Camagüey

This is actually being done in Sancti Spiritus, but I am writing about yesterday, in the town of Camagüey.

The day really began at El Salton, with a breakfast followed by a walk about the area. We had Ricardo with us as a guide, and he was quite helpful in pointing out the various plants and animals of the area. I was able to see what a cacao tree, an avocado tree, and coffee bush and many others looked like, as well as some of the birds of the area. We also visited a local farming family, and enjoyed their hospitality. I felt really bad in not being able to speak or really understand Spanish, but the visit was still good, and we learned a lot.

Turns out that this resort is about 20 years old, and is mostly used at present for a Rehab centre for alcohol and drug addiction, and at this time is occupied primarily by Venezuelans (Cuba rents out its services for foreign exchange, in return for oil).

It was interersting as well because we had stayed in the mountains, in a valley area. For the first time since being here, we were cool at night. And the clothes at we had washed and put out to dry got even wetter with the dew. And I dressed for the valley, not realizing that we were going to be walking to the tope of the hills, where it was hot. So I was quite sweaty by the time we were finished.

The ride to Camagüey was supposed to take about three hours, but we stopped at one place for a break, and another for a pee, and in the end it took almost five hours. We were all tired from the ride alone, even though we had not been on the bikes at all.

So we go into the town after dark, got settled into an older and somewhat beaten-down hotel across from the train station, and had a late supper from the cafeteria. While the food was good, the cafeteria itself looked like a high school cafeteria, all bright green and yellow, and too light.

Danny had arranged for us a tour of the old town on bici-taxis, 11 of them, and we soon were careening around at high speed (as fast as these guys could pedal), going from one square to another. Jose would then get off his bike, and talk to us about the history of that square. Camaguey goes back to 1515, so there's a lot of history to talk about. But as well, this being Saturday night, there was a lot of partying going on, and many people were in the streets. It was a sight to behold.

We were duly impressed, and I would like to come back to the town sometime.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad.

Location:Camagüey