In April of 2006 I finally went to Veracruz, Mexico, for the Carnaval. I should have gone at least ten years earlier. The all night parties and 3-4 hour desfiles were very hard on me. And Veracruz did not have the street life I expected. In my five days there I never did see the Marimba bands dressed in traditional costumes or the puestos selling fresh seafood. And the food wasn't even as good as it is in Mexicali. So I spent most of my time visiting the archeological sites in Zempoala and Tajin. Above left is a view of the Zocalo-Plaza De Armas from my room in the Calinda Veracruz. Right- is La Catedral De Nuestra Senora De La Asunsion. below left is the Buluarte de Santiago, the only standing fort marking the outer limits of the original city in 1635. I have since learned that to see the Fandangos (jam sessions) one has to go to Jalapa, the capityal city of Veracruz.

Above right is Pyramid of The Sun at Zempoala, site ofthe ancient Totonac city inhabited around the 10th century. This is where Hernan Cortez found his first allies against the Aztecas. Below left is one of the ceremonial rings. Below right is Chimineas

Above left-La Casa de Hernan Cortez in La Antigua overtaken by vines. Below left-Hermita Del Rosario, the first Cathoilic Church in the Americas. Below right-the bridge over El Rio Antigua.

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