After a fantastic afternoon at the Hacienda de Pacho, we made our way to the waterfront city of Veracruz.
We were just there overnight; what we have to admit was plenty. The city of Veracruz is a massive port on the Gulf of Mexico and one of the oldest ports in Mexico.
We’re sure in its heyday, before giant shipping containers, it was a beautiful city.
Gran Hotel Diligencias
Our hotel for the night was the Gran Hotel Diligences. Again, much like the city, we’re sure that at one time, it was a grand hotel.
It was a bit dated. But it was centrally located to the zocalo, cathedral, and waterfront.
After checking in, part of the group went for a walk along the waterfront. Chuck relaxed in the room, but Mark went with the group.
Valentine’s Day On The Zocalo
The zocalo was packed with couples and families jockeying to take photos in one of a few giant floral hearts in the square. The square is surrounded by historic buildings, small shops, and a few restaurants, and just beyond the square is the waterfront.
We waited until the following day, when the empty square was being cleaned up, to jump in and sneak a photo.
The Veracruz Waterfront
The group walked past a huge group doing Zumba on the pier. In the distance, you could see enormous tankers and shipping vessels moving in and out of the port.
While the waterfront has a few historic buildings, a lighthouse, and some fun sculptures, that’s about all that was there. Even restaurants along the waterfront were few and far between.
Dinner in Veracruz
Several people from our group opted to stay in the hotel and eat at the restaurant there. It was truly nothing to write home about.
Most of the group did pretty basic food. Being on the gulf, some chose things like coconut shrimp.
Mark went for a traditional dish of Veracruz called Arroz a la Tumbada. It is a seafood stew with rice cooked in a clay pot. It’s packed with fish, shrimp, and crab cooked in tomato, garlic, and onion broth. It’s served in the clay pot it was cooked in, and the chilis add a nice little bite without being too overpowering.
This may have been the only redeeming quality of the overnight stop in Veracruz. It’s not a place we’ll be rushing back to visit. Although we truly didn’t get to explore much of the city.
