Cuba Day 12 - Varadero

I decided to just rest up today. If I don't get well, going home would be such a drag. I just did a few planning, that was it.

Cuba Day 11 - Varadero

Today rode the morning bus back to Havana, and transfered to Varadero. I think Lonely Planet gave me the wrong impression that this place will be like Cancun, with many resorts side by side, and shopping malls. When I arrived, I do see some big hotels from far away, but from where I am, the main town area, it's just a normal Cuban city to me. Where I'm staying, I see chickens running around in the backyard. I don't think you can see that in Cancun. I originally decided to come here because Lonely Planet says the diving shops here offer day excursion to the Bay of Pigs from here, which would have worked out perfectly for my itinerary. However my health has not been very good on this trip. Let's just wait and see if I'll gain back my strength in time.

Cuba Day 10 - Vinales

Having spent a day looking at the valley, today I'm going into the valley, by horse. For just $20, this 4 hours deal I think is pretty fine. The guide spoke little English, so I again had to rely on single Spanish words and sign language. The tour begins just off the main road. We rode through farm lands and beautiful landscapes, Riding horse is not my usual activity, and it took a little more getting used to than I thought. First is the control. My horse wouldn't listen to me at first, 'cause I didn't know where to kick it, or how hard. I think I've confused the horse quite a bit. Then is the seating, how not to kill my butt. We made a stop to talk to a tobacco farmer, who showed us how to wrap a cigar, also had a coconut with rum to cool it down. Then we continued and reached the big cave. A guide was waiting with two lamps, but I got my own so my horse guide can use it. This one is much bigger than the Indio cave and gave more a raw experience 'cause there's no wall lamps, you have to rely on your own flash light. There are many pillars, and interesting looking rock formations. It's a 5-10 minutes walk, and we reached the end where there's a lake in long rectangular shape. I can't tell how long the lake is because the other end can only be reached by water and my lamp is not strong enough to see all the way through. The guide said it is save to swim in it. But my guts tells me not unless I have a waterproof lamp, which I don't. Anyway, we stopped for a couple minutes to just admire the wonders of nature, then we walked back out. We continued on with our horses on the circular route and rode back to town.

Cuba Day 9 - Vinales

Yesterday I asked around the tourist centers and found there is a bus tour. I got a brochure and it says it goes to places like the cave, the cigar factory, some horse back riding, some hiking, ...etc. Sounds like a fantastic deal. I got up early in the morning and arrived at the bus station. I hopped on the bus for $5 and the bus started to drive around different spots. We went to the rock painting, the Indio cave, one of the hotel look out points. They are all not bad. Very good for photo taking. However after that, the bus started to going back to the same spots. With my limited Spanish, I can only follow other Spanish speaking tourists, but they were also confused. At the end, we found out those were all the spots the bus will go. It just keep on looping until the end of the day. With heads scratching, we got off, it was only noon. I then decided to take the short hike up to the La Emila hotel. Was planning to swim there but the pool was too small for too many people. But the view is fantastic, overlooking the mountains and the small town. I bought a coffee and sat down. Such is life in Vinales, just relax, watching the curious-looking mountain shapes, the clouds and blue sky, watching the village lives go by, the chickens running around freely, the people walking by ever so slowly, just enjoy the calmness of village life.

Cuba Day 8 - Vinales

I've been longing to go to the countryside since my 2nd day in Havana. I think I'm more a country person. The Viazul bus station in Havana is a bit frantic. Seats are given to people who booked their ticket at another office first, though me and some other folks got there way ahead of time, we weren't able to buy ticket until the last minute. During that time, people got frustrated, people trying to make plan B with the taxi drivers. At the end we all got in with 1 or 2 empty seats left on the bus. After couple hours of drive through the lush forest and hills, as the bus made the final turn descend into the valley, the unmistakable Vinales landscape appears. The air here as expected is so much more enjoyable. The owner of my cass "Tatio" is already waiting for me at the bus stop. We walked couple blocks into this tiny neighborhood, complete with a small lawn and porch, overlooking the beautiful mountain, I can't wait to sit down and relax and just enjoy the view.

Cuba Day 7 - Havana

My sole plan today is La Cabana. Not that it takes a whole day to tour the sight, but because I'm not feeling well. As suggested by the Lonely Planet guide, I took the ferry in Vieja to Casa Blanca. The Bicycle taxi driver had trouble understanding where I wanted to go. It's probably not a popular option. I hopped on the standing-only ferry for $1 with all the locals, passing through piers for great photo opts, then landed on Casa Blanca. I then did a short climb through the Statue of Christ to la Cabana. It is a huge fortress,, and hardly any one was there. I wonder if everybody was waiting for sunset to come or because it was a rainy and windy day Part of the castles reminds me of some 3D war game. It is a huge complex, with really tall buildings, and fantastic view over the city, but that was about it. I didn't stay for long 'cause it was too windy, otherwise it would have been a nice thing to just sit and watch the city live go by from afar. Caught a taxi back to Malecon. In the previous 2 days the water was calm as a lake. I've never experienced a shoreline so windless, but today is in sharp contrast. I finally get to see the famous "wave splashing onto the highway" scene.

Cuba Day 6 - Havana

Today I walked all the way from Parque Maceo where my casa particular is located, to the Plaza de la Revolucion, passing through the Havana University on the way, and caught a glimpse of Cuban education. The Revolution square is a huge space. $1 got me up to the Jose Marti memorial, where I could imagine Fidel Castro speaking to all the Cubans there. On the platform, one could see the two display of Che and Cienfuegos on the wall of the hotel. After that I continued to walk to the Necropolis Cristobal Colon, in search of Ibrahim Ferrer's grave stone. The cemetery is more expensive to get in then the Revolucion square, which is $5. There are all the famous people of Cuba buried, like presidents, war veterans..etc. Unfortunately I don't know too much about Cuban history to appreciate them, all I wanted to see was that little humble grave of Ferrer, one of the greatest voice I have ever heard. I had more plan for that day, but I felt too tired and went back to my hostel to get rest.