Las Cuevas Trinidad

We arrived in Trinidad and were driving around looking for a place to stay when a young guy came up on a bike and told us his mother had a casa. We asked how much per night and decided to take a chance and go with him, although we later discovered that it wasn't his mother, he was just a scout looking for business and the rooms were actually 5 pesos more than he said. But they were lovely and had a rooftop view as well so ...

... of attention also but lighters are hard to find around here so I need it. I haven't seen a pack of matches since I have been here so I have no idea what they light their cigars with. I did my pub crawl at the usual places having a beer and declining invitations to salsa although I wanted to. Perhaps it is because I don't want to give the impression that all Canadians have their hips frozen to their bodies. I should have got up because their were some pitiful Europeans ...

... sold and he replied no, they were used right there. I can understand the way things are when the government takes 90 percent of the profits on production. I can imagine that no matter how much control a government has on things ....it is pretty hard to start counting tomatoes or fish before they get to market. When I see the way the people live here and the general spirit of well being that is apparent in the smiles they wear, I wonder about our "advanced" economy. I am not ...

17-12-2008; de bus uit santa Clara vertrekt om 11:20 en ik ben in de veronderstelling rechtstreeks naar Santa Clara te gaan. Dit blijkt echter niet het geval en via Cienfuegos uiteindelijk pas om 14:30 in Trinidad aangekomen. Op het busstation wederom aangesproken cq aangeklampt door een aantal lieden die een kamer aanboden in hun casa maar hier niet op ingegaan. Rechtstreeks doorgelopen naar de naabijgelegen casa Nery & Julio waar ik al eerder heb ...

... 71 cigars and about a $100 later we were ready to leave with our newly acquired purchases in hand. Kisses all round to seal the deal as though we'd all been friends for YEARS!!! Shady toothless lady also managed to wangle one of my hooded tracksuit tops out of me (I couldn't understand why you'd want that in this heat and humidity so wasn't too sad to see it go). She was ecstatic about it, so at least she scored something out of the deal. More space in my backpack for the newly acquired goods.

... you their Casa is the one to stay in. Thankfully I already have one booked. Or not that thankfully; I'd requested that the Casa have 2 rooms (Cubans can only rent out a maximum of 2 rooms in their Casa, and a lot only rent 1 - staying in the latter I end up eating alone and it's all too strange and lonely). I tell Isabel that I'm only staying for one night and she lays the guilt trip on hard - though it doesn't work on me. 2 Spanish girls arrive with the Isabel's daughter, they're ...

... which firmly rubbed the noses of the Americans into the dirt, and Trinidad had a museum to celebrate that fact, with artefacts from the attempted invasion as well as, intriguingly, a sidepod from a downed American U2 spy plane, shot down on some other occasion. We ...

... which mick had to endure in the back, took for ever to go and the driver stopped at home 40mins for vinales and fill the fuel tank. Then the car cut out in the outskirts of somewhere and he said a few things and left!! We were gettin worried before he retuned after bout 45mins. Then a mechanic came to drain all the water out of the fuel tank and engine. Got to vinales in high spirts after a nice cigar as we waited, but twas 2 in the morning and we landed on out feet with a good casa!

... way to spend my birthday. Once the kids have settled for the night, I set out with Susanne for some music. This provides no end of amusement to Jorge (the father of Odalis, our hostess) who says some jibes I can't translate but I'm pretty sure I get the gist of. Trinidad has a reputation for good, accessible music, so we have lots of choices. At Jorge's recommendation, we head up the to the Casa de la Musica off Plaza Mayor. Or is it the Pelenque de los Congos ...

... hike to a waterfall, Salto del Caburni, which was pretty cool, but none of us were game enough to go for a swim. We got absolutely drenched on the hike back. The heavens opened and there was no hiding! When we made it back to the town we started from, the clouds had lifted to reveal a macabre ghost down. There were about fifty identical houses, painted in different colours. It had an Edward Scissorhands feel to it! Later on I finally managed to score my percussion lesson, which was great.