Cienfuegos-Tinidad

March 21, 2016

Back in Cienfuegos for more detailed tour. Began at a special school started by a woman to aid those 17-30 who didn't have jobs or a trade. Tradesmen in the area teach these people a trade in a hands on environment. The property where the school was needed to be remodeled and updated and the "trainees" were assigned the job of in some cases rebuilding the building. Their work included building from scratch columns, wooden doors, doorways and door arches. They were working with all sorts of materials, then advancing out of the school to trade jobs in the community. We all came away with a great deal of admiration for the woman who started the project and her resourcefulness to keep it running successfully.

Door done by students

Next we visited a fashion designer's shop who was following her dream to design and create clothing of her own. Her son and daughter-in-law were part of the shop. She was planning a trip to Italy to showcase her work. Clothing on display and for sale seemed quite reasonable.

We were given some free time to roam the streets. Of course in the process, we missed the state tobacco shop. We instead visited the theater of unique design. The pictures were tough to take due to lack of light, but give some representation of this great old structure. The stage was huge and very deep. The theater is active. Yesterday, an event was occurring inside.

Cuba still has public telephones as seen in following picture. Also a picture of one of the major structures in and  around the town square. Also example of their street sweepers.

Frequently students appear and begin hamming it up for the camera. Here's just one example. All wear uniforms and the color designates age level of the school. Believe these were middle school.

Of course lunch followed at the yacht club on the water near a marina. Though as you can see it was quite a special building, turns out we were one of many tour groups using the facility. Luckily we were the first. Again food pretty good and ice cream outstanding.

Rear of Yacht Club

Front of Yacht Club

This ferry was transporting people from islands into Cienfuegos.

Our next stop was the Botanical Gardens of Cienfuegos. The head botanist, speaking very good English, took us on an hour tour of the garden that had many trees and plants not common to Cuba in addition to many that are. Included plants were royal palms, bamboos, ficus trees, etc.

Elephant tree

Cashew pods

Brazil Rose

While traveling to our hotel, the bus came to a sudden stop. Crabs were all over the road and running everywhere on the side as well as in the middle. The bus moved slowly through the "mess" as several cars coming from the other way just blew by crushing many crabs. You have to look hard at this picture I took from the bus, but you should be able to spot some. They will be the many lighter colors.

We moved on to Trinidad for an orientation tour of the city. Another all inclusive hotel with a beach right outside our window. We decided we must take advantage of the beach and the salt water. Was great.

View from our room 

Cienfuegos

March 20, 2016

Luckily today, we were able to drive back through Old Havana, passing by the Capitol, the National Theater, then traveled to Matanzas heading East from Havana. I say luckily, because preparations were under way for Obama's visit later that day and roads were to be blocked off. Obama was to speak at the National Theater.

Great Theater where Obama spoke

In Matanzas, we visited another farm with mangoes, bananas, mamey, avocados, etc. They, too, had a little zoo. The area had originally been a waste dump. In addition to the farm, of course they had a restaurant, hostel and pool, the latter set up for rehab uses. The owner's family of course was heavily involved. The musicians were sister, father and uncle of one of the managers. As usual, the food at private places fairs better than at hotels and the volume offered was unusually large. Was served buffet style and included large variety of meats and vegetables.

Another bus arrived before we were finished eating. Several of the people had U. of Illinois garb on, so I approached and discovered that they were sponsored by the U. of I. Alumni Assoc.

Entrance to hostel room

Coconut Milk

Next we drove to the Bay of Pigs Museum, which unfortunately was under renovation. It of course presents the history of the insurgents failed invasion in 1961.

An aside, we asked guide about Russia's involvement in Cuba before the Soviet collapse. She told us that it was only financial as they were the buyers of Cuban sugar cane. Also learned that our 27 year old guide is working on her Phd., has studied languages and her previous job was as an interpreter for a Cuban Government agency. 

List of those lost in invasion

We moved on to the city of Cienfuegos with an orientation tour of the city, which sits on the sea. Ferries take people to and from islands near by. We stayed the night at the Hotel Rancho Luna, an all inclusive hotel. We enjoyed all the free drinks, especially. Somewhere along the line and it might have been here, some room toilets did not have seats. Not ours. In addition to a nice pool, there was also a beach. We managed to chill out at the pool-Nan updating her journal and me dealing with the free beer. Nan did have couple of Cuban Libres while she wrote. Couldn't get her a Pina Colada as they didn't have a mixer at the pool bar. Downside, too, was that they served us in 6 oz cups. Made for too many trips to the bar. One solution was to get two at a time. One of the group was observed carrying 4 at a time.

Cuban Lawn Mowers

After dinner, the hotel sponsored a 30 minute show of singers and dancers in an open air auditorium and the air was breezy and a bit cool.

Vinales

March 19, 2016

Today we traveled west of Havana 130 miles to a colorful town and area named Vinales. Our first venture outside Havana pointed out how poor the public transportation is as many personal vehicles and modified box trucks are used to transport Cubans who stand along side the road to be picked up. Not sure the fee, but believe it was based on distance traveled. Many of the stops are located under overpasses so they can stay out of sun and rain while waiting for a ride. Tour guide said that even tour buses will stop if they have extra seats. The box trucks would have benches in the back for riders to sit on.

First stop along the way to Vinales was at a somewhat modern rest area with restrooms and food.

 We visited an organic farm, where they were growing flowers, vegetables, fruits, etc. They built boxes from cement type boards and made their own compost using rabbit feces mixed with whatever was available. The owner, Eduardo, was quite the character and spoke to us in good English without a translator. He was demonstrative in his expressions and loved showing off his farm. The food produced by the farm supports his large group of relatives and restaurant on the premises. Eduardo was extremely proud of his place.

Eduardo

Plants

View from farm

The lunch stop was nearby at a picturesque location. They had cooked a pig to serve us in their open, but covered dining area. The guitarist played for us during our meal. This is where the driver Antonio, the owner and guide Jade danced. One of the couples in the group was celebrating their 50th, so we all were offered shots of rum for a toast.

Pig remains

We traveled down the road a piece to a National Park that had an Indian Cave with a river flowing through it. Many stalactites and stalagmites present. We had to walk down a bit of a dodgy, rock stairway to the river, where motor boats took us for a ride through the cave and out into the open at ground level.

Cave/river opening

This night we were lucky enough to get tickets to the Buena Vista Social Club music group performing at a restaurant in Havana Old Town. We had a choice of buying tickets with dinner or with 2 drinks. We all chose the latter so we could roam Old Havana before the show.

 Nan and I woofed down a Cuban sandwich (worst we had) at a brewpub (beer was good), then rented ($10) a peditaxi for an hour's tour around Old Havana, mostly in the dark. An hour turned out to be quite long, especially for the poor one pedaling, but we enjoyed seeing the back streets. Peditaxi we were in did not appear to have any gears. Many doorways were open and you could see the living quarters that opened up directly to the street. Many appeared to have small living/dining/cooking area in the front. Some appeared to open up the further you got in to the quarters. Unfortunately the taxi driver could not speak English, so we didn't learn much about what we were seeing.

The performance of the Buena Vista Social Club was great. They had two dancers who added to the show. They later made their way around the room dancing with the audience members one on one including one of our group. The drinks were a Mojito, Cuban Libre and we received an added rum drink. Should mention that this was an unofficial tour event, so we all came up with extra cash for the driver. When he came to pick us up, he had his wife with him. He would later show us on his iPad pictures of his beautiful daughter. Here are some pictures of the performance, etc.

Sign on restaurant for club

Band setting up in front

Band finished around 11 and it was after 12, midnight by the time we returned to the hotel.