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There's Beach, And There's Beach.
Villa Rica isn’t the beach one thinks of. And that’s what makes it so special.
Tall buildings, resort hotels, fine restaurants, beverage service and chaise lounges, that’s the vision of a popular, beautiful beach. And lots, and lots, and lots of people. Trouble parking, lots of noise, roller skaters, hot dogs, candy apples, and cotton candy.
Villa Rica has none of it.
Well I take it back, Ricardo and Guadalupe have a fine restaurant. It has four plastic tables (seats sixteen on its sixteen plastic chairs), a counter without stools, porous walls around the kitchen, and a TV for those interested in soccer. I forgot, it also has a thin and leaky layer of palm branches as a sunroof over the eating area.
The village of Villa Rica, a third of a block of sand in from the surf’s edge, has 150 residents. On a busy summer day, the village’s population doubles—3000 or so feet of beach and 150 people using it.
The sand is clean and off-white. On a hillside a mile away is an ancient ruins. Although not large, archaeologically it’s important. It’s easy to get to; Villa Rica (sharing with several surrounding communities) has three taxis.
It still exists, pristine beach. Loved by its people. Protected by its people. Visited by some bathers, and by some participating in eco-tourism. It also has a branch (a small branch) of our language immersion school. Our branch up there is open only to intermediate and advanced students.
An hour and a half up the highway from the City of Veracruz, Villa Rica is a beach in a still natural setting. It’s great for cultural tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and Spanish in context—Spanish learned out-and-about in the community.
Eric Langner August 6, 2007 02:53 PM