Today was a great trip to the Sierra del Escambray and the Parque Nacional El Nicho, a natural reserve in the mountains. It began early, and the transport was by "camion particuliera" (in this case a refurbished flatbed truck supposedly built in 1935, now with at top structure and seats, but otherwise
open).
This is the type of transport common for many people in getting between closer cities. The drive was windy, somewhat comfortable sitting, bouncy and noisy and smelly with diesel fumes. But it got us there, along bad roads at moderate speed up and down the hills as we got to the mountains. Mango groves down here, changing to sugar cane and banana a bit higher. Some market gardens along the way—lettuce, tomato, beans, and probably other things. Then coffee plantations higher up again. This is apparently coffee country, and the harvest starts soon, lots of work. Also began to see pines for the first time, as we got into the mountains. Interestingly, and unfortunately, there was more garbage along the roads than I would have hoped. Saw men and women riding horses and mules, one ox pulling a plow, a few tractors belching black smoke.
One of the short stops was right beside a school, and the children were grouped outside as they would be in schools everywhere, with the one or two older, braver schoolboys pointing and laughing at us, or doing rude hand signals. (And, of course, the ubiquitous bust of José MartÃ.)
We stopped at the small town of Cumanayagua,
after which the road got even more twisty for the last eight kilometers. We arrived at the gate of the Parque and ground to a halt, lowered the metal staircase and climbed out. We had a local guide show us through to park, which involves a kilometer-and-a-half walk along the river stopping by several lovely azure pools and falls, and ending with seeing the cave where the river sources. Some great vistas as well as some wonderful plants (luffa plant, African tulip, ginger flower, coffee plant, avocado tree). In the end, I elected not to go swimming, but will wait till the warm beach of Rancho Luna.
We had a pretty awful lunch there (accompanied by pretty awful musicians), then headed home. Aside from the lunch, the day was quite nice. Unfortunately, the lunch had further consequences on my gut, but that will heal.
Again, a wonderful supper, and early to bed. Tomorrow we go to a baseball game with our host. Cienfuegos is in the national championships, and they are playing in town. Should be good.
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