Day 13: Campeche, Mexico
Take other traveler’s opinions with a grain of salt. I heard that Campeche was boring and a mistake to go there. But a friend of mine, Juan-Carlos grew up there and I wanted to see the city.
While Juan Carlos had given me a list of what to see, do and eat. I also looked at the guidebooks and discovered the city was a UNESCO World Heritage site and used to be a walled city to defend against pirates.
As it’s a smaller town, it isn’t much of a tourist attraction and nearly no English is spoken. The climate is tempered with hot days and cool nights, which was welcomed after baking in Merida.
I arrived in the city with a hostel in mind and found myself in a beautiful cobblestone, colonial area in front of a magnificant cathedral. The streets were impecably clean with no litter and police regularly potrolled the streets.
Normally you would think this would be due to crime but people here are incredibly nice. Everyone smiles and when I had no idea what I was trying to order to eat they patiently helped me understand what was available (note: no water in the market, it’s tea, cola or orange juice).
But what struck me the most was the city at night. My hostel looked onto the Plaza Principale and at night the city is aglow. While many of the places I’ve been so far have the colourful colonial pastels, none of them look so brilliant at night.
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I'm Ayngelina and in my mid-thirties. I left an amazing job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America. I'm creating a new life choosing what I want instead of what other people think I should do.
The pictures are great…..who wouldn’t want to see that!
Wow! Some great shots there. Nicely done
Wow… their electricity bill must suck!
Great photos!
Monsieur Tofu, so glad you are reading!
Hehe, that first shot of the Cathedral is from inside the Monkey Hostel isn’t it? I stayed there to, what a great view!
I came across your blog through other RTW traveler sites and I really like it. I’ll be continuing to check in. Also had to comment because I got married in Campeche on April 24, a day after your blogpost here. A friend of mine and I had traveled to Campeche 2 years ago and we fell in love while on our trip; we went back this year to get married. Glad you enjoyed it too–a magical city, isn’t it?
Yes it’s an amazing city and I’d love to return now that I speak Spanish!
Tis quite lovely. Sometimes you just gotta check a place out besides what people tell you about it. Gotta see that for yourself.
It reminds me a lot of Popayan in Colombia. Super-clean night pictures!
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Great night pics Ayngelina!
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Gorgeous! These pictures remind me of a town I went to in Guatemala. I love the arcading on the buildings.
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People always say how beautiful Merida is but I think Campeche is so much nicer and there are fewer tourists.
Sweet pics! I love night shots, and it does kinda look like Popayan, everything is white there.
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Beautiful pictures! Great job capturing just the right amount of light! I especially like all the church pics.