mariaesta

Hola!!!! my name is Maria and I live here al my life. Veracruz is nice place to vaction, wit so much to see and do. If you like to know more, ask me! Maria

jimjim

Hi Maria,

We will be in Veracruz for a three days in January, 2005.

Is the bus trip from Veracruz to Xalapa scenic? Would it be a good idea to go to Xalapa for a day to see the Museo de Antropologia?

Do you have any suggestions for hotels or restaurants in Veracruz?

TravelinTom

Xalapa is a great destination and its museum is terrific. See the Cempoala pyramid site on the way, where Cortez met the "fat cacique" and where he defeated Spanish "interlopers" horning in on his conquistator business. To the north is the beautiful El Tajin site, a 4 hour drive from Veracruz but worth the trip and an overnight in Papantla.

jimjim

Thanks for the tips. Where does one stay in Papantla?

mariaesta

Hola Jim,

If you are in Xalapa you must see the Museo de Antropologia..

There are many hotels in Veracruz,in el centro I recomend Hotels.. Maria

AMPORIO 200 pesos cada noche .. clean, cheap, hot water.. is okay place

also in el centro.. nicer hotel
Hotel Meson Del Mar 550 cada noche

sol_veracruzano

jimjim

Veracruz-Jalapa is scenic and foggy most of the time.

Hotels in Veracruz

I have stayed at Holiday inn Boca del Rio and at Hotel Lois. I would totally recommend the first and if you're more into the "local" experience there's a Holiday Inn in the Zocalo (downtown area), it has more flavor and can participate in a Danzon session that takes place at the Zocalo.

Restaurants

La Estancia de la Boca , great place!!.

Breakfast: I recommend "La Gorda Gourmet" it's a thick tortilla base with shrimp in a butter garlic sauce, sprinkled with cheese and smothered with a spicy green salsa, Delicious!!.
If your tastes are not so spicy the "Gorda Blanca" a stuffed tortilla is great, the stuffing is made out of avocado leaf paste with black beans, you don?t get more regional that that.
LUNCH: Pollo a la antigua, mild chile paste marinated chicken.

El Gaucho is an Argentinian place; carries argentian type cut beef and international food, it's ok and very family oriented.

El Cafe de la Parroquia, has the very famous "Cafe lechero" and food with Mexican flavor.

Sanborcito , local eatery not for Atkins dieters.

jimjim

Thanks for the ideas. Do you know anything about Hotel Emporio in Veracruz? How does it compare to the Holiday Inn.

sol_veracruzano

H. Emporio

It's a good Hotel, traditional in the Port of Veracruz and very near to all activity. My husband has stayed there as well as in Villa Florida in Boca del Rio area he gives it a thumbs up for a 3 star hotel, it's no Embassy or Radisson but it's much better than Lois (very rundown).

jimjim

I have been to most of the archeological sites in Mexico (including Pelenque), Guatemala, and Peru. Would it be a tremendous loss if I passed up the sites north of Veracruz in order to spend more time in Oaxaca?

sol_veracruzano

Jimjim,

I don't know, because every single one of them is unique.

I would recommend if possible another trip to Mexico going to Puebla that has Pyramids too; beautiful pyramids near Cuetzalan (Yohualichan) one of Puebla's magical cities.
Have you heard of Cantona's Pyramids? These are in the border of Veracruz and Puebla. First it's dessertic (sp?), very mysterious not much is known of the culture and even the local people talk about it like they have a curse.
I know that it was a war and commercially oriented with more than 20 ball games in the fortress city, the pyramids are asymmetrical and many phallic symbols have been found... It?s way cool.

I love anything archeological so I?m totally biased.

mariaesta

hola!! I don check this site everyday.. If you have question about veracruz is better to write me at
[email protected]
or to see my web site at
http://groups.msn.com/TravelHelpersinVeracruz

suerte y buen viaje,, Maria de Veracruz