Saturday sightseeing...left early...returned late

Had an early breakfast at a little place we found several blocks from our hotel. Yum!!  We walked over to the waterfront and caught an early bus to an historic site, San Juan de Ulua.  It is surrounded by the cranes moving containers on and off ships and the modern harbor.  It was built by the Spaniards when they started the conquest of Mexico and the history of the place spans about 500 years.  It is actually 3 separate groups of buildings with water surrounding each one.  It was a garrison, a prison, has a palace inside.  It was occupied by the Spanish, the Mexicans, then the Americans, and finally by the Mexicans again.  It is incredible to me that this historical site sits in the middle of a modern, busy harbor.

We returned to the waterfront near the aquarium and then went by bus to a town south of Veracruz called Mandinga for lunch.

Then went out on a launch into the lagoon.

Returned to the waterfront around 6 pm and then walked back to our hotel.