Veracruz is my 3rd favorite place in Mexico. It’s hard to choose but each has it’s own charm. San Cristobal De Las Casas #1 and Acapulco #2. I try to go every year to Carnaval in Veracruz. It is incredible! Thousands of people but what a party! Go early to get more than just the extremely crazy weekend through Fat Tuesday. I try to spend the entire week before. Check out my favorite and best Italian restaurant Rigoletto’s. I was lucky enough to get a room with a balcony overlooking the central plaza – The cacaphony created by the crowds together with 4 or 5 Mariachi bands and 6 or 8 Marimba bands all playing at once is something you will never forget! There are many parades with floats and the works. The huge restaurant “La Parroquia” has the BEST Cafe AuLait (called a “Lechero” here) I ever had and the best breakfasts – right on the plaza. Then head down to La Malecon for an amazing seafood dinner on the beach. There are many things to do and see in Veracruz but the best thing about it is it’s people! Famous for it’s rhythmic music and unconventional percussion groups the tropical flavor of this city has created a flamboyant and fun loving people that delights the soul. Very gay friendly too. Oh, I guess I should explain, Alvaro Carillo, my favorite song writer, was born in Veracruz and wrote such brilliant songs and melodies such as “Veracruz”, “El Pacto”, “Sabor a Mi”, “Payaso”, and “Amor Mio” just to name a few. He died in a car crash in the 50’s with his wife and children – Jose Jose made a great movie about his life. How many more songs of his genius were we thus deprived? There is just nothing better than to be sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Veracruz of an evening sipping a CubaLibre and listening to a strolling marimba group.