Artworks inspired by this location

Tampico is a port city on the Gulf of Mexico, at the northern tip of the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is a pretty town, in a shabby sort of way, like a dirty old shoe that feels comfortable. I've never been to New Orleans, but Tampico is how I would imagine New Orleans to be, in terms of its climate, its architecture, and its general party atmosphere. Tampico is a city that looks beautiful when the sun is shining, but you're not really sure you want to walk the streets alone at night. Seedy might be a good word to descrie it. You get the feeling that every oil ship in the harbor unloads its crew each night so they can come on shore and raise hell.

Most of the action downtown centers around the two zócalos (central squares). The Plaza de la Libertad is a pleasant, wide-open park, neatly groomed and symmetrical. By comparison, the Plaza Armas has a more post-apocalyptic feeling, with a decaying concrete gazebo overrun by vines and pigeons.

In Tampico I had my first experience with a genuine Mexican market, where every animal that ever ran, swam, or flew is split open on a table in front of you. I remember the food in Tampico is very good. Obviously being on the gulf coast there is a lot of good seafood. The town specialty, however, is steak Tampiqueña, marinated in garlic, oil and oregano, and served with guacamole and chiles.

Plaza de la Libertad, downtown Tampico

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