Cuba Libre... Mojitos, mojitos, mojitos

Cuba Libre means Free Cuba. The next part of our journey for the next 7 days flew past. A new group, new tour leader, taking to about 60 people we have travelled with over the last 3 months. Our last tour leader, Lenin, yes that is his name, is from Ecuador, proved to be very adept at bonding the group very quickly. We spent 2 days in Vinales in a casa de particulare (home stay), with lovely home cooked meals and with hikes through the peaceful mogites, which are limestone hills. This is a tobacco and coffee growing area, so there was the obligatory cigar and coffee sampling, along with the usual smattering of rum. A lot of people carry a bottle of rum with them where ever they go. If they are at a bar it is a large bottle of cola and a bottle of rum, and it keeps you happy for hours very cheaply . The hike we took lasted 3 hours and took us through the fields and a big climb to two caves the view was incredible. The caves were used for hideouts during the Cuban missile crisis. We saw people working , children playing, old men chatting to each other, everyday life. We have managed to really see what people get up to everyday while we have travelled through this wonderful country.

This seems like a nice place to work. I wonder if this old farmer sees the beauty in this tobacco crop. 15000 cigars out of this crop.

One of the many caves that crisscross the area, we were in a boat through this cave.

It was a cold day but yet another beautiful beach on the Carribean. The next day was glorious . Snorkelling was incredible once again off the beach.

Our tour leader and others jamming on a cold afternoon at Maria la Gorda. That afternoon Lenin showed us how to make the popular cocktail Mojito. Boy were they the best we had tasted. We also had to try out the Cuba Libres... rum and cola , as well. Guitar playing as we sang along and salsaed in our room was how we spent this afternoon. It was a highlight of our whole trip.

& The sun sets on our Cuban holiday