AMERICANS INVADE CUBA!! (Second of Three Today)

Pat W. and I enticed two of our U.S. relatives (Pat M. and Tracy E.) to join us for a week in and around Havana, a destination technically off limits to Americans. They liked the low-level hotel, friendly Cubans, clean beach, personal contacts with Cuban culture (and maybe the lack of fellow Americans??). Not much time spent at the beach or pool because we tried to have an adventure every day. Of course there had to be a look at Revolution Square where Castro held forth on 4-hour speeches. And long walks in the hot sun on main historic streets and waterfronts.

But also a journey2 hours west to Cuba's premier national park near Vinales. Intriguing underground river with weird caves and waterfall. Other caves that originally hid runaway slaves. Green valley views that resemble the Appalachians or Gatineau hills. Wildly coloured murals painted on a mountainside, ordered by Fidel Castro to lift the country's spirits (?!). Shops and goats, both on busy pavement. A vacation spot called The Terraces that resembled a large pond surrounded by Soviet block homes --- and a monkey colony on the water!

By far the most interesting and colourful visits were the ones where photography was NOT allowed. First to a local elementary school to drop off some school supplies as gifts (pix allowed of staff and walls but not of the kids).  Then to the cigar factory that produces Cohibas, the brand that Castro himself smoked. Absolutely fascinating to see 45 or so men and women hand-rolling from loose leaves to $30 stogies--- at a quota of 140 per day (any rejects go back to be corrected by the roller). What a surprise to see a device that tests the air pressure inside the cigar --- if there's not enough air, the cigar will go out! Duh.

Impressively good musicians are common on the streets, in the bars/coffee shops/ parks. But the most fun of the week was a brassy late night at the Rum Museum where the classic Spanish colonial foyer is turned into an intimate nightspot --- 20 in the band, 20 in the audience. What a blast as everybody was treated to mojitos, cigars, rum shots, and really really fun hot Cuban rhythms. You just had to get up and dance! Two more American converts?