VERACRUZ TOUR
February 2-8, 2012

Now is a grand time for a taste of adventure.

The state of Veracruz is a fusion of spiky mountain peaks, misty hills covered with coffee growing estates, waterways lined with banana trees, and coastal flatlands filled with pineapple plantations. Few tourists get to see this dramatic landscape, one I hope to share with you when the weather is at its best offering sunny days and balmy nights scented by vanilla.

Our small group of no more than ten participants will spend a week in the wildlywonderful Gulfport city of Veracruz, home to the most exuberant, music-filledzócalo in Mexico! A short stroll from our hotel through the historic centeris Veracruz's heartbeat, the palmtree-lined Plaza de la Armas with its cathedral on one side, whitewashedcity hall on another, and crowded cafes spilling into the zócalo fromunder covered archways. Here'swhere we don shades and our new Panama hats at nightfall, sip icy drinks, puffCuban cigars, listen to marimba bands and howl at the moon.

Our comfortable hotel, in a wonderful location just steps off the famous Malecon promenade, is fully air-conditioned and offers hi-speed wireless Internet. The welcoming pool is perfect for a cool splash before a late afternoon siesta.

Day tours include visits through a lush coffee growing region tothe state capital of Xalapa and the architecturally breathtaking anthropologymuseum filled with pre-Columbian art; the pastel-colored UNESCOtown of Tlacotalpan for a seafood feast you will never forget;and across a river's foot bridge to historic,jungle-like Antigua for a meal found only in this off-the-American-tourist-trackvillage.

Red snapper, delicate pompano, and other Gulf fish andseafood including live shrimp from river, lagoon, bay, gulf and ocean await us.We'll taste regionalmoles and tamales, gorditas (corn masa puffs) with sensationaltable salsas, and devour refreshing ice cream flavored from exoticfruits. We'll purchase vanilla beans from Paplanta natives,go on a tasting tour of MercadoHidalgo's local specialties, feast riverside in Bocadel Rio on superb regional seafood dishes, sip toro (creamy fruitand alcohol drink), and hold court at my favorite fish market fonda offeringthe world's best fish and shellfish cocktails.

$2200. Per person, based on double occupancy.
Plus $400 single supplement.
Does not include airfare, alcohol (except beer) and inexpensive taxi to/from airport.Includes 7 days, 6 nights hotel (double occupancy), ALL meals (when taken withthe group), plus all tastings, demos, tours, museum/site entrance fees and local tourtransportation.
¡SALUD!
Enjoy traveling with a small group of food-loving participants.
Registration deadline is December 15, 2011

Space is limited. To register for a tour, a $500 deposit is required to reserve your space. Send a check (made out to Nancy Zaslavsky) with a completed application to the address on the application. Payment in full is required 40 days prior to the start of the tour.

> download TOUR APPLICATION PDF
> download PRINTABLE VERSION of Veracruz tour information