The bus
rides between our stops are gruelling due to rough roads and slow progress. But
the destinations always make it worthwhile with awesome living history in the
buildings and in-your-face daily Cuban life. A great example is Trinidad,
another 600+ year-old UNESCO site spanning from Jugua Indians to Spanish
invaders to Cuban revolution to current tourist mecca.
Arrivers
have to pass a cable-constrained gauntlet of shouting taxis and arm-grabbing private
homestays. We got lucky again with a nondescript hole-in-the-wall 25 CUC room
but with breezy terrace and horsey neighbours. Our host/cook is Angel --- Pat
thought he looks like the big guy from the movie “Green Mile”?
Streets are
cobbled, rutted, and roostered. But dozens of tour buses dump loads of European
and dozens of miscellaneous other countries among the cathedrals, galleries,
opulent colonial mansions and parks. Again, sugar and slaves and restoration
has resulted in grand scenes frozen in time.
It’s also
one of the main sites where Castro’s revolutionary forces pushed down from the
mountains. Lots of displays, artifacts, and guides to describe the building of
the nation 1959-1962.
But we had
the most fun just sitting in a town square. Thankfully, the locals pay us
little attention as they go about daily routines. Here a gaggle of girls try to
stay in formation. There an impromptu lesson about reefs and fishes. A curious
3(?) year-old boy adopted us at our bench. He enjoyed our glossy picture book.
But he’s a potential Car Guy --- he chose to gaze at a 1954 Ford sedan, much
like my dad’s first car!
The Church
and Convent of San Fransisco lets you climb the bell tower! A long history from
1813 but especially in the counter-revolutionary days --- even a fragment of a
downed U.S. U2 spy plane. No matter, I just want to see from the top. Narrow
wooden stairs creak --- only 10 people allowed at a time! Bells cast in bronze
centuries ago. Glorious views of tile roofs and distant sea. But who’s the
ding-dong under the bell??
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