We started to cycle the same route as yesterday towards Cienfuegos, but stopped after 12km's at the petrol station to fill up with water. We then branched off right onto a very hilly road where my chain came off whilst I was going up the first very steep hill. Glad no one was near me to witness my outburst!
Today's scenery was the most spectacular so far, as we started to cycle into the Escambray mountains. We passed by the Cienfuegos botanical gardens and through the small village of Guaos. We carried on cycling through the hilly terrain through small villages such as Dolores and Codicia before stopping for a snack after 38km's at Cumanayagua town. There was a petrol station here so we all stopped and bought cokes (tu Kola) and ice creams from the garage. We also had a chance to use another lovely toilet (and Jane's magic kiss cream - well done Jane)! Pete and I had a bit of a history lesson from Alex about Batista and the revolution. We asked him about the Bay of Pigs, but he said he would tell us more about that ..... Later!
The cycling today was very hard, but I really enjoyed it as the scenery was so beautiful. We stopped for lunch in a family home in the village of La Macagua where we were served pork, rice, beans and plantain chips. The house was very basic, but the people seemed pretty self-sufficient with their own pigs, chickens, fruit and vegetables. The family slaughtered a pig whilst we were there and put it over a pit-fire to cook for us for dinner at night as we were invited to join them for dinner. One of the men cut down a coconut for me and I drank the milk which was delicious.
We rested in the shade for a while before undertaking the last 8kms which were all to be uphill. Even Alex and Alfredo warned that these were very steep hills and Alfredo didn't say 'eez no so bad' so this didn't bode well.
After a long lunch break we started off on the long, strenuous uphill journey to the hotel in Hanabanilla. This was the hardest part so far, but I coped with it OK. I walked for about 1km with Nikki then decided to try to brave the rest of the 7km's on my bike which I managed OK. I stopped to catch my breath about 1km from the top, but managed to cycle the rest of the way. There were two small children waiting at the side of the road, waving. When I got to the top, the people who were already there were clapping. We then all did the same for the remaining people.
We all sat on the terrace and had a beer before going back to our rooms to shower and get ready to go back to the house where we had lunch.
We met at 8pm after showering to take the coach down to the house. Alex encouraged us to try to mix with the family, which we all did to the best of our ability (given our lack of Spanish). I gave the hostess some books and colouring pencils for the children which were gratefully received and managed to have some basic conversations with some of the family with my limited Spanish knowledge. We then all ate together. Dinner was delicious and consisted of the pig which had been cooking slowly all afternoon. It was the best pork I've ever had and the crackling was to die for. This came with, you guessed it... the obligatory rice, beans and plantain chips. There were also tomatoes, cucumber and yucca which were incredibly tasty and came as a welcome addition.
Rum and coke (Cuba Libre's) were flowing freely and I have to admit to being just a little bit drunk! Probably a good thing, seeing as I kept being asked to dance by teenage boys and Cuban men and felt it would be rude to turn them down even with my horrendous lack of rhythm. The rum definitely helped to relax and I had a fantastic evening which I will remember for the rest of my life.
When Alex said it was time to leave (at about midnight) Steve, our resident-Scot suggested that we all link arms in a circle and sing Auld Lang Syne. The family all joined in and it was an amazingly surreal experience, singing Auld Lang Syne with about 40 people in a remote garden in the mountains in Cuba. We said our sad goodbyes and then took the coach back to the hotel.
When we arrived back at the hotel, the bar was empty, but we decided that we didn't want the partying to end so we all bought more drinks. The band, who had just packed up to go home struck up again and started playing for us. Many of us from the group danced for hours with each other and with Alex, Alfredo and Orlando (I seem to remember Guantanamera in there somewhere).
We met at 8pm after showering to take the coach down to the house. Alex encouraged us to try to mix with the family, which we all did to the best of our ability (given our lack of Spanish). I gave the hostess some books and colouring pencils for the children which were gratefully received and managed to have some basic conversations with some of the family with my limited Spanish knowledge. We then all ate together. Dinner was delicious and consisted of the pig which had been cooking slowly all afternoon. It was the best pork I've ever had and the crackling was to die for. This came with, you guessed it... the obligatory rice, beans and plantain chips. There were also tomatoes, cucumber and yucca which were incredibly tasty and came as a welcome addition.
Rum and coke (Cuba Libre's) were flowing freely and I have to admit to being just a little bit drunk! Probably a good thing, seeing as I kept being asked to dance by teenage boys and Cuban men and felt it would be rude to turn them down even with my horrendous lack of rhythm. The rum definitely helped to relax and I had a fantastic evening which I will remember for the rest of my life.
When Alex said it was time to leave (at about midnight) Steve, our resident-Scot suggested that we all link arms in a circle and sing Auld Lang Syne. The family all joined in and it was an amazingly surreal experience, singing Auld Lang Syne with about 40 people in a remote garden in the mountains in Cuba. We said our sad goodbyes and then took the coach back to the hotel.
When we arrived back at the hotel, the bar was empty, but we decided that we didn't want the partying to end so we all bought more drinks. The band, who had just packed up to go home struck up again and started playing for us. Many of us from the group danced for hours with each other and with Alex, Alfredo and Orlando (I seem to remember Guantanamera in there somewhere).
I had an interesting conversation with Alex about life in Cuba and how different it is to our lives. Although we have so much more in material terms, I feel that we are missing out on some of the more important things in life. The Cuban people seem to be incredibly happy overall even given the poverty in which they live and some of the everyday hardships which they face. I went to bed very late and feeling very drunk, but incredibly happy, having fallen completely and utterly in love with Cuba and its people.
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