A day out with The Boys
Nimue
Sat 14 Jan 2012 02:58
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Our plans to rent a 6 person vehicle thwarted (for the time being anyway),
we all decided to take another means of transport to visit the western part of
Cuba. For around CUC 100 per couple, we hired the services to 2
young men (Robin & Miguel) and their 2 black 1950’s cars. Arriving
promptly at 0800, we agreed the men would go in Robin’s car and the women
in Miguel’s. The journey was mainly on a motorway basically devoid
of vehicles and the boys were driving their cars at their maximum speed of
70mph, which was astonishingly noisy! It was at this point that most
of us thought “don’t think there would be much chance of surviving a RTA in
this”. Anyway 2 or so hours later we were in the Pinar del Rio province
and once off the motorway, we climbed up the Sierra de Organos mountains for a
coffee break and to admire the panoramic view overlooking the Vinales
valley.
  Robin & Miguel and our first stop to
admire the view over looking the Vinales valley
  The Hotel Jazmines, once the home of a
very wealthy planter, now converted to an expensive tourist
hotel
  The 2 cars and Miguel showing Michael
his re-furbished engine!
  The Cuban CA day out (from left to
right, Sandy & Brian, Chris & Steve, Anne &
Michael)
After a drive through the pretty colonial town of Vinales we arrived at a
tobacco farm. The farmer welcomed us into his field and took us into his
thatched curing shed where harvested tobacco leaves were hung to dry. He
gave us a demonstration on cigar making, after which he lit one up and offered
it around, which I and Michael declined. I whispered to Michael that I
thought all cigars were rolled on a lady’s naked thigh, which he thought was
very amusing! We were invited into the house for more coffee and cigars
and after a quick wonder round the rest of the farm we drove through the valley
between sheer limestone cliffs and proceeded to the Cueva del Indio. A cave,
which we explored on foot, followed by a short boat ride on an underground
lake.
  In the tobacco fields and the farmer telling us
about the tobacco leaves
  Now he’s showing us how to make a cigar and
within minutes...................
  Having a sneaky one
outside!
Chris & I enjoying some relaxation (Robin in the
foreground)
  Inside the quaint house for coffee and
more cigars!
 Outside; a picturesque scene of
countryside life (reminds me of something ‘Constalblist’?)
  The boat tour of the Cueva del
Indio
  More caves and moving on for our lunch
stop (sorry not the best photo of us)!
Our lunch stop involved going up a number of side roads to what we think
was one of the boys relatives’ restaurant, but the food was good and plentiful.
We then set off to see the Mogote Dos Hermanos (Two Brothers Mogote). This
is a gaudy painted mural of the evolutionary journey from amoeba to homo
sapiens.
  The painted mural in the hillside (we
think re-painted once a year!) and the limestone scenery we drove through
The return journey was equally as noisy, but we got back to the marina just
after 1700. Overall an thoroughly enjoyable day out and what an
experience!
  Safely back and thanks to the Boys for
an excellent day out. By the way I’m holding a handmade banana leaf
basket, which I purchased en
route! |