Alternating golden beaches reveal movielike cozy lagoons. The city of Santa Cruz has tidy streets that existed in the 16th century when only 1,000 people lived in relative isolation. Today, more than 200,000 inhabitants enjoy the flower-lined plazas, outdoor cafes, and modern city lifestyle. The first airport opened in 1930 and a second was built in 1978. There are no trains, just buses.
Gasoline is three times as expensive as in the United States.
I picked the Hotel Mencey in Santa Cruz, a Ciga hotel, at random, and it turned out to be the perfect location. Minutes away is a botanical garden park of sculpture, fountains, and foliage-covered walkways. On the corner of the same block is a small casino, convenient as a Store 24. This big hotel is in a quiet residential area. European styled and newly restored, the Mencey is fancy yet friendly.