Hotel Cubanacan Boutique Unio Cienfuegos

... little outside of the main centre of town and there were no locals with casas trying to catch our attention so we started following the backpackers who had guidebooks in their hands. We figured they would at least have a map! After about 200m a man with a business card approached us offering us a casa, it was dirt cheap and centrally located so we took it. Turned out to be very nice too! Air con, proper bed with towels! Luxury. The ...

... was only one thing to do, and that was go on a Mojita crawl. We sampled them at various bars, but discovered that the best lay in the theatre bar, so that was the place to end up after each dinner !!!

And Finally

So that was a good experience. Our first town outside of the capital, slower, cheaper, more political, but still a great place in it's own right. Oh yes, I forgot, the mojitos, the mojitos, I have a new love in my life !!!

... We then drove down Punta Gorda to Moorish-style Palacio de Valle, full of tiles and turrets and with a fabulous view of Bahía de Cienfuegos. We went inside for a look and were contemplating a drink at the terrace bar, however it poured with rain just as we arrived so we decided to go back to the casas and get clean and dry for dinner. I actually discovered in the shower that I'd picked up a ...

Due to slow and very expensive internet in Cuba, these entries are under construction... I hope to fill this big gap once I get home in december. Cuba was difficult to understand, as there as many layers for every aspect: social, political, economical ...

... but not as over-bearing as Costa Rican beaches. The casa has a great balcony that we use for breakfast, watching lightning storms in the evening and playing cards (learnt an Aussie game called Ýuca´ on the Tucan tour. Editors note, Simon beat Sari 2 - 1 :) Snorkeling trip to Caya Blanco Great! Went by Catamaran, which is something I´ve been looking forward to for ages, but unfortunately we motored rather than sailed as there wasn´t much wind. Some ...

We fell in love with Trinidad the moment we met Abel & Lavinia (our delighful hosts) and ended up extending our stay in the city from two days to two and a half weeks. We couldn't have hoped to stay in such an amazing casa. Abel & Lavinia are some of the friendliest people we have ever met - and judging by the comments in their extensive guest books we are not the first guests to think ...

... as mostly one does here. You see, the locals are not allowed to have beef, as the moo cows are owned by the state and are solely for export only. The same applies to lobster, though you get offered lobster on every street corner! The chickens have nothing to feed on, and so are usually fatty little feckers, so the best bet is pork. Not much else to report on in Santa Clara! Next up .... Trinidad.... and Sarahs birthday.

... noted the couple behind me were Irish, so in our remaining 3 minutes of freedom I struck up conversation and asked if they had a guidebook I could flick through. Hastily choosing a recommended Casa Particular (equivalent of home stay), we alighted into a veritable throng of hassle. "$20 a room!" "No, $10 a room!!" When I heard "$5 a room" my ******** meter was maxing out so I just started telling them to all **** off. Finally a bloke showed up from ...

... so we swam back to our casas and hooked up later for more Carnaval - really just more drunken street party - those Cubans can toot it up with the best of them! There were some floats and performers that came along the streets and the costumes were often good but the dancers seemed bored to death! I had great chats with Jorge, the Spanish guy, and at least for one night, I didn´t have to be on my guard all the time because I was with other people :-) It was really ...