It was a 26 hour drive from our home in Colima to the the state of Yucatan; we only stopped to gas up the car and to sleep in a small hotel right by a gas station on the first night. Then we continued to reach our first destination at the port of Progreso, Yucatan where we house sat for a month and a half.
After finishing our time in Progreso, we took a road trip on the Mayan Riviera; in about two weeks we visited some amazing places we had on our bucket list (check the articles before this one for more details on these places).
After our two weeks adventure discovering amazing Mayan ruins and beach towns, we drove to the city of Merida; here we house sat for two months and we had a bit of a sweet and sour experience. We were amazed with the culture and the great lifestyle this city has to offer but, the hot weather and high humidity were brutal; we knew about the hot summers but didn't think it was going to be that bad since we lived in Las Vegas for so many years, or perhaps we needed to stay a longer time to get adjusted. The truth is that we love Merida and we can see ourselves living in this amazing city full time but, we want to try other places before making our final decision.
We left Merida with a smile on our face and with less pounds from all the sweating during the two months we spent there ha ha ha! (Check the article " Merida, the white city").
On our way back home, we stopped In Campeche since it was on our bucket list; we were amazed with the beauty of this historical city. Its well preserved colonial architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, the pastel colors of the buildings and mansions give this place a very special touch.
We were very pleased to find the historical center streets very clean with lots of outdoor cafes and restaurants and a beautiful main square where you can enjoy peaceful moments.
The moment we started walking around the city we felt a cooler breeze coming from the ocean, something I appreciated so much; we couldn't wait to check the oceanside so we made our way to the malecon (boardwalk) which is located just a couple of blocks away from the historical center.
The boardwalk is located along the Gulf of Mexico, it's one of the nicest I have seen; locals can go for a bike ride, a walk or just to sit down and enjoy the amazing sunsets. Here you can find plenty of restaurants along the way where you can stop for a drink or perhaps for a romantic dinner.
The historical center is surrounded by a fort that was built back in the 1600's to protect the city from the attacks of pirates. Now in days the wall has been converted into museums where you can learn its interesting history and appreciate some amazing views from above it.
After spending a few days in Campeche; learning from its history, culture and enjoying its beauty, we left wanting to go back for a longer stay and find out if it could be a place to call home.
Our next stop was in the port of Verecruz; we spent one day in this city where we were able to have a good time walking on the boardwalk. We stayed right by the main square which made it very convenient to explore the surroundings.
There is a city in the state of Veracruz that we had on our list to visit; Xalapa is a college town that is located in the mountains. We read so many good things about it that we had so many expectations; it is indeed a nice city with cooler weather and great history. Coffee plantations are close by and some other magical places. We enjoyed visiting the botanical garden and having a coffee drink at the main square. Overall, we had a good time but we didn't find the charm we were expecting; glad we made it and checked it off our list.
Safe travels my friends!
