Tlacotalpan

Today, we went with Cliff and Monique to Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. Tlacotalpan is a United Nations World Heritage site on the Papaloapan river. It is a town founded in 1541, and known for it's colorful buildings. The drive from Catemaco was a little less than two hours.

The town was getting ready for its annual Candelaria celebration, which honors the Virgen de Candelaria, the patroness of the city. That meant that vendors from all over the country were setting up stands, grandstands were being set up, and buildings were being repainted.

The town is just as photogenic as we had been led to believe, and we enjoyed just hanging out in the plaza. The bright color is amazing.

Marianne suggested that Richard ask a group of schoolgirls if he could take their picture.

We went to the Augustin Lara museum, which was disappointing. Augustin Lara, the great musician and songwriter, was born in Tlacotalpan. We much preferred the Lara museum in Boca del Rio, just south of Veracruz city.

Marianne bought four embroidered blouses from indians from Oaxaca, not sure how to spell the language that they speak; there are sixteen different indian languages spoken in Oaxaca. Marianne also bought a colorful hand woven scarf from Nahuatal-speaking indians from Cuetzalan, in the Sierra Norte of the state of Puebla.

We drove back to Catemaco, after a pause to let the cattle go by, and got home just at dusk.