Wednesday, January 16, 2019

A 500 Year Old City

We woke to the most amazing day! It was especially nice after the hellish ride into town the night before.  Blue skies, sunny, beautiful mountains around, perfect temperature ... just what being alive is all about : )

We went for a nice walk around Xico before breakfast to see what we could not see last night and to fly the drone to see more of the area.  After a nice breakfast at the hotel, we departed at around 10:30am.

We thought we would have relatively short ride to Veracruz of around 2 hours ... until Charles' motorcycle really gave up the ghost ... his tire decided not to hold air anymore.  Luckily, the first person with a truck we asked, agreed to take Charles and his bike all the way to our hotel in Veracruz.  How lucky is that?

Our hotel in Veracruz is right in the middle of the Historic Center.  Incredible place.  This is the largest port in Mexico and a very happening place.  See the pictures below.

We visited the main plaza, the crafts market, the promenade, sat at the beach for a drink, had lunch on the porch at this amazing restaurant, walked by the yacht club, and had dinner at the famous "Parroquia de Veracruz" which was founded in the 1930s.  They say that if you do not go here, you really weren't in Veracruz.

Charles also had a great adventure trying to get his wheel back into its original shape ... with 8-10 motorcycle shops in a row, each with its own specialty (mount/dismount, plug, straighten, electrical, metal work, etc), the wheel finally got to look like new.  No more leaks!

Tomorrow, we start our journey back to the US.  We are going to take the scenic route through Cordoba, Orizaba, Puebla and spend the night in the mountains in Mineral del Monte.

Our hotel in Xico ... Very nice!

An artistic picture from Richard at our Hotel in Xico

The morning view from our hotel balcony in Xico

Fresh chicken anyone?

Ready for a quick flight over Xico

State police stopped to help us with Charles' flat tire ... so we thought Photo Op!

I never thought it would be so scary to ride as a passenger on a motorcycle!

Charles' bike gave up ... had to get a ride on the back of a good samaritan's truck to Veracruz!

Made it to Veracruz which is celebrating its 500 year anniversary ... yes, founded in 1519!

Beautiful buildings all around ... well maintained city

Come of the alleyways in the old historic center ... reminds me of Havana

Charles with a master metalsmith slowly bringing his wheel back to life

These guys dive for coins ... just throw one as far as you can and they dive for it ... and keep it!

A stroll in the promenade ... Copacabana anyone?

The group still in one piece : )

Lunch at the amazing Villa Rica restaurant

Freddy had to sell us some bracelets 

I almost forgot we are at the ocean

One of many Mexican Navy buildings

The British engineer who helped build the port with the President of Mexico at the time

Nice statues and art everywhere

Fishing flotilla

Just chilling by the ocean

The famous "Parroquia de Veracruz" restaurant founded in 1930 

Hippy anyone?



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