Fourth Journey Day 107: Vestiges of the Raid
Today I visited Fuerte de San Miguel, a fortress perched high above the coast, its thick stone walls still bearing echoes of the past. The walk up to the fort was quiet, interrupted only by the occasional rustle of the wind through the palm trees. From the top, the Gulf of Mexico stretched endlessly, its blue depths meeting the sky in a seamless horizon.
Inside, the museum housed remnants of the Mayan civilization-jade masks, intricately carved stelae, and pottery that once held stories within its curves. One piece caught my eye: a turquoise mask, its inlaid stones shimmering in the light, its expression frozen in an enigmatic gaze. I quickly sketched its contours, noting the geometric precision of each stone.
The fortress itself carried its own weight of history, built centuries ago to protect against pirate raids. Standing at the edge of the ramparts, I tried to imagine what it must have been like to look out and scan the water for approaching ships.
As the sun began to set, the walls glowed a warm amber, casting long shadows across the courtyard. I lingered for a while, tracing patterns in my sketchbook, before making my way back to the city. Campeche's past had left its mark not only on its architecture, but in the air itself - a quiet hum of history that I carried with me as I walked back through its narrow streets.
