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Campeche, a gorgeous town on the Gulf of Mexico, made a Unesco World Heritage in 1999. It is a beautiful colonial style town, with brightly coloured facades and a relaxed feel. We stayed in the Hotel America, a nice, colonial hotel in the center of town (with car-park, all for approx. €38/night), where I embarassed myself when I asked the female receptionist for the address of a beauty salon to get my legs waxed (all of this in approximate Spanish), and got told that everybody did it with a razor and wouldn't dream of going to a beauty salon for that (silly me!). On the bright side, I practised words in Spanish that are quite difficult to place in casual conversation... We bought delicious pastries from the "Panificadora Nueva Espana" and visited the "Fuerte San Miguel", overhanging the sea, especially lovely at sunset as you may see on the pictures, and it doubles up as an archeological museum (hence the mummy). We went for a drink in the evening to the Iguana Azul, a great place with a lush patio, lovely atmosphere and warm welcome, and we even ate veg tapas of "Jicama", sort of Mexican turnip which tasted great! We then ate at La Parroquia, favourite of both locals and tourists for its local specialty "Camarones al Coco". |
Campeche |
Campeche, belle ville coloniale sur le Golfe du Mexique, classé patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1999. Le charme de ses façades colorées, de son vieux fort et de ses rues typiques en font une étape de choix. Nous sommes restés à l'Hotel America pour environ 38€/nuit, l'hôtel dispose d'un parking, essentiel quand on arrive en voiture de loc.. On a acheté de délicieuses patisseries à la Panificadora Nueva Espana, puis on s'est promenés un peu dans les jolies rues tranquilles, on a bu un coup à la Casa Vieja, et on est allés jusqu'au vieux fort, très bel endroit à visiter, qui sert aussi de musée archéologique (d'où la momie!). Le soir, direction le "Iguana Azul", superbe endroit pour prendre un verre, écouter un peu de musique et grignoter quelques tapas, dans une cour intérieure impressionante - accueil chaleureux et attentif. Plus tard, on a rassasié nos estomacs à "La Parroquia", petit restaurant familial très apprécié où on a dégusté des "Camarones al Coco" (crevettes à la noix de coco) et du poisson à la mode locale. En résumé, une ville très sympa qui vaut le détour... ah, j'ai même fait du shopping... |
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arrival in this beautiful colonial town - arrivée dans cette belle ville coloniale
all the facades are painted vivid colours, which makes for a nice exotic feel - toutes les façades sont agrémentées de belles couleurs du sud
another lovely street, and do you know, there's even some shopping to do in Campeche...
the main square, although not in its best light
the beautiful Cathedral "de la Concepcion Immaculada" from the main square (behind the tree... ;-))
visiting the Spanish fort
the vintage drawbridge
the artillery - Quel canon!! (oui, celui qui tire des boulets, pfff!)
the mummy
a beautiful sunset on the Gulf of Mexico
the sentinel
didn't I say it was gorgeous at sunset?
the Cathedral against apocalyptic-looking skies
La Iguana Azul - if you spend too much time drinking in this place, you won't make old bones... or will you?
look at the dark stranger I've met there!
"Pescado a la Parroquia", a ball of fish stuffed with a mix of shrimps, bacon, herbs, onions in a hot salsa! Yummy
The local speciality "Camarones al Coco", giant prawns in coconut batter served with jam, you'd think it weird, but it's delicious!
The tiny botanical garden of Campeche (and when I say tiny, I mean it!)
tiny, but with splendid specimens
exotic flowers
in a lovely light
another spledid church
©KarenWeb2005