Maria La Gorda, Cuba

Today was spent at Maria La Gorda where I did 2 dives. It was fantastic and I'm hoping one of the fellows I dove with will send pictures.

Along the way we passed many farms and tobacco fields in different stages of development-

The building is used to store the tobacco leaves once they are dried-

Fence posts are just trunks of trees and not very straight ones at that-

A farmer on his way to pasture-

The national anthem was being sung and the flag was raised at school this morning-

There are many ways to get around in Cuba and the traffic is crazy!

There are many possible places to dive while in Cuba.  I went to Maria la Gorda, at the far left of this map-

Maria La Gorda is all about diving.  There are over 50 dive sites, but I only got to see 2 - Yemaya and El Patio de Vanesa which is one huge luscious garden of corals, sponges and many, many fish as well as a slight current.  I saw a black and white lion fish bigger than a basketball!

The dive boats were very nice and large-

Making a great wake-

Ready to dive!

My dive buddy Hannah is from Guernsey-

Between dives, I enjoyed the beautiful beach-

A cruise/sail boat showed up with 78 people on board.  They are on an 18 day trip.  Only 2 or 3 tours happen/year, beginning in Havana-

Supper tonight was conejo con finas hierbas y chocolate amargo, or rabbit with herbs and dark chocolate-

and gazpacho Andaluz con costranes de pan, or Andalusian gazpacho with bread crumbs-

Both were excellent!  It's back to Habana tomorrow!

Vinales, Cuba

Vinales, population 27,000 is west of Havana.  There are farms along the way-

The architecture is slightly different from Havana, with railings and very bright colors-

I just can't resist the mojitos and since I lost my sunglasses, I needed a hat-

It is popular to stay in a casa particular, or local's homes.  Often, there are rocking chairs on the verandas-

This is mine.  On the bus ride out, one of the 2 bus drivers asked all the passengers if they already had lodging booked.  I didn't so I am staying here as it belongs to his family.  Five people live in the bottom apartment -

My bedroom has sleeping for 3.  There is a bottom sheet but no top sheet, just the satin bedspread.  The pillows were as hard as rocks, maybe filled with felt?

The main kitchen with Odalis the owner-

Odalis's sister, Maria, in the second kitchen-

The dining room with Dalgis and Ronald David.  The two bedrooms are behind the curtains-

The back yard is a noisy place where neighbors visit, children play, roosters crow and dogs bark.  When your window opens to this area, it's hard to get much sleep!

It costs 20 convertible pesos, or CUCs to stay here.  That's $26 Canadian.  

Supper was great - carrot, beet and noodle soup, cucumbers, tomatoes and cabbage salad, as well as really good fried fish and casava-

Tomorrow I'm off to Maria La Gorda on a day trip to the beach and diving!

Havana, Cuba, Day 2!

The monument to Jose Marti is just one of thousands in Cuba.  There are 28 palm trees planted around the poet, to commemorate his birthday - January 28.  Marti was an intellectual, poet, visionary and patriot who was exiled in 1871.  During the First War of Independence, he was arrested at the age of 16 and spent 20 years thinking about his revolutionary ideas.  He was intrigued by the capitalism in the US but disgusted by their need for material goods.  He wanted more for Cuba from an economic viewpoint, but he also wanted independence.  He led the 1895 Cuban Revolution against Spain and was killed on the battlefield.  If he had lived, he'd have become Cuba's first president but instead is known as a martyr in all of Latin America.

The local beer is Cristal-

More cool cars-

The Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes is in the Centro Asturianas. Inside are exhibits dating from 500 BC to the present-

The Cuba Libre is rum, lime and coke.   It tasted pretty fine!

The Necropolis Cristobal Colon Catholic cemetery holds 1 million graves and covers 56 hectares.  The entrance is an example of neo romanesque architecture-

Some of the many tombs-

Today was great - lots of sun, a cool breeze and plenty of rum!  Looking forward to tomorrow!