We had one very full day in Campeche. We took the little tourist bus around town which gave us a nice overview of the walls surrounding this 500 year old city. It also passed by the main churches in the different neighborhoods. 
The tour guide spoke only Spanish and I dare say we understood all of it, very exciting. We have had many opportunities to use our language skills to speak with local people which is true magic.
One of the city walls is open to walk along overlooking the small colonial center filled with brightly and carefully maintained painted facades. Campeche should be a major tourist destination.
Mexican people are always very friendly with us. Keith knows how to start a conversation with anyone. He might buy a roll of cookies and just start passing them around a little family gathered in the park and, presto, soon we are hearing all about their loved ones working in the states and how that support helps send their children here to school.
Our last evening in Campeche we had Mexican food for dinner (which is very different from the local Yucatan fare) followed by a surprised viewing of the finale of XFactor, a show we should be embarrassed to be fans! Keith's person, Melanie, won; my guy, Josh, was second, so that was a very happy ending!
The next morning, yesterday, we woke up early, had a great breakfast, checked out & set off in our little rental car, go cart really, for Lake Bacalar. We stopped on the edge of Campeche to visit Fort San Miquel which is impressive. Inside the fort is housed a very informative Mayan Museum, we read everything they had in English.
Keith has been wanting to come here for a couple of years now after virtually touring it with our friend Curtis. This was our true destination for Christmas and what a great choice it was!!
The five hour drive to Bacalar was very scenic~ after we left the ocean front we passed through many small villages with incredibly green jungle on either side of the small rolling hills; the highway stretched for miles on past the horizon.
Traffic was light but we were passed constantly by cars going way beyond the posted (suggested?) speed limits. The signs to direct you from place to place are very few and since I'd left our good map back at the Maya Campeche Hotel I felt lucky we had no issues! We were pulled over once passing through the four different police blocks, but not searched or hassled. In fact the well-armed policemen were very reassuring that we were going the right direction.
Bacalar exceeds my expectations, Casita Carolina is indeed the best place in town to stay, inexpensive and too much fun!
Last night Carolina had invited local chefs to come prepare dinner for all of her guests and many expat friends from Merida & Bacalar. There was live music on the sound stage presented by some other travelers with talent, Susan & Janette from Portland. We hope our paths cross in life with these women again, alas they left early this morning for Tulum.
Tonight is Christmas Eve and a bigger party is planned right outside our casita door. Music tonight will include Christmas caroling accompanied by a ex-librarian from Wisconsin and a German woman who owns the restaurant where we had breakfast. Right now blasting on the stereo John Lennon is singing 'And so this is Christmas', and so it is.
We couldn't be happier, unless of course our family was with us, but for now we are making new friends and loving the time together in the sun! Feliz Navidad!!
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