The Viñales valley (you guessed it – yet another UNESCO location) is about 2 hours away from La Habana, really chilled out and really beautiful. It is one of the biggest tobacco growing areas in Cuba where traditional cultivation techniques still dominate, and is renowned for its mogotes – dome-like limestone outcrops that rise abruptly […]
One would think that taking a collectivo taxi (ie a taxi that follows a fixed route but takes more than one passenger) from Trinidad – Viñales would be faster than taking the bus. One could also be very, very wrong! I was the last person to be collected from my Casa Particular in Trinidad and
Trinidad – Viñales in Collectivo Read More »
The other day trip that I decided to do while in Trinidad, Cuba was the steam train out to the Valle de Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), apparently alternatively known as “The Tourist Train”. Cuba was the world’s biggest producer of sugar in the late 18th and 19th century and this valley housed nearly
Valle de Ingenios – Trinidad – Cuba Read More »
Caught the 2:40am ViAzul bus (that didn’t leave until 4am) from Camagüey to Trinidad and experienced a huge internal-to-Cuba culture shock! Up until this point in my trip, I’d been in the eastern part of Cuba, which is far less touristy than the parts closer to La Habana. I saw more souvenir shops and
Trini-topes – Trinidad – Cuba Read More »
Arrived in Camagüey, undecided on how long to stay. A quick walk around the town and look on the internet (I really wish I’d bought a guidebook for Cuba!) didn’t reveal too much to do and my decision to stay only 1 day (2 nights) was decided by the Casa Particular I was in –
Poked my nose into the municipal library in Camagüey and it was like going back in time. No computers. No flexible furniture. Blackboard. Really not that many books. And card catalogues! Love it that Fidel has a whole drawer for himself 🙂
Unfortunately Wendy and I had to part ways in Baracoa – she was headed to the beach and I was headed back the way I came and through to Bayamo, the jumping off point to visit La Commandancia de la Plata where Fidel Castro, Che Guevara Pico Turquino from La Commandancia de la Plata – Cuba
Bayamo – La Commandancia de la Plata Read More »
There are two ways to eat in Cuba – the cheap way (where you pay in CUP) and the expensive way (where you pay in CUC). Most visitors to Cuba stick with whatever Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor recommends, and I admit this is how I found some of my favourite meals in Cuba: Santiago de
We get frustrated and start to complain in Australia if we have to queue for more an a minute or two to achieve whatever it is we are trying to do. But really we have nothing to complain about. If you are not on a package tour to Cuba – you must get used
Queueing in Cuba – Get used to it! Read More »
After 4 days, Wendy (Belgian lady I travelled with for several days) and I escaped the hassle of Santiago de Cuba and caught the ViAzul bus to Baracoa. This trip (which in theory takes 5 hours, but in practice takes more like 6 due to all the unscheduled bus stops) passes through the infamous Guantanamo
Hiking and Swimming in Baracoa – Cuba Read More »
