Agustin Lara the world famous composer and poet has a museum located in his home (La Casita Blanca) in Boca Del Rio. From Veracruz you can catch a bus (5 pesos) from the corner of Avenida Zaragoza and Avenida Mario Molina towards Boca Del Rio. The museum is across the street from a big hotel called Hotel Lois and if you tell the driver he will let you off at the front door. You can also walk it along the malecon but I estimated it to be at least 5 miles away from the city center.
The price of admission was 15 pesos in July of 2006. While you are looking at the photos and other memorabilia of his life Lara's musical melodies play softly in the background.
He was married 8 times and his fourth wife was an actress Maria Felix who was reputed to be the most beautiful woman in Mexico. There are some photos of Maria in her youth and she is drop dead beautiful IMO. Lara wrote the song 'Maria Bonita' for her.
Lara began his musical career as a piano player in a brothel much like our own Scott Joplin. He ended up as arguably Mexico's most famous composer with his own radio program and he was idolized in latin america.
Other songs that he has written that I like are 'Solamente Una Vez' which was recorded by among others Elvis under the title of 'Your Heart Belongs To Me'. The song 'Veracruz' is another one that I like especially by Placido Domingo. Another one is 'Piensa En Mi'/'Think About Me'. He wrote hundreds of them.
There is a life size statue of Lara on Diaz Miron street which was where my hotel was located.
On the second floor is a balcony which affords an incredible view of the Gulf of Mexico and there is an island off in the distance (La Isla Sacrificios) where Cortes first anchored his ship.
For music lovers out there it is well worth the effort to visit 'the little white house'. I loved it and I wanted to live there but they threw me out.
Lancer