Puebla's Presidential Suite Awaits: Unforgettable Intercontinental Luxury
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! We're diving headfirst into a deep dive review of a place, and frankly, I'm already envisioning myself sprawled on a chaise longue with a ridiculously overpriced, yet delicious, cocktail. Let's get messy, shall we?
First Impressions & Accessibility – The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Right off the bat, let's talk accessibility. This is huge. I'm glad they're even considering it, but I always approach these things with a skeptical eye. It’s not enough to just say "wheelchair accessible," right? You gotta show me. So, here’s the tea:
- Wheelchair Accessible: Okay, they claim it. But I need details! Are the doorways wide enough? Are the ramps gentle enough? I’ve been burned before by "accessible" hotels that clearly just slapped up a few grab bars and called it a day. I'm crossing my fingers this place delivers on the promise.
- Elevator: Always a must. I'm assuming, given the "high floor" rooms, that they have one. Phew.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: This is the key. What specific facilities are available? Are there accessible rooms with roll-in showers? Braille signage? This section needs serious fleshing out.
- Internet Access: Thank GOD for the "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" I can't live without the internet, and having it readily available is a must. Plus, "Internet [LAN]" is listed – for you old-school types! ;)
Regarding the actual physical accessibility, you still want to check and confirm specifics.
Cleanliness & Safety - Gotta Feel Safe in My Sanctuary
This is HUGE, especially these days. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I'm paying very close attention here.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection, sanitized everything: Yes, yes, and YES! These are not optional in my book. I want to see evidence of their commitment.
- Room sanitization opt-out: Okay, that's a little odd. Why would I opt out of sanitization? (Maybe for environmental reasons? Interesting).
- Safe dining setup: Essential. Outdoor dining is so much better, isn't it?
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Big tick.
- Hand sanitizer and sanitizing equipment: I like the sound of the safety, although, I hope the "professional-grade sanitizing services" don't make everything smell like a hospital!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – My Stomach is Already Rumbling
Alright, let's get to the important stuff. Food, glorious food!
- Restaurants, bars, poolside bar: Okay, this is promising. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.
- A la carte, buffet, and alternative meal arrangement: Love it when I get options!
- Asian Cuisine: I love Asian food, so I hope it'll be the best.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes. This is non-negotiable for me. Midnight cravings are a real thing, people!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, coffee shop, snack bar: More options!
- Vegetarian Restaurant & Western food: Great to see options for everyone
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Hello, Pampering!
This is where it gets interesting, let's see:
- Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: A pool with a view? Say no more, I'm sold.
- Spa, Sauna, Steamroom: Essential! I'm envisioning myself melting into a pile of pure relaxation.
- Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap: Okay, now we're talking. I'm already picturing the bliss.
- Gym/fitness: Gotta balance the cocktails with some exercise, right?
For the Kids
This is good for anyone looking to travel with a child or with a partner with kids.
- Babysitting service, Family-friendly: This is a major plus.
- Kids facilities, Kids meal: Well done, hotel.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
Ah, the details that make a stay truly special.
- Concierge, Doorman, Daily housekeeping: The essentials.
- Cash withdrawal, Currency exchange: Convenient.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: Because who wants to do laundry on vacation? (Not me!)
Available in All Rooms – The Home Away From Home Vibe
Okay, let's see what goodies the rooms have to offer.
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Blackout curtains: Comfort is key!
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential!
- Daily housekeeping: This is a great touch.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is important!
- Hair dryer: Saves space in my luggage.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Internet access – wireless: Wi-Fi for the win (again!)
- Mini bar: Time to get a little drunk…
- Non-smoking rooms: Important!
- Private bathroom, Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Satellite/cable channels: For those lazy evenings.
- Smoke detector, Soundproofing: Safety and peace!
- Toiletries: Essential!
- Wake-up service: Great.
My Chaotic Conclusion - And a Tempting Offer!
Okay, so, here's the deal. Based on this breakdown, this place sounds promising, especially if the accessibility claims hold up. But, I need to see proof on that front. My biggest hope is that it's as luxurious and relaxing as it sounds. I'm seeing myself already lounging by that pool, sipping a cocktail, and pretending I don't have a care in the world.
- So, here’s my pitch. You're after some R & R, right?
- Well, how about a complimentary upgrade to a room with the best view, along with a free spa treatment?
- Book your stay today!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your meticulously planned, sterile travelogue. This is… well, it’s my trip to Presidente Intercontinental Puebla. Let’s see if it survives. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable food choices, and the occasional existential crisis.
Presidente Intercontinental Puebla: My Chaotic Mexican Fiesta (aka the Itinerary of Maybe-Success)
(Pre-Trip Angst: Weeks Before)
- The Booking Debacle: First off, let's be honest. Booking flights? A nightmare. Finding the "best" price felt like searching for the Holy Grail while navigating a swarm of online travel agents. I’m pretty sure I paid extra to lose money. But hey, I got the hotel! Presidente Intercontinental, Puebla. Sounds fancy, right? My expectations were already sky-high and probably completely unrealistic.
(Day 1: Arrival and All That Guacamole Goodness…or Failure)
- Early Morning Meltdown (aka the Airport Shuffle): Waking up at 4 AM is a crime against humanity. Especially when you’re convinced you’ve forgotten your passport (I hadn't, thankfully). My flight was delayed—because of course it was—resulting in me consuming a questionable airport coffee and muttering darkly about the universe.
- Puebla! (Finally): Landing in Puebla… okay, the air smells different. And I'm immediately overwhelmed by the vibrant, colorful, chaos of the city. It’s beautiful, in that wonderfully messy, disorganized, beautiful way that makes me love Mexico.
- Check-In and the Phantom Room Service: The hotel itself… yeah, it's grand. Marble everywhere. Staff smiling so brightly it's almost unsettling. Checked in, got my room. Lovely view, but I spent a good twenty minutes trying to figure out how to use the (overly complicated) light switches. My attempt to order a celebratory margarita from room service before settling in was a comedy of errors involving broken Spanish and the apparent inability of the hotel to locate tequila. I swear, I heard them snicker through the phone.
- The Guacamole Gamble: Decided to brave the hotel restaurant. Ordering food in a new language is like playing Russian Roulette—you never know what you're going to get. I was determined for the best guacamole of my life. The moment it arrived? Glorious. The texture, the avocado flavor…it was so good I nearly cried. The margaritas? Much better this time. I settled in, content. Life was good.
(Day 2: Culture Shock and Chocolate Dreams)
- Waking Up… Discombobulated: The jet lag hit me like a ton of bricks. Spent a good hour staring at the ceiling, questioning all my life choices. Eventually, I dragged myself out of bed.
- Exploring the City (Attempt #1): The historic center! Cathedral! Colorful buildings! I get seriously dizzy navigating these narrow, bustling streets, but in a good way. Lost my way (several times), which is inevitable.
- The Chocolate Museum… and the Dark Side of Cocoa: Puebla is known for its chocolate, so I had to go. The museum itself was a delightful, slightly chaotic adventure. Learned about the history of chocolate and the different ways it's made. Of course, I sampled everything. Everything. The mole was… intense. In the best way possible.
- Shopping for Trinkets and Regrets: The artisan markets were a feast for the eyes. Seriously, I wanted to buy everything. Eventually, I settled on a few ceramics that are definitely going to break in my luggage on the way home.
- Dinner Disaster (or Deliciousness?): Found a little hole-in-the-wall place. The menu was all in Spanish, of course, but I managed to order… something. It turned out to be the best, most authentic food I’ve ever tasted. Or maybe I was just really hungry. It’s a fine line.
(Day 3: Volcano Views and Second-Guessing Everything)
- Popocatépetl's Shadow: The plan was to see the volcano. The reality was, the volcano saw me. It was beautiful. Powerful. It made me feel… small. And also acutely aware of how unfit I am.
- The Day of Errands: Took a break from sightseeing to run some of my mandatory tasks like getting my passport renewed, the experience was more daunting than I realized.
- Feeling the Blues: It's the third day. The initial excitement is wearing off. I'm tired, I have a headache, and I'm starting to miss my bed. This is the point where travel starts to feel less like a vacation and more like a really long commute.
- The Hotel Pool… and Existential Dread: Spent an hour by the pool. It felt… pointless. The water was lukewarm. I started reading a book about the meaning of life and ended up staring at the clouds, which offered no answers.
- Dinner Decision-Fatigue: The hotel restaurant again? Another gamble? I wanted to order a pizza, but decided to be adventurous and try the seafood. It was… fine. Too much garlic.
(Day 4: Departure and the Promise of More Chaos)
- Packing Pandemonium: My suitcase is a disaster zone. I can’t find anything. Everything is wrinkled. I will be wearing the same clothes from the day before.
- Breakfast and the Bitter Sweet Goodbye: One last, glorious breakfast at the hotel. The service was perfect, the food delicious, the view…lovely.
- Farewell, Puebla: The drive to the airport. Reflecting on my time in Puebla… It was messy. Imperfect. At times, I feel I was just a mess. But I loved it. I'll be back.
Overall Reflection:
This trip was a constant mix of awe, frustration, joy, and existential dread. It was chaotic, unstructured, and occasionally bordering on disastrous. But it was mine. And I wouldn’t trade it for a perfectly organized, perfectly curated travel experience. I’m going home tired, slightly sunburned, and with a suitcase full of stuff I probably don't need. And already planning my next adventure.
Important Notes:
- Spanish Skills: Non-existent. But I managed to muddle through.
- Food Poisoning: Pray I don't get it.
- The Plane Ride: I'm sure I'll have an anxiety attack. Wish me luck.
Okay, so I literally know *nothing*. Like, my hands are basically useless. Can I REALLY learn to knit?
Honey, if I can learn to knit (and believe me, I've got the motor skills of a caffeinated squirrel on a sugar rush), YOU can learn to knit. Seriously! It's not rocket science. It's maybe slightly more complex than, say, breathing... but not by much. I swear, the first time I saw someone knitting, I thought it was some kind of ancient magic ritual. Turns out, it's just a loop, loop, *POOF*! You're making a scarf. The worst part? Finding the right needle size. I still screw that up.
What even IS knitting? Like, seriously, is it just for grandmas and those weird Pinterest people who make sweaters for their cats?
Okay, first of all, don't knock the cat sweaters until you've *tried* knitting one. (Just kidding... mostly.) Knitting is basically using needles to turn yarn into fabric. Think of it like building with string. Instead of glue, you're creating a series of interlocking loops. And yeah, maybe your grandma does it, but she's probably secretly a knitting ninja, churning out masterpieces while watching daytime TV. It's also SUPER therapeutic. I once had a TERRIBLE breakup. Seriously, the worst. And I spent a week just knitting and crying. It saved my sanity. Plus you get a scarf out of it!
What do I ACTUALLY need to get started? I'm on a budget, you know?
Okay, cheapskate, here's the lowdown: You need needles (typically a pair - don't get confused by the circular ones at first! They're an advanced technique. I'm still not great with them.) Then, yarn. Start with something cheap and easy to work with, like acrylic or cotton (avoid super fuzzy stuff like mohair when you're starting – it’s a *nightmare*). You'll also want some sort of pattern. Ravelry (a knitting website) is a goldmine. And a pair of scissors. And maybe a stitch marker. Honestly, you can start with like $20 or less. I actually grabbed some needles at a thrift store the other day, so go nuts!
What about the different types of needles? I'm already confused.
Oh, the needles. The bane of my existence. Honestly, there are so many! Straight needles are easiest for beginners. Circular needles are connected by a cable and are generally used for larger projects, however, you can use them for everything! Double-pointed needles (DPNs) are weird little guys often for hats, socks, or other small, circular things. Look, start with straight needles. Seriously. Okay? Got it? Good. And the SIZE of the needles is another thing entirely. That number is the *size*. It's important!
(Deep breath) I hear all this talk about "casting on" and "knitting stitch" and "purl stitch". Are we speaking a different language now?
YES! It's like a secret, yarny code! But it's not as hard as it sounds, I promise. "Casting on" is how you get your stitches on the needle to start. "Knitting stitch" is the basic stitch, the one you'll start with. It's a knot-like thing. And "purl stitch" is like the opposite, it's like the backside of the fabric. Just... watch a YouTube video! They'll show you. I can't explain it with words! (I'm a word person, not a visual learner. *Ugh*). I still mess up my knit and purl sometimes, though! I'm currently working on a baby blanket and I think there's a whole section that's just… wrong. But the baby won't care, right?
I've tried it! I failed! My project looks like a tangled, lumpy mess. I'm a failure!
Okay, first of all, breathe. You're NOT a failure. Everyone's first project looks like a tangled, lumpy mess. Mine was... Well, let's just say it resembled a very confused potholder. I actually threw it in the trash and told myself I'd NEVER pick up needles again. Then, I found a ridiculously easy pattern for a simple cowl (a scarf that goes around your neck). That's how I found my footing. And it's all about *practice*. Honestly, the first few times I got the hang of it, I was so frustrated. My hands HURT, I kept dropping stitches, and the yarn seemed to have a personal vendetta against me. But then, you just... keep going. And you slowly figure it out.
Is there anything I should ABSOLUTELY avoid when I'm starting out?
Oh, yes. Avoid starting with fancy, complicated patterns. Avoid super-thin yarn (unless you're masochistic). And, most importantly, AVOID the temptation to start a HUGE project right away. You'll get burned out! And then you'll have a half-finished blanket that mocks you from the corner of the room for the rest of your life. Trust me. Start small. Like, REALLY small. A scarf, a dishcloth, a simple hat. Something you can actually FINISH.
What's the hardest part? Be honest!
Honestly? Apart from the needle-size thing, it's probably… patience. Knitting takes time. At first, it feels like you're moving in slow motion. And figuring out what went wrong when you mess up? That can be frustrating. I once spent three hours ripping out a row because I'd dropped a stitch way back at the beginning and didn't notice for nearly two hours. I almost threw my needles across the room. Then I just... cried. But, you know, the satisfaction of finishing a project is totally worth it. So yeah… patience. And maybe some wine. Definitely some wine. Or tea. Or… whatever gets you through.
Okay, I'm in. Where do I learn?
