A place where everyone loves Ron.

[drron]

So on with the story.
Thursday and the weather was overcast,windy with choppy seas.Fortunately it improved and by the time we got to Isla de la Juventad the weather was perfect.The island has an interesting history.Often called Treasure Island and indeed some treasure has been found here.The book of that name by Robert Louis Stevenson was based on stories from here.It was though until 1978 known as the Isle of Pines.
Also after the Spanish-American war ended this island was not included as part of Cuba.It was only in 1925 that a treaty was passed by the US congress including this as Cuban territory.
It was then known as a prison with Fidel Castro being imprisoned here in the early 50s but released after 2 years of his 14 year sentence.

So to the pictures with the jetty,the Explorer and what is left of the prison jetty-

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Local craftsmen and then being greeted by the wildlife and locals with a refreshing coconut water-

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Now some more of the birds and our spiny lobster lunch which was good apart from way overcooked beans-

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[drron]

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I then walked the trail through the mangroves to a large lagoon.It says there are both crocodiles and alligators here but I only saw birds,fish and insects-

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After that little walk I had a dip in the sea with Rojaan.I was going to snorkel but the wind had come up and the seas a lot choppier so I went back to the ship.Then the usual cold shower and a nap.Dinner with a mother and daughter from Australia.The mother was a classical pianist who had accompanied many of Australia's opera singers.A very interesting night.
Also nice food.I had snails,asparagus soup with scallops and roast lamb cooked to perfection.A nice easy drinking French red with the lamb.That night was also a reasonable sunset-

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[drron]

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Friday was a sea day with beautiful weather.After waking I started to fill the bath but soon noticed water leaking from the bottom of the tiles.Emptied it but soon some water leaking into the suite.We both had a quick shower.Notified our butler and prepared to go to breakfast.The maintenance man arrive before we got out the door and when we returned from breakfast the problem was fixed and has remained so.
The rest of the day was spent relaxing and listening to a couple of lectures before retiring early.
The next day we entered the port of Cienfuegos-narrow entrance into a huge bay.Weather was still fine even though a cyclone was off the north east tip of Cuba.

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[drron]

Cruise terminal-

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This stop though was for us to visit Trinidad in the foothills of the mountains.A longish bus trip-

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In 2005 Cienfuegos was declared a Cultural Heritage of Mankind for being an exceptional example of ideas of modernity

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hygiene-

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and order-

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[drron]

But on with the journey-

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Some agricultural pursuits seen but most land was overgrown-

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[drron]

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And a Cuban beach development-

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The beach-

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[OATEK]

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I was getting a bit worried when we hadn't seen many sunsets

 

[love_the_life]

I was getting a bit worried when we hadn't seen many sunsets

You beat me to it Oatek. I was thinking the same thing.

 

[drron]

At last we were in Trinidad-

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[drron]

It was a real tourist down with lots of art and craft-

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And a fellow putting a chicken on his head to charge a CUC a photo-

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Baby booties and ring pull purses-

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[drron]

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Sitting on a donkey is also worth a CUC per photo.

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One of the oldest houses in Trinidad on the main square is now a museum of Spanish housing.Actually quite interesting-

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[drron]

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Some "modern"plumbing-

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More of Trinidad-

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[drron]

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Then to a bar for a rum,lime and sugar drink that was used to keep the slaves on the sugar plantations going.Along with some music-

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The bus station and the touts are ready for inexperienced tourists.

 

[drron]

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Then it was time for lunch.A Cuban farce.Apparently the restaurant we were to use was changed leading to confusion.We were to each have 3 appetisers-a soup.a tuna salad and one other.Then a choice of mains-meat skewer,prawns or chicken and 2 desserts.But it was pot luck.We actually got 2 appetisers,a main and the 2 desserts.Others got nothing.A drink is included.

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I had the meat skewer.The pork and beef were the consistency of old buccaneers boots.Couldn't eat them.The sausage and chicken were OK.
Back to touring the city-

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[drron]

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The pizzas didn't look that good.

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Then to a pottery whose claim to fame is that they were selected to give gifts to Fidel and Raoul-

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[Milboo]

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That building on the corner by the steps is the studio of a female Cuban artist called Yami Martinez. She uses coffee pots (stove top) as a symbol of women's role/ place in Cuban society.

I picked up one of her original works when I was there.

 

[Milboo]

PS - these are the pizzas and they are damn good, super simple - tomato, cheese and wood oven cooked.

 

[Dr Ralph]

PS - these are the pizzas and they are damn good, super simple - tomato, cheese and wood oven cooked.

[/IMG]

Price for these?

 

[pagingjoan]

A shame about the lunch misadventure, drron.
We found the general standard of food in Trinidad to be some of the better quality around the country.
Your pictures certainly capture the colour and character of the town.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

PS - these are the pizzas and they are damn good, super simple - tomato, cheese and wood oven cooked.

Oh who doesn't love a cheesy tomato delight like this