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Published: October 21st 2005
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Sorry guys for having taken so long to send further news of Cuba. I had typed it twice and lost it... twice! It is taking a lot of courage to get on it again (I had written a little thing about dancing in cuba in the meanwhile trying to get it published with Ted´s photos through his contact AND I´ve just been away from civilization visiting waterfalls). But there it is, the continuation of my trip in Cuba (very vey briefly typed), this time with Ted and a rent-a-car
for a week driving from Santiago de Cuba all the way back to Havana City (more than 1000 kms).
15 Oct
Tues: Santiago de Cuba: Huge breakfast! with tomatoes! Yeah! (It’s a case of appreciating the things you get to miss.)
Casia Trovia: Dancers with men doing most of the show. Live band (dansons). Had one dance but still confused with salsa.
No internet to be found!.
I was amazed/annoyed at the noisy trolleys (iron wheels) they drag around in the streets selling bananas, bread etc.
I also noted how 1 TV show is watched by everyone, you can see that by walking in the street and also hearing the dialogue
continuing from house to house.
Wed: way to Baracoa. La Farosa (mountain rd) is propaganda item for Revolution as one of their big improvement. Could help from jumping in for a quick swim on the way at a stone beach but not the azure colours Ted is after.
Baraco: Cute town with host David welcoming us at the entrance of the town with our names on a piece of paper (reffered by Nancy in S.Cuba!). Very nice appartm with best chocolate b/fast (factory not far) and sweetest pineapple. It’s great to indulge in some vegetables and fruits! Ted’s favorite are the guava smoothies.
I got in the cucurucho, mix of coco/papaya/honey presented in a cute package of banana leave with the top coming off like an ice-cream cone.
Next morning I was up scouting the town before visiting the local musee of Archeology in a small cave! The Indians Tianos used to cultuvate and fish this region and had the habit of shaping their top forehead flat.
Guardalavaca/Banes: The very expensive hotels have the exclusivity of the beach there with local accommodation forbidden for so many km around. Still searching that night we found the opposite situation in
a motel (near empty) only available to Cubans! We had to drive 45 kms back to Banes to get accommodation! Crazy!
Ciego de Avila:
We drive and drive North seeing a lot of horse carts and sugar canes but little cattle. There are so many people waiting by the side of the road for a lift (public transport is not existant/ coping) that we end up getting hitchickers for most of the trip. One of them, a 2nd year student in psychology openly complained about the current system (a few of her family members are doctors) and was studying getting ready for this and hoping that she would be overseas when it does happen (the transition would certainly be an uncertain/unsafe phase).
Castro was mildly described as a ‘senile old man’ who does have medicine for his own people (I have witnessed it in Havana) but for the Hurricane Katrina in Florida he offers to send 1500 doctors with 16 kg of medicine each! Insane indeed.
Trinidad/Cienfuegos
The unesco preserved town is a little of a disappointment as it actually looks like the other towns but Cienfuegos (bigger town up North a bit) was an enchanting port with
a Malecon and a Arabic looking castle at its end. We had a romantic dinner there (ok we do eat out together every night) but the décor, the full moon and the live singing and piano music made this moment definitely magic! It was build by a rich sugar cane exporter whose widow left behind after an economic crash last century.
Havana: Camera stolen + Hurricane was covered in previous blog I think (you know the bit where my plane is canceled after I get to the airport and can´t contact the airline for 22 hours...)
PS: I am thinking of emailing my blogs to make them more private than this web site so if you don´t hear from me for a while it might be cause I´ve missed your address from the group email (let me know: sandyoddc@hotmail.com)
PSS The bikes are to be ready at lunchtime (after 3 weeks of mucking around) and we should be on our way to the Amazonian from Caracas this afternoon. Youhoo!! More on that later I guess. Cheerio.
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Madalyn
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Surviving the dancing & music
Sandy it's great to see that you are managing to enjoy yourself without toasted sandwiches. Message from Robin - thanks for suggesting she take over the Depn group - her house has settled and she wishes you well. We worried about you and the weather. So glad to bet the Rider's Dream. We are all so envious. Chris sends her regards. All at 91 is same 'ol same 'ol. Finally some rain for Brisbane. We were desperate. Otherwise all is well. Keep on having fun and good luck with the publishing options.