Cuba 2015, 06
Another early morning. More bag breakfasts arranged by our HavanaTur guide Edel. Six o’clock and onto the bus. Back to sleep/snooze while Tomas drives us southeast cross country from La Habana to the south coast of Cuba.
First stop is a coffee/bathroom break. It is always good to stretch legs, and everyone is awake at this point.
Our next real stop is Cienfuegos, literally, 100 fires. That said, it was named for a person, and whatever that history is, no one seems to know about the plethora of fires. Located on the large Bahia de Cienfuegos that is well protected from the Caribbean Sea by a long, narrow inlet, it is about 155 miles/250 kilometers southeast of La Habana.
Cienfuegos is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has not seen the ravages of time as has La Habana. The streets are wide and clean. Buildings are in good repair and painted. Shops are bustling and full of merchandise. One store catches my eye with a dishwasher or washing machine displayed alongside lights, microwaves, and other household goodies.
A large pedestrian mall runs through the center of the city. People sit at cafés, chat on benches, peruse the shops, and even park their bikes. Men and their appreciation of the female form is certainly alive and well in Cuba as evidenced by this motorcycle.
I see a lot of activity in one store and pop in. It is full of trays and trays of eggs. The eggs in Cuba are very fresh. What I found amazing is that when someone buys eggs, they are not packed in any sort of carton, rather loose in a bag. It would seem that there is a certainly amount of loss due to breakage between the store and home, wherever that might be. Even on the counter, you can see a few broken ones.
Different countries have different public phones, and Cuba is no exception. This model reminded me of something out of a sci-fi movie.
We had enjoyed a light rum drink at a grand hotel on the bay when we arrived, but now it is time for lunch. We relax and eat another delicious meal. This restaurant is on the bay, and even though it is a hot day, the breeze coming off the water is refreshing. It is a lovely setting, and we are in no hurry to move on.
But we are still headed to Trinidad, another UNESCO World Heritage Site on the south coast. Sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, it, too, is in fine condition.
We get settled and head out into town, breaking up into smaller groups. Two have asked if they can work with me, and we set off, taking our time, observing, greeting people, and making images. As in Cienfuegos, the shops are full of things to buy. One doorway beckons with straw hats galore and hints of other clothing within.
At another spot, we wait for a specific scenario to present itself. It often does, but this time, we are continually thwarted. A taxi drives by, or a car, or too many people. It is time to move on or we will lose the light.
Down a side street we go. The colors are pretty, and children are playing. One boy has a top. Carefully, he winds the string around it, then with great force, hurls it toward the ground where it spins rapidly, keeping its balance for quite some time.
The light is getting stunning, casting a magical glow on the buildings. A little girl watches us as she walks and balances on the ledge above the sidewalk.
We have agreed to meet the rest of the group for dinner. The recommended restaurant has moved and, it later turns out, changed its name, so we find another. Good Cuban music wafts out of the doors and windows. They can take us all.
It is a lovely evening, and everyone is having a good time. Eventually, we head back for bed. Tomorrow will be another full day in Trinidad.
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