El Resobado: Coatepec’s historic bakery

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025 / edebock / 2 Comments

On previous visits to Coatepec, I’ve written blog posts about everything from grocery shopping in the open market, to the beautiful murals, to the churches, and the architecture here and here. On our last visit, I wrote this post about a walk around the neighbourhood where we stay with our friends who are permanent residents of Mexico.

Today, on our fourth visit, I found something different to share with you. The traditional wood-fired oven in Panadería “El Resobado” has been burning for over 140 years!

Stepping through the doorway into the front room of the bakery feels like taking a step back in time. The walls and ceiling are blackened by more than a century of smoke and one is surrounded by the smell freshly baking bread.

Shelves of artisanal breads and other baked products line the walls waiting for their turn in the oven.

Behind the room where the actual baking takes place, one steps into another room where more shelves hold the baking that’s ready to be sold.

Of course, we had to sample a few of them!

Until about a year and a half ago, the bakery was open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but it now opens at 5:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM. The products are not only sold on-site at El Resobado, but also supply some of the stores in the area.

A walk in the neighbourhood

February 25, 2023 / edebock / 3 Comments

Our time in Coatepec is coming to a close. Tomorrow, we depart for Mexico City and on Tuesday, we fly home. This morning, hubby and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood exploring a few of the many side streets in the area. Come along and I’ll show you some of the sights that are common here.

Just around the corner, you’ll see the roadside mechanic who is always busy repairing someone’s vehicle.

Here we are a little further down the street. Though this isn’t an everyday sight, it seems to be quite common on Saturday mornings.

Walking can be a challenge here. This is quite typical of the sidewalks in the area!

There is beauty to be seen too though.

This is a typical street scene.

And here’s what it often looks like when someone is doing construction on their home or place of business.

Finally, this is the small callejón (alley) where we “live”. That’s an apartment building on the right and the rest are private homes.

Richard and Colleen’s house is the yellow and orange one a la izquierda con muchos plantas enfrente (on the left with many plants in front).

As we fly back to the frigid north, we’re going to miss sunny Coatepec, but first we have Mexico City to explore!

The murals of Coatepec

February 19, 2023 / edebock / 9 Comments

Each time we come to Coatepec, Mexico to visit our friends who live here I fall in love with the vibrant colours again. Maybe that has something to do with coming from a place that is covered with snow for many months of the year and where buildings tend to be mostly neutral in colour.

This visit, it’s the murals that have really caught my attention and so I thought I’d share a few of them with you. All of these are within walking distance of our friends’ house. The first is one of my favourites.

I’m guessing that the next one is real estate advertising, but I’m not sure. It’s located at the end of the street where we’re staying.

This gate, just down the hill from here, is very fitting for Coatepec as I’m sure there are more old style Volkswagen Beetles here than anywhere I’ve ever been! I like the way that the artist made the handle of the gate look like it was the door handle on the vehicle.

I don’t know who the people in the next two murals are, but I think they’re gorgeous.

These birds caught my eye on a walk down to the centre of town today.

And finally, here’s another of my favourites. I can’t believe the amount of work that must have gone into this one which is located on the side of a building at the entrance to a small alley. The caption “La Naturaleza es Vida” means “nature is life”.

I’m going to continue photographing murals as I come across them. Perhaps I’ll even find enough for another post!

The colours of Coatepec

January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 / edebock / 4 Comments

The last time we came to Coatepec, Mexico to visit our friends, Richard M and Colleen, I fell in love with the Spanish colonial architecture. On that visit, I wrote a post about the amazing doors and windows, but another thing that stood out to me was the vibrant colours!

Living in Alberta, we spend the long winter months in a mostly monochromatic world. With the trees bare and the ground covered with snow, we live in shades of black, grey, and white. Perhaps that’s why I’m so drawn to this colourful culture. Today, we spent several hours walking around the central part of town.

Just off one side of Miguel Hidalgo Park is the beautiful San Jerónimo Church.

Homes and businesses are equally as colourful. Come walk with me.

It’s been cloudy and fairly cool since we arrived, but the colours of Coatepec are definitely a welcome respite from our Canadian winter!

Welcome to Coatepec!

February 12, 2017 / edebock / 2 Comments

great-wall When we climbed the Great Wall of China with fellow Liaoning Normal University English teacher, Richard M, and his wife, Colleen, almost four years ago, we had no idea that someday we’d walk the streets of Coatepec, Mexico with them! Richard and Colleen are now enjoying retirement in this colourful town of approximately 50 000 people located about 300 km east of Mexico City. We arrived the day before yesterday and after talking until almost one o’clock in the morning, decided that we didn’t have to do all our catching up in one night!

After being out and about exploring Coatepec yesterday and then again today, we can easily see why Richard and Colleen love it here! Dressed in shorts and t-shirts, I have to keep reminding myself that it’s still February, but climate isn’t the only reason to like this place.

The people are warm, friendly and very welcoming; the food is fresh and delicious; and the architecture is gorgeous. A beautiful park at the centre of town is a vibrant gathering place.