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
