Artworks inspired by this location

Veracruz is a city of a little more than a million people. It is a vacation destination for many Mexicans, kind of like the equivalent of Miami or Tampa in the U.S. Most of the tourist attractions here, museums and historical sites, are kind of disappointing. The one exception is San Juan de Ulúa, a huge 16th century Spanish fortress through which you can wander freely (see painting, above, and photo, at right).

The main attraction in Veracruz is the relaxing lifestyle and the nightlife. The zócalo is the hub of the city's activity. This park of palm trees, benches, and fountains is surrounded by restaurants and clubs. By day it is a good place to relax, sip a glass of pineapple juice, and read a book in the shade of a palm tree. At night it comes alive with musicians, vendors, and public entertainment. I was there for two weeks, and there was a different event going on every night: a military parade, a political rally, a demonstration of local folk dances, a college student fashion show, a public salsa dance. You can sit outside at a nice cafe, watch all the activity, enjoy the cool evening breezes, sip a cold drink, listen to some live marimba music, sing some drinking songs with your buddies (or listen to the Mexicans do so) and eat some of the delicious Veracruzana food. Seafood is the obvious specialty in this part of the county, and they like to cook it up spicy.

The beaches within the city of Veracruz are pretty shabby, and are probably used more by fisherman launching their boats than by tourists seeking a tan. There are nicer beaches on the southern outskirts of town, and you can reach them by bus. Regardless of the lack of sandy beaches, there are plenty of beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico.

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