebla/p_maps_centro_L.html<BR><BR>
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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