Happy Birthday Peter.

We wandered the local streets before breakfast back at the casa. 

The drive to our next destination of Trinidad (east of Cienfuegos) was only an easy 80km along the coast. Plenty more crabs along the highway to run over. We came across a very small beachside town and stopped for some photos. 

We met some kids who were using crabs crawling all over the walls of their house as play toys.

They were as fascinated by us as we were by them – lots of laughter and fun photos. We met their mother and she was a real hoot – she invited us in to her home – we politely declined.

Trinidad is an old Spanish town with many of the traditional buildings and streets preserved to maintain the heritage. Like all of Cuba, the streets look an extraordinary mess however the doors hide an amazing life behind. Our Casa Particulares looks pretty ordinary on the outside – again mum seemed horrified – but stepping through the door revealed a magnificent family home with tasteful furniture, airconditioned rooms and a bed each. Our hosts are a father and son team – both named Pedro – and their families.

The plan was to drive out to Sancti Spiritus, a historic town about 100km north east. As we were about to drive off a very nice local man on his bicycle brought to our attention that our rear tyre was low on air. He very helpfully directed us to a local tyre place to get air and by the time we arrived there the tyre was almost flat. Interestingly the very nice man on the bicycle arrived at the same place and got off and went in – he worked there!!!!

The saga

-       We tried to get the tyre off but the jack in the boot was completely useless.

-       We pulled the spare tyre out but it was completely useless

-       The flat tyre only had 2 nuts (out of 4) securing it in place – thank god the other 3 tyres had 4 nuts each so we spread them out a bit!

Through Charly interpreting we were told it would be 10CUC ($10) to fix the hole plus extra if any other problems – I immediately said half joking that there would be at least 2 holes.

5 minutes later another tourist hire car pulled up with a flat tire and a very nice local man that had helped them and brought them down to the tire repair place. This very nice man also stayed around and appeared to work for the business. Enough said.

Oh and then a third car turned up with a flat tyre from parking on the street ……

We had 2 holes in our tire – it cost us $15

Eventually on the road to Sancti Spiritis – an old town about 70km from Trinidad. A nice drive and an amazingly beautiful old town with colorful buildings and cobblestone streets. We had local churros (excellent), visited the local church (while mass was on) and climbed the bell tower (Jacqueline is hopeless with heights) and visited a local ice-cream parlour for you know what. 

Not rated  highly in the guide books but for us, undoubtedly the coolest little town in Cuba.

Back to Trinidad and down to Playa Ancon (Playa is Spanish for beach), the local beach resort area, for a swim in the still uncomfortably warm and salty Caribbean Sea.

We explored the streets of Trinidad in the late afternoon

Charly then took us to a local Casa Particulares where the owner was having a big family feast and we were invited as special guests. A whole pig on the spit with local rice, salads etc and some pretty toxic mojitos. The food was excellent and likewise the rum. We were serenaded by a local Cuban musician – Cath we bought his CD for you – he signed it personally.

Home for a bit more Havana Club rum and very late to bed