puerto

Here we are at the Port of Verarcruz, after sipping an americano at the oldest cafe in the state (maybe in the country?) La Gran Cafe de la Parroquia, over 200 years old. A fun tidbit. We got in last night after spending a few drizzly days in Xalapa. We enjoyed the change from the stiffling concrete jungle of D.F. to the fog and sprinkles.
On a sunnier day we ventured to la cascada de Texolo, a big beautiful waterfall in a town called Xico. Upon hiking allllll the way to the top we were greeted with an oddly solitary restaurant overlooking the waterfall. Good food, good prices, considering. I took pictures of all of this but I don´t have the means to upload any now.
That day we went into Coatepec, a good place to taste and buy Veracruzana coffee. We did both and enjoyed the little town plaza - apparently recovering from a party because the streets were covered in confetti.

I think this might be the first place we´ve come to where I can say that I´m unimpressed. Veracruz is a port town, so as we look longingly into the Gulf of Mexico (the farthest east I´ve ever been and the first time I´ve seen a part of the Atlantic), and feel the hot breeze that comes off the warm water, we can´t swim in it or enjoy a beach. It is really nice though, to not need a jacket at night, but even during the day when it´s completely cloudy and there are gray skies, there is a thin layer of sweat on my upper lip.

As soon as we got to our host´s house last night, we left for a Karaoke-birthday party. It was a bit much. It´s impossible to sing a Spanish song you´ve never heard, and no one knows the American songs we can sing, so... that was that. Ian gave it a couple shots with Hotel California and Get Back Jo Jo, but you know me.
Today ours hosts dutifully took us to Fortaleza San Jose Ulúa, the fort/port established when the first Spaniards landed at Veracruz. It was interesting for picture taking, but our hosts were bored since it was their third time taking couchsurfers on such a tour. We´re not exactly into the touristy thing, so I think none of us really enjoyed it.
Then they dropped us off in the centro historico where we enjoyed some sweet sweet coffee.

Tomorrow we go to Lake Catemaco for camping and monkey watching and witch sightings!