We were on the move again but not until the afternoon for the short bus ride to the coastal capital of Campeche City. After a leisurely breakfast at the hostel, we made use of the pool and hammocks - there can't be too many backpacker hostels with amenities this good.

The drive into the city bus station and from there to our hotel took us through the usual run down, shabby streets. It occurred to David that this should not be a reflection of a city or town - a drive from LA Airport to the centre through the 'real' Hollywood shows a side of the city a far cry from the glitz and glam.

The City of Campeche was founded in 1540 and was the most important and largest port in Yucatan for trading . There was therefore a lot of wealth and, as such, constant attacks by pirates and raiders so a wall was built surrounding the city to protect it. Parts of the wall and bastions still remain today and this is partly the reason the city is part of world culture heritage.

Our hotel, Guaranducha Inn, was inside the original 'city walls' even though there was only a couple of bits of wall remaining. As we crossed the imaginary 'walled' boundary, it was like being in a completely different place. It was pristine, the streets were cobbled and the buildings nicely painted in pastel colours.

Our hotel was a two story building with an open atrium. The rooms were huge, not on floor space but on ceiling height, at least twice the height of a standard room. On the second floor, our room had a window looking down onto the atrium courtyard and out over the city with the bell towers of Iglesia del Dulce Nombre de Jesús and the Cathedral dominating the skyline.

We wandered down to the Plaza Principal, having a look at the church and cathedral on the way. We continued walking to the sea, the Gulf of Mexico, but it was not very spectacular - they had a a walking path along the coast but there was no beach. There was at breeze coming off the sea which was nice but it was still hot in the late afternoon sun and we were too hungry to go walking far.

Calle 59 has been turned over to a 'pedestrian street' with a few cafes & restaurants putting out tables and chairs in the middle. We decided to be healthy and eat at "Fresh n Green", not very Mexican but a very nice salad all the same.

There was a lot bell ringing from the church across the road this evening, not sure if this is a practice or they ring the bells randomly throughout every hour of the evening...