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From Celestun head towards carretera federal Rte. 281 in the Easterly direction and follow closely all of the signs to reach Campeche. You will be driving through the following cities/towns to get to Campeche: Becal, Calkini, Tenabo. From Tenabo you will have to turn sharply towards south-west to arrive shortly at the ‘gates’ of the great city of Campeche.

Campeche in Mayan language is called ?h Kin Pech – or
“The Place of the Serpents and Ticks”. Before-mentioned Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba by 1540, started to expand Campeche into a major trading port, building bulwarks, fortified churches, city gates and strongholds. As Campeche grew, it attracted buccaneers and pirates. The city is vibrant with its lights, its pastel facades, its hanging lanterns and beautiful cobblestone streets all built with colonial architectural undertones. Campeche use to be just another stopover on the way to Villahermosa (444km southeast of Campeche), but no more, today it’s a true tourist destination because of the city-sponsored entertainments, beaches, nearby haciendas along Ruta Chenes and Ruta Rio Bec, and the biosphere reserves of Calakmul.

Major routes: Circuito Baluastes, circumscribes the old city. All major roads come together on the Circuito Baluastes, in the city centre. Avenida Gobernadores comes in from Merida Highway northeast of the city, crosses the peripheral highway, and passes the airport, train station, and bus terminals on its way to the Circuito. In order to arrive at the park, catch catch the “Gobernadores” bus across the street from the terminal station.
You can get a taxi from your hotel to the park since the taxis are quite cheap. The city centre’s east-west streets have odd numbers that increase to the south. Calle 8 runs north-south between the principal and the western city wall. Parallel to Calle 8 to the east lies Calles 10 and 16. The principal lies near the sea, bordered by Calles 8, 10, 55 and 57. To the west, outside the city wall, Av. 16 de Septiembre and Ave. Ruiz Cortinez also run parallel to Calle 8. North of the centro, Calle 8 becomes Malecon Miguel Aleman, running past the Iglesia de San Francisco, uphill to Fuerte de San Jose El Alto. Avenida Resurgimiento, the coastal boardwalk south of the city, runs past the youth hostel and the Fuerte San Miguel on its way to san Lorenzo and Seybaplaya. The Buses do not enter the historic and colonial centers. The best time to enjoy Campeche is during the night when the city is light up by city lights.

The Sites to Visit During Your Stay:

Fuerte de San Miguel: This fort houses exhibits which clearly describe nearby ruins and displays Mayan jewelry, pottery, vessels from Edzba and a jade mask from Calakmul. If you like weaponry, the top level of the fort, proudly displays 19 cannons which gloom over the sea and Campeche to the north of central watchtower. To visit the fort, you can take the “Lerma” bus from the eastern end of the Circuito Baluartes. Ask the bus driver to drop you off at the Castillo parade and then walk up the steep hill on the left until you reach the fork on the road. Take the left turn leading up to the fort. Fuerte de San Jose El Alto: This fort was built in 1762, San Jose was well-designed for defense during its time. The great defensive tactic was in its design; the path leading to the portcullis winds deliberately so that battering rams could not be used on the gate. The fort’s moat was crowded by pikes hidden beneath the murky waters. Currently, the ships and armaments have moved inside the fort for an impressive exhibit. The view from San Jose spreads over kilometers of green shoreline giving way to the urban waterfront development. The “Bellavista” and “San Jose El Alto” bus from the market will drop you halfway up the hill: a five-minute walk will get you to the fort at the top. (Open Tu-Su 8-8, Sunday free admission.) Museo de las Estelas Maya: Inside de Baluarte de la Soledad, off Calle 8 near Calle 57 behind el parque principal, the museo houses a small collection of well-preserved Mayan stelae and reliefs taken from sites in the Campeche province. Visitors may climb the walls of the fort, which is surrounded by a park. A showroom across from the museum occasionally features free exhibitions. (museum open M 8-2, tu-sa 8-8 Su 8-6) Jardin Botanico Xmuch’Haltun: Enclosed by the walls of the fuerte Santiago at the northwest corner of the city on Calles 8 and 51, the garden is a great place to stop and rest. Over 250 species of plant thrive in a tiny open-air courtyard shaded by trees and marked by benches, fountains, and frogs. Open M-F 9-4 Sa 9-1 and Sun 9-1 La Purisima Concepcion: This glorious cathedral served as a second refuge gathering place for the Maya and Spanish communities. Right below it you can see El Parque Principal. The construction of the cathedral was ordered by Francisco de Montejo in 1540. However, the cathedral has not been fully constructed until 1705. The cathedral’s main attraction is its fa?ade. Inside, you will find the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial), a sculpture of Christ in a carved mahogany sarcophagus replete with gold ornaments inside a glass case with silver trim. (open daily 7-noon FREE) Iglesia de San Francisco: This church can be encountered a rather farther distance from the city center. It was built in 1546 and is the first official place where the first Mesoamerican mass was held. This church was also a baptismal site of Hernando Cortes’s grandson. The three bells toll for humbleness, obedience, and chastity. Inside, yellow Corinthian arches project toward an ornate altar. (Open daily 8-12) Right now, you can own a condo in Mayan Riviera, use it as home-base and explore parts of Yucatan Peninsula such as Campeche The best thing is that this condominium property can be rented out as a vacation spot and generate income to off-set your mortgage payments. For more information visit: http://www.ottawa-sellers-buyers-residential-homes.com Other sights: Sand and Beaches. The closest stretch of sand is at Playa Payucan – great for snorkeling. Fauna, flora and ecotourism escapades are well programmed in Calakmul, which is the largest biosphere reserve in Mexico covering 1.7 million acres. This reserve in Campeche was a former Maya ceremonial powerhouse containing over 6000 ruins. From Campeche go south on 261 towards Escarcega-Chetumal until you reach Rte. 186 Go 95 km on Rte. 186, the town of Conhuas. The entrance is on the right, through a 60 kilometer one-lane road.

Sitting on the sofa with my dad at 9 years old and listening to Ernie Harwell’s excitement when Rocky Colavito came to bat. Cash and Kaline surrounded the rocket launching Colavito who promptly launched a bullet line drive that smashed into the seats near the foul line. my dad got up and gave a resounding “DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK” as Ernie Harwell did the same on the Detroit Tigers radio network.

In those days it was “The Rock” and Minnie Minoso, Larry Doby — Kaline, Cash and Colavito. the rock that was built for baseball and home runs. his fielding was beyond belief for a taller, strong player and he had a legendary cannon for an arm. I can hear Harwell casually exclaiming “DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK” after Rocky gunned down another runner. Rembering the Rock with the Indians when he hit his fourth consecutive home run in four consecutive at bats in Baltimore. The defensive minded orioles with the long fences refused to walk him but the Rock persisted.

Remember the “big trade” that sent Colavito from the Indians to the tigers ( Indian fans fumed). Then the rock went back to Cleveland for more good years and then off to other destinations including Kansas City where he did very well. the cannon-armed home run hitter In one of his final stops The Rock winds up pitching a little (and very well) for the New York Yankees, a team Colavito idolized as he was born in the Bronx, New York City. You can look at Hall of Famer records and and the Rock is comparable or better than some. It was his charisma and ability that made him so popular in Cleveland and made fans shout “DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK”

The Rock

Colavito was not fleet of foot. He reportedly had “flat feet” but he got along well for a larger player. His instincts were honed and his arm was like a laser, most fun was watching him throw out guys at the plate or pass a relay with a literal missile with laser guidance. He was totally error-less in one season. His assists and walks at the plate made him a very dangerous weapon. And what a hitter!

Colavito fans of all ethnicities were most impressed with him at the plate. in 1961, the tiger outfielder hit 45 rockets with 140 rbis and a .402 on base percentage. Teams didn’t want to pitch to colavito. he was a team player all the way as evidenced by his friendships and track record as a great role model for kids, fans, and American-Italians.

Baseball-reference.com is great Rocky site. If you are a Colavito fan, join the Yahoo! Rocky Colavito newsgroup. They run a very nice and down home discussion about the rock. The rock glows in this group as a very personable, proud, and although not perfect, a real role-model for American-Italians and his fans of all time. at 6’3″ and 190 lbs. Colavito played from 55′-68′.

Colavito and why he’s not in the Hall of Fame

Colavito in Cooperstown? if you thought you were going to read something deep here that is not the case. There is no reason why the rock is not in the mighty hall. The rock is more than stats. He was an American icon. wikepedia.com says “the curse of rocky colavito is a phenomenon that supposedly prevents the Cleveland Indians baseball team from winning, be it the world series, the American league pennant, reaching post season play, or even getting into a pennant race. its origin is traced back to the unpopular trade of right fielder Rocky Colavito for Harvey Kuenn in 1960. it is a classic example of an urban legend or a scapegoat for the Indians’ past failures.”

Did I hear “urban legend”? Colavito then returned to the Indians in his tenth season, after a one year stop in Kansas City where he ripped 34 missiles with 102 rbis. He leads a semi-private life in rural Pennslyvania. He and his family are doing great. The Hall of Fame has to hear that somewhere out there. to me it’s an outrage and a slap in the face. Every time the Indians have a reunion with the Rock, there is a large group who follows the whereabouts of the American-Italian urban legend

- Rocco Dominico Colavito. Now explain why the Hall of Fame members snub him. Have theories? born august 10th 1933, the rock is still the rock in 2008. You can make excuses but “DON’T KNOCK THE ROCK!

Sitting like a tired dinosaur on top of Fort Rinella, limits of Kalkara, is the world’s largest cannon – a 100-ton Armstrong gun – originally built by the British in Malta to safeguard that part of the coast and to protect naval shipping in the area from the newest generation of Italian battleships of the time.

Luckily, it was never fired in anger, but an amusing legend about its first test still does the rounds much to the chagrin of military experts and local conservationists who have done a wonderful job restoring and up-keeping both the cannon and the fort.

The persistent legend says that when the gun was first fired, the 2000-pound shell fell just a few metres down into the nearby sea. If told, Queen Victoria cannot have been amused. Because a single shell cost, in those days, as much as the daily wage of 2,600 soldiers. In fact, so costly was it that the gun was only fired twice a year for practice.

The cannon and the fort that has housed it for so many decades are certainly worth a visit. When installed, the massive cannon was state-of-the-art, equipped with a steam powered hydraulic system that traversed, elevated and depressed the gun. Fort Rinella, sometimes also referred to as Rinella Battery, was built between 1878 and 1886, standing above the shore east of the mouth of Grand Harbour, between Fort Ricasoli and Fort St Rocco, in the same region of the island.

The fort, which is quite modest in size, was designed to operate and protect the single large gun, together with its associated gun squad, magazines, support machinery, bunkers and the troops that were stationed within the fort to defend the installation.

The fort was designed to engage enemy warships at ranges up to 7,000 yards. The low profile of the fort and the deeply buried machinery rooms and magazines were intended to enable it to survive counter-fire from Italian and Nazi capital warships.

The fort has no secondary armament; its fortifications, simply ditches, caponiers, a counter-scarp gallery and various firing points were mostly intended for small arms fire and grenade launching.

Today you can visit the museum and even attend, on the 5th of May of every year, the firing of the gun by volunteers. They use black powder only, of course, so you can’t really prove or disprove the legend.
Every afternoon the same dedicated volunteers, dressed as 19th Century British soldiers, provide a tour of the fort that combines lectures, demonstrations and live re-enactments. A Victorian-era muzzle-loading fieldpiece is fired, again without shot, but sorry, there is no legend about that……

Fort Rinella is one of the most fascinating things you will see in Malta with its authentic re-enactments and quite spectacular cannon. To get there by car you need to head in the general direction of the three cities and then follow the signs to Rinella. By bus you need to be catching the bus in the direction of Kalkara – the number 4.