Hi all!

Sorry for leaving you hanging for so long. We've been running around like crazy trying to see how much we can cram into a day. So far it's been a little nuts, but well worth it. I think when we last left you, we were just getting into town and went to the waterfall in Xico.

Since then we visited Veracruz, La Antigua, and El Lencero. Not to mention all the good food we've eaten and spending some quality time with Jorge's family.

We headed out for Veracruz at about 9:30 and dropped Jorge off at work on the way. He works in Cardel which is about 30 minutes out of town. After that we stopped in a small village called La Antigua. You'd drive right by if you didn't know, but Hernan Cortez built his first house here. 400 years of being around pretty much left the place in ruins, but there was still enough of a structure that you could tell where things were. The pictures we posted will give you a pretty good idea. We also saw the first chapel built by the Franciscans that came to the region shortly after Cortez arrived. If they weren't famous enough of a draw to get out of your air conditioned comfort, the river was host to Arnold Schwarzenegger in a movie called Collateral Damage. PURE EXCITEMENT!

From there it was right into Veracruz. We headed straight for the gateway to the Americas, San Juan de Ulua. It was the principal port for the colonial trade and later became a presidential palace and finally a prison where they tortured prisoners. It was more than impressive seeing the materials they used to build such a large fort, to see how it had changed over the centuries, and to see how much of it was still around even after all these years. The guide talked nonstop and made translation difficult, but we made due. The heat was oppressive and made enjoying the fort difficult, but not impossible.

From there we went to the city center and had seafood for lunch. It was cute... we had some drinks and shared stories about some of the times we had been here in the center previously with Sarah. It was a welcome break from all the walking and heat of the sightseeing.

Then it was off to the Baluarte de Santiago, a true fort that was built to protect the actual city of Veracruz. They had some incredible artifacts that were discovered in 1977 by a fisherman. He found the remains of a sunken ship which included gold ingots ready to be shipped to Spain as well as some gold artifacts that were so intricate you had to appreciate the skill needed to make them with such little technology.

Sarah hit her limit with the sun and heat and we headed back to the car to recuperate and we saw the boardwalk and the rest of the city from the comfort of the car. We swung by to see Jorge's grandma and she served us some coconut or peanut ice cream (very delicious) and we were on our way home.

The next day was about sleeping in and then it was off to see the Hacienda El Lencero. Although the hacienda (think ranch/farm) had many owners, the most famous would have to be Santa Ana. The furniture was incredible, imported from all over the world in the 1800's and really gave us an idea of the splendor this President lived in (which would still be considered opulent by today's standards). There was a manmade lagoon, gardens, and chapel (which he built for his 2nd wife's marriage, she was 18, he was 50).

We met a couple from Portland (well, Troutsdale actually) and they were being led by our guide from Veracruz the day before. Small world! HA!

We had a nice lunch with the family with bananas machos (long story, ask Sarah), milanesa (breaded chicken), black beans and coconut milk straight from the coco. It was a great send off for Sarah and I as we piled into the bus for Puebla.

We made it without incident. Our taxi driver had actually spent time in Colombia (not Medellin, I asked), and took us straight to the hotel. After checking in we got to our room and were underwhelmed. It smelled like cleaner, had hairs in the bathroom, no safe and a balcony that connects with 2 other rooms. Yikes. Of course were stuck here because I had prepaid to save our reservation. Lucky us... although we don't plan on spending much time here over the next few days so it should be fine enough to sleep in. I think that after all the hospitality we've had with Jorge's family it was a sharp contrast!

More later when I'm not sniffly (yep, caught a cold, PERFECT TIMING) and my eyes aren't closing on their own.

Thanks for keeping in touch, it's nice to know what's going on at home!
Night!

Aar and Sar