Veracruz is a large city in the state of [wiki=0f5c2246cede65afbe1ee3a1d88edbe2]Veracruz[/wiki] in [wiki=ea3686ea6598451247ed40ec839256fa]Central Mexico[/wiki] in which 14 journalists have been murdered during Governor Duarte's rule. The locals call their city "Puerto" (port) to differentiate the city from the state of Veracruz. The Port of Veracruz remains the core of its economy. It is also famous for its nightlife, and its spacious downtown area near the harbor (zocalo) comes alive with music and dancing with a strong Cuban influence. Highlights are the annual carnival celebrations around February when the party atmosphere is particularly raucous and hotel rooms become difficult to find.