We had always intended to make a trip into the interior of Cuba and we thought that after visiting the Cubanacar office in the marina to order a 6 person vehicle for 3 days, all was well.  That was until we all arrived at the office, with bags packed, on the day we thought we had ordered it, only to find that the car wasn’t there and wasn’t likely to be for some time!  Apologies all round, but that was all we got!  Despite a larger vehicle sitting outside, they weren’t prepared to upgrade, unless we paid a much higher price.  So basically, we had return to the boats and wait almost a week for the right size car to turn up!  Customer service, the Cubans have never heard of this work ethic; they just follow orders, do not think outside the box and don’t want to make decisions outside their remit!  Enough of the rant.  Eventually we did get the car and it was a perfect fit for the 6 of us and all our luggage; well just!

 

There are few road signs in Havana and road maps are not particularly clear, so it took some time to find the autopista out of Havana.  Once on the motorway, again devoid of vehicles, Michael was able to straddle the lanes to avoid the many pot holes, or any rough road and we sped though a contrasts of landscapes and scenery.  it not unusual to see horse drawn carts and men on horseback on the  motorway, but also men jumping out to sell their goods e.g. big cheeses and nougat; quite a dangerous occupation!   So to our first destination Sancti Spiritus.  A walk around and a coffee and then on our way to Trinidad.

 

 

 

We had asked Marina Hemingway to book a ‘casa particular’ in Trinidad.  This is basically a private family establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis.  “Casa particular” literally means "private house" but it started to be used to mean “private accommodation” in 1997, when the Cuban government allowed Cubans to rent out rooms in their houses or apartments to tourists, providing Cuban families with new sources of income. Casas particulares can be recognised by a small sign on the door, with two blue triangles ('roofs') against a white background, which the owners obtain after paying a fixed per-room annual tax.

 

Although we had been given the name of the owner of the ‘casa particular’ in Trinidad, we were soon hijacked by one of the many guides, who said it was owned by his family.  However, we don’t think this was the case and we were taken somewhere else.  Usually each family is allowed to rent out 2 rooms in a ‘casa particular’. so Michael and I stayed in a separate ‘casa’ to Steve and Chris and Brian and Sandy.  After eating a freshly prepared meal in one of the Casa’s, we walked to the Plaza Major to enjoy a local festival.    The roads around the Plaza – and elsewhere in town – are cobbled and closed to traffic, so the tourist is able to see life as was lived 200 years ago.

 

Due to plentiful sugar mills and smuggling activity during the 16th century, Trinidad was prosperous, resulting in an array of beautiful buildings that still stand today. In 1988 UNESCO proclaimed Trinidad a World Heritage Site and now the most famous and best-preserved colonial town on the island.   Unusually for Cuban towns, Trinidad is not laid out on a grid and the streets were built so that one side is always in the shade. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Plaza Major (or Parque Marti) is at the centre of the old town and is the sunniest spot in town, with tall elegant palms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sleeping on the hard, lumpy beds was somewhat difficult to cope with, but nevertheless we rested and the next morning we all got together in our ‘casa’ to enjoy a good breakfast.  Each couple paid CUC 25 for the room inc. breakfast (+ evening meal) and after finding a petrol station (which only took cash) we drove towards Cienfuegos.