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Cadillac Ranch, Saturday, 11. March 2000:- At the first step out of the Santiago de Cuba airport on Saturday, 12. February we salsa-ed through a receiving line of costumed dancers moving to the beat of Cuban music. And the beat went on and on throughout our trip from east to west in Cuba.

From Santiago de Cuba to Havana In Only Three Weeks

LindaThalm
2005-12-02 17:08:48

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The grilled fish, lobster, chicken and pork were all very good. I only had beans once - at L'Estrelle in Trinidad - and they were darn good. Three delicious courses, wine and coffee, including tip, all for $20 for two!

Our journey took us along the blue Caribbean sea lined with cactus and then through banana and coffee plantations, in the tropical garden region of Baracoa at the eastern tip of Cuba.

We invited two French women also staying at the Hotel El Castillo to join us on a memorable day-trip. First we lounged on a local beachphoto: la habana, women musicians group where piglets were being washed in the sea by their owner. Then we had a boat ride and walk along and in the Yumurí river - accompanied by half the village women - where we enjoyed a riverside picnic.

A group of lady guitaristas, called 'Trío Femenino Ocasión'

An enjoyable group with a cassette called 'De Cuba un Cantar Traigo' played at dinner at El Castillo, and, yes, I got one of their music cassettes too.

One of the few times we actually got lost trying to find the non-existent sign posts to La Boca de Yumurí, we came across an annual veterinarian inspection and blood sampling of the village horses. This was a scene straight out of the 'wild' west.

A long day behind the wheel took us through Moa and finally to Guardalavaca, passing through the delightful town of Banes.

Luis, from the 'Museo Indocubano Bani' - the Indian artifacts museum - gave us a personal tour followed by a visit to the nearby local arts and crafts shop, a 'civic center' and the market. A more charming, warm and friendly person would be hard to find anywhere. Alas no cassettes or cigars here.

Gliding into our 'do nothing but lie in the sun and read' days we arrived at Cayo Coco in a torrential downpour. But, sun and a lot of wind waving the palms ...