Veracruz

Why its not on most gringo trails.

It isn't pretty, it isn't overly cheap and let's face it...anywhere near the coast is a rip off.
And the coast- its disgusting.

The biggest issue we had with Veracruz was absolutely our fault. We stayed in the tourist zone...well sort of in between one tourist zone and the next tourist zone. It was a 50 minute walk into the town and our nearest eating option was KFC..the traditional meal of the Mexican. In our defence our hotel was the cheapest place we found to stay and we had beachfront views. We also had a stinking hot room with two pathetic fans. But lesson learnt...when the reviews say it is a while away from anything...perhaps it is a while away from anything.

But...Veracruz at the moment is the proud winner of MEAL OF THE TRIP (we are only two weeks into our five and half month trip but still...)

The town of Veracruz is hot...yes...but go anywhere the locals go and my god you will find some good food. We had the most beautiful baked fish with a chilli and tomato sauce. It was completely fresh (the owner who befriended us mimed that it had been swimming that morning) and perfectly cooked. It deserved its own cooking show this fish. It was perfect. And it was 70 pesos (that included our soup, rice and salad too). And Coronas were 10 pesos.

Compare that to the day before. We were idiots. We were hot idiots and thought we should give this restaurant on the beach a go. We sat down at one of those giant beacheateries...where there were no Mexicans...No Mexicans=No Good...and spent our entire daily budget on one fish (Menu in English- also not a great sign). The allegedly fresh fish came covered in plastic cheese, and stuffed with a random assortment of unidentifiable seafood, tasting suspiciously of dirt. AND IT COST AUD $30. We were incredibly ashamed at been so easily lured to a classic tourist trap...and having spent our daily budget felt compelled to eat it. And it was grosse.

Veracruz...are you on the list to return to? No. But the town and the market in the town did have some delicious food, lovely people and made me like you. It was easy to be charmed by the chaotic markets the busy restaurants and extremely cheap and yummy seafood. However...the grey gulf water, and grey gulf sand beaches were not attractive, and nor were the disgusting tourist prices. I will take half the blame for choosing a crappy hotel that was too far out to be any good...as long as you take half the blame for your shit beach and rip off artistry.

Oh and I almost forgot..the war on drugs...I get it and well done. But christ...these things going past my window at least five times an hour...slightly scary. Is it doing anything?