On local advice, we stopped for the next night in Tlacotalpan, the UNESCO world heritage city. It was a beautiful little town, with friendly locals, and large striking town squares and churches. The colorful colonial style houses were a treat for the eyes. From one colonial city to the next, San Francisco de Campeche is a fortified city built in 1540 by Spanish conquistadores. The walls surrounding the city were built to protect the occupying Spanish from pirates and buccaneers, while the native residents lived outside the city walls in the surrounding area. At first glance, the central city area appears to be immaculately preserved. Footpaths are smooth and straight, and walls and doors throughout the city shine with fresh paint. The colonial layout of the city means that houses sit directly on the street, and gardens are inside courtyards and behind facades. Once you climb onto the recently restored outer city walls however, you realise that much of the city is an illusion. Behind immaculately well kept building facades are full city blocks of rubble, and crumbling houses. Buildings that appeared like neat houses from the outside, were actually empty wrecks. It was completely unexpected, and for me just added to the mystery of this colorful city. |
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AuthorsThis is the story of Linden, Angus and their (not-so) trusty steed Pancho as they set off on an overlanding adventure through Mexico, Central America and beyond. Archives
April 2015
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