Saturday 3rd November - Havana to Playa Jibacoa

Alex and La Valla met us at our hotel early. We checked out and then took the coach into Old Havana via The Malecon (The seafront) and Placa de la Revolucion (Revolution Square). This is a meeting place in Havana where everyone congregates for any big event (carnivals etc., it's also where Pope John II appeared when he visited Cuba a few years ago. Fidel Castro also often gives speeches in this square).

It was a warm day, but a bit overcast with a breeze so it wasn't too oppressive. Alex gave us a guided tour of old Havana in the morning. We walked through lots of old squares and saw many beautiful, Colonial style buildings, some in good condition, many in total disrepair. We went and had mojito's on the roof terrace of Ambos Mundos Hotel (which was where Ernest Hemingway liked to stay). We had our first taste of live music in Cuba with a band playing on the roof terrace.

At around 1pm we went to Cafe Taverna for lunch which consisted of rice and chicken. There was also live music and a couple dancing in this restaurant whilst we ate lunch.

After lunch we visited more old squares, one of which was full of second-hand bookstores predominantly selling books relating to Che Guevara. Alex pointed out men playing dominoes which is the 2nd national 'sport' of Cuba afer baseball.

We visited a cathedral where the remains of Christopher Columbus are said to be. We then met back at the bus and drove to La Triada cigar shop at San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress just on the outskirts of Havana. I bought some Habanos, Romeo y Julieta's and Monte Cristo cigars for Steve and my dad. I also bought some light and dark Havana Club rum (which I was to acquire a taste for during the following week). The longest cigar in the world was on show in La Triada, and I had the pleasure of meeting the man who rolled it, Jose Castelar Cairo and took his photograph (above).

We then drove to the campsite at Playa Jibacoa where we stayed in basic chalet accomodation and where we had our first introduction to cockroaches. We dropped off our luggage and then met Alex by the pool for a briefing. We had dinner which consisted of rice, beans and plantain chips followed by a plate of mango sauce!

I went to bed quite early feeling slightly apprehensive about our first day of cycling tomorrow. Ros and I had some trouble getting to sleep worrying about the inordinate amount of cockroaches in our bedroom.