Cuba… A wonderful Surprise - An Unexpected Experience...

Six Weeks in Cuba…

A brief summary before we begin…

The number one thing to us was the people - They have so little, yet they will give you anything!
then, Music, music and more music


A vast country, life is simple, many horse & carts, sheep & goats, livestock drawn ploughs,
so dry and hot however always a happy face!

People always wanted to practice their "Inglis" and of course we wanted to try out our "Holas"

Cruising the South Coast we had a big surprise of the beautiful Cayos, alternating between Mangroves and Beach and Coral.

Trading is expected!..  Clothes, Spanish/English Dictionaries, Rum (Ron), Cigarettes, Beer, Soft Drinks for Camaronies (shrimp) Lanoustine (Crayfish) Pescado (Fish) etc etc.

We met a uniquely universally happy people, who will do anything for a stranger.
There is 100% literacy in Cuba!
However, the average wage is between $20 - $50 USD per month

We feel extremely priveledged to have been to Cuba before any future changes happen…
 Muchas Gracias - Thank You Senors & Senoras, and all our "Amigos"...

15 February - 31 March

It is an overnight sail from Gt Inagua to Cuba.  We leave at 04:00 (am)…

As we approached the restricted waters of Guantanymo Bay we were radioed by US Coast Guard - we were then shadowed along, both on our Starboard Side - US Coastguard and also on our port side by something that was showing on our radar, however couldn't be seen by binoculars… interesting.

As we approach Cuba, we are amazed at how mountainous she is…

We come around the headland of Santiago de Cuba with the fort overlooking us…

 Arriving, we were initialling asked to anchor well off, until we were cleared by the doctor.  We were then asked to come to the dock, we rafted up to Seismic Wave…

being a working port, some rather large ships came quite close by…

we found during our time we had very interesting taxis - this being our first

Teresa with our first taxi driver

Richard & Brett went ashore and met with "Pedro"s son, who introduced us to his dad - Pedro (wife Rosa).  They organised our "first" taxi, they gave us an amazing dinner (no charge)… we danced, we drank and we enjoyed their company…

Heading into Santiago City we just walked - coming across music all over the place…

We went for a day trip to Catholic Cathedral -  "Patron Saint of Cuba" 

in the town just below this is the barbershop…

the meat and vege shop…

 People are so "number 8 wire" as we would say in NZ,
a wheelbarrow made of whatever you can get your hands on…

A street near Revolution monument these guys were taking dinner home (alive!)…

At the Marina, we all looked out and saw a monohull dragging - it had dragged a Looooooong way and the local marina people had been trying to get it sorted unsuccessfully for over an hour…

Ian from Makara (catamaran) had initially gone to help, then

Brett & Richard ended up going out on a local boat to give help and they managed to get the mono's anchor up and bring it alongside the marina - what an experience!

A shock for the owners 

when they came back and found their boat a long way from where they had left it!

 We met a delightful couple, Peter & Eileen at the Marina, they had just arrived on their yacht from Rio Dulce area where we are ultimately heading this season.

We all went into Santiago for an evening…

View from your Restaurant

truth be known, this is a rather sedate photo, considering we all had lots of drinks, 

dancing and fun together in the few days we were together!

After leaving the marina, we stopped at remote places, 

however we were no permitted to go ashore… the rules here state that we must check in with a "Guarda Fronterra" (excuse the spelling) and we are only allowed to go ashore in designated areas...

At Moprea del Portillo we were allowed ashore - it is an agricultural area…

all work on the plantations are done by Ox… or horse...

At this wonderful agricultural area we were able to acquire fresh fruit and vegetables, however when we wanted to know how much to pay, we were asked for any surplus clothing rather than money…

Our next destination took us to a extremely remote spot that has a floating dive hotel…

we were lucky enough to arrive on a change over of guest day, therefore no other tourists...

This area is known for the crocodiles, which come in to be fed - NO SWIMMING for us here!

3rd March and Teresas Birthday has come around…

I asked her what she would really like and she said Crayfish AND …

so a shrimp dish from fresh shrimp that we had acquired from the previous anchorage…

Shrimp Boats at Anchor with us

was our entree…

followed by Crayfish…

(crayfish Caesar Salad, Crayfish Kilpatrick, Crayfish Natural with 3 dipping sauces (Satay, Japanese, BBQ) and a Apple Cucumber & Ginger Salad with Asian dressing…

followed by a Chocolate Birthday Cake…

then Chocolate Truffles (which by this stage I wasn't taking photos!)…

Teresas birthday ended with a beautiful sunset over Seismic Wave… 

viewed from Our Rose with somewhat blurry eyes (ha ha ha)...

It was before the first course of Teresa's birthday that our little friend turned up…

He Settled himself down on my planter, which at the time had cilantro (coriander) plants…

His name for us was obviously Cilantro…

Cilantro stayed with us for a couple of days…

He would fly up to the stack pack when we moved to keep an eye on us 

letting out the gib or screecher...

He would wait by the radio…

and he would sit on my lap...

the day he left us, 

we had anchored at Cayo Machos de Fuera…

Cilantro flew up onto my shouder, spent a couple of minutes gently pecking my face and hair 

and then he flew off… fair winds Cilantro

We stopped at Cayo Blanco - where we were lucky enough to meet a wonderful man who not only organised for us to go to the Marina at Trindad, but he also organised for us to meet Rafael, who ended up being our driver for many days.  He also organised our "Casa Particular" in Havana.

This is Seismic Wave (left) and Our Rose (Right) at Trinidad Marina…

Rafael took us to Parque El Nicho National Park… gorgeous

We then went to a local spot for lunch - all cooking is over open fires...

this is the pantry…  and yes, I had ordered pork!

 Just up the road from where we were based at Trinidad, 

Richard and I went out for lunch…

We left our boats at Trinidad Marina and Rafael took us to Havana…

We stayed in a Casa Particular that he had organised…

It was fantastic -  large queen bed room with air conditioning,

fridge, separate ensuite with large shower, linens changed daily

- the cost was $30USD total per night…

These were David's - owner of our Casa Particular - pet "alligators"… (David is a vet)

Havana was an interesting city - different than just about everywhere else in Cuba…

The Architecture was incredible, as were the cars… 

There were street people dressed as statues - the people are becoming entrepreneurial - any way to make some extra money…

We went to the "Tropicana" Show

Oh la la…

14 March - Bretts Birthday

We walked the "Calle Jan de Hallel" - Artist Street

  we then went to Hotel Nacionel 

(famous for the Cuban Missile Crisis tunnels and Mafia Meetings)

for a refreshing beer…

Bretts wish for his birthday was to go to a baseball game.  

We had found there was one on - the Havana Industrialies, vs Granma…  

I had never been to a baseball game and this was an extraordinary experience!

Unfortunately no photos of the game - all we can say is the crowd certainly know how to get involved!

We then went to a Cuban/Chinese restaurant for dinner…

Arriving back at Our Rose, one of our wonderful security men caught a fish off the back of Our Rose...

Before we went to Havana, we had met some tourists who had been out fishing on one of the local charter boats docked behind us - they hadn't had so much success that day, 

and we had invited onboard for a cold beer and a chat.

We found that Vince (Dad) was having a birthday 

and his sons would have gone back to USA and Canada…

so we went and joined Vince for his 82nd birthday…

The resort Vince stays at…

Craying has been quite good to us…

We anchored at Cayo Guano Este

what an amazing lighthouse here… 

We went ashore - this is their dinghy…

The views from the lighthouse were "amazing"...

We went to the Biological station

Cay Contiles… it is manned by four guys - we swapped rum/movies for crayfish

I also made them a cake… YUM!!! on all sides

The last night together with Teresa and Brett - starting out with a few sedate drinks and nibbles - 

Teresa and Brett gave Richard a "very early" birthday present…

just fantastic!  we all played cribbage together many a night, and they gave Richard a set for his birthday - bring on the competition!!!!!  Thank you to Teresa & Brett, not only for the early birthday gift, but for the last 2 months of fun….

until we see you next time!..

Brett after a couple!

Some of the signs we have seen…