A German/Cuban couple we met at the coffee shop told us that their bar needed a cooler and that they had to chase one across multiple towns once they heard that the government got some and were going to be sold on a certain day. Lots of people got in line to buy them and immediately posted them for sale on Facebook at twice the price.
Today, after another breakfast al fresco at the beach, we took a nice, long, leisurely ride around the entire Bay of Pigs and straight into Giron. This is the landing site of the failed attempt by the CIA and some mercenaries to overthrow the Castro regime. We visited the very nice and small museum there and saw a documentary film with pictures and film from that era. Very interesting.
I did not know that right after this failed attempt, Fidel turned to the Soviet Union (and communism) as a way to defend itself from future US attacks. Fidel’s revolution color was actually green until this moment. He was not originally a communist. Interesting.
After the museum, we rode though the marshes and low lands following the coast. A great ride with very few cars and great vegetation tunnels over the road. It is amazing how few people use the roads between towns here ... felt deserted.
Today, after another breakfast al fresco at the beach, we took a nice, long, leisurely ride around the entire Bay of Pigs and straight into Giron. This is the landing site of the failed attempt by the CIA and some mercenaries to overthrow the Castro regime. We visited the very nice and small museum there and saw a documentary film with pictures and film from that era. Very interesting.
I did not know that right after this failed attempt, Fidel turned to the Soviet Union (and communism) as a way to defend itself from future US attacks. Fidel’s revolution color was actually green until this moment. He was not originally a communist. Interesting.
After the museum, we rode though the marshes and low lands following the coast. A great ride with very few cars and great vegetation tunnels over the road. It is amazing how few people use the roads between towns here ... felt deserted.
We saw more agriculture (finally) … some rice fields, some corn, but nobody in the fields working them … and we even saw a solar power plant. It is amazing how things we take for granted at home become sources of wonder here.
We arrived to Cienfuegos, a UNESCO world heritage site, and rode through its beautiful avenues full of stately mansions on both sides … and a soviet-built nuclear plant across the bay that was never started because Chernobyl happened a few months before it was supposed to start operating.
We kept riding along the coast to Trinidad, another UNESCO world heritage site, and our stay for the night. A great quaint colonial town on the hill overlooking the ocean. A great setting. We ate the largest lobsters I have ever seen at the beach.
Trinidad is a proper tourist destination … full of people from all over the Europe … Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Switzerland … great restaurants, cobblestone streets, churches, plazas … and an incredible music scene, as soon as it gets dark.
I am beginning to drink the cool-aid. The more Cubans I meet and learn about their challenges and tribulations but realize how they have mastered the live-in-the-moment lifestyle and how they enjoy life ... and their surroundings and the people around them … and how they spice it all up with joyful music, salsa, and smiles … I am now realizing that I am meeting more and more people that truly appreciate their life in Cuba and would not change it for one in the outside world with their work first culture.
We had dinner at an amazing restaurant in an old restored house by the main plaza with a great band that played Cuban and Mexican music until late … even Juan Gabriel … what?!?
We arrived to Cienfuegos, a UNESCO world heritage site, and rode through its beautiful avenues full of stately mansions on both sides … and a soviet-built nuclear plant across the bay that was never started because Chernobyl happened a few months before it was supposed to start operating.
We kept riding along the coast to Trinidad, another UNESCO world heritage site, and our stay for the night. A great quaint colonial town on the hill overlooking the ocean. A great setting. We ate the largest lobsters I have ever seen at the beach.
Trinidad is a proper tourist destination … full of people from all over the Europe … Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Switzerland … great restaurants, cobblestone streets, churches, plazas … and an incredible music scene, as soon as it gets dark.
I am beginning to drink the cool-aid. The more Cubans I meet and learn about their challenges and tribulations but realize how they have mastered the live-in-the-moment lifestyle and how they enjoy life ... and their surroundings and the people around them … and how they spice it all up with joyful music, salsa, and smiles … I am now realizing that I am meeting more and more people that truly appreciate their life in Cuba and would not change it for one in the outside world with their work first culture.
We had dinner at an amazing restaurant in an old restored house by the main plaza with a great band that played Cuban and Mexican music until late … even Juan Gabriel … what?!?
After dinner, we went to the Casa de Musica where another band was playing and every foreigner in town congregated. Happiness all around. Smiles everywhere. And time slowed down again … the moment was there … complete focus … no distractions … resonance.
It is late … time to go to bed … tomorrow we keep going East to Moron.
It is late … time to go to bed … tomorrow we keep going East to Moron.
Henry and the owner of our stay at the beach in Playa Larga, Bay of Pigs
The museum at the landing site of the failed US invasion
A great picture from those days
Mission accomplished - first country in the world with 100% literacy
A drink stop at the main plaza in Cienfuegos
Inside our coffee shop in Cienfuegos
The wide avenues in Cienfuegos
A look at the bay in Cienfuegos
One of the old mansions in Cienfuegos
Another one
Lunch at the beach in Trinidad - I had the biggest lobster I have ever seen
Through the marshes on empty roads
This family packed 15 people in this car
Our house in Trinidad - It took 7 years to build and get ready
Art everywhere
Roaming and exploring the streets in Trinidad
A good saleswoman - she convinced me to get my first Che beret at the market
Oh Oh
At the famous Casa Pepe coffee house and bar
The view of Trinidad from the tallest tower in town
The ocean in the horizon
The curved colonial streets of Trinidad
Our dinner restaurant with great music
I love this place - a cappuccino in nice china!
La Casa de Musica where the town congregates at night to continue the party
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