Cuba 2007: Day 13

Here is a link to tomorrow's diary.
Here is a link to yesterday's diary.
Here is a link to the index of the days.

Here is a link to today's photos. Click the big i button in the centre of the screen to get the titles of each slide. However, it'll probably be best to look at the photos after you've read the following text (if you plan to do that!).

I'm out in the car by about 0900. The plan is try to some of the places described in the guide books. However, none of the guidebooks are very excited about the attractions around here.

First I am going to go north. However, the petrol station is on the north side of Vinales. So I stop there. I have to wait a couple of minutes for someone to come out. I'm expecting it to be 15 or 20 CUC. However, the pump says 35 CUC. He points to it and says the amount in Spanish. I think about arguing but realise it'll be impossible. I guess the pump wasn't put back to zero after the previous person. Grhh! (In a few days I discover another possibility for this which means I probably paid the right price.)

It puts me in a bad mood for several hours. It's not that I've lost 10 UKP but that someone would cheat me. I had thought this town was friendly.

In a bad mood I drive north. I drive pass the first set of caves, and also the second set of caves. I can't get excited by visiting caves. I drive further on and down a side turn for a short way. I decide this is a waste of time, and return to the main valley.

One of the guidebooks says the Valle de San Vicente is a picturesque valley and that's certainly true.

I return to Vinales and drive out to the west. There's a large mural a few Ks away. A guidebook says you can see it from a distance. Although described as "prehistoric" it doesn't look ancient. Again I'm not impressed by it.

I'm back at the hotel by about 1115.

I go out to see the band at the Centro Cultural Polo Montanez and arrive at 1430 but there's no sign that much is going to happen. Maybe I misunderstood the person: maybe he meant recorded music. However, I'd hardly think they'd advertised that. I wait there for an hour.

Whilst I'm there Michael comes into the place. He sees me and comes over and asks me how I am. I say "Hello Michael" and he beams pleased to see I've remembered his name. I don't think he remembers mine! He off with some friends to the river.

On the way back to the Hotel, Salsi spots me and says "hello English".

I sit in the room and read a couple of books.

I switch the TV on at 1800. It's switched to the English CNN channel and I watch this for about 45 minutes. It's a USA-centric news and comments programme hosted by Lou Dobbs. It's the first TV I've watched since I got here.

At about 1915 I'm back at the same restaurant that I lived through last night. There are a different staff working tonight. I ask the table next door what they are eating. It's the special, and they say it's excellent. The guidebook says it's a bit stodgy and filling. After 10 minutes I decide this is right.

Three members of a band (called Guacachason) are playing. After their first number, two female belgians decide to join in. One attempts percussion whilst the other asks for the double bass to be brought across and she plucks one note on the double bass. Then the other one goes around and collects money from us. They were so embarassing.

Having successfully got through the main course, tonight I have helado and a café.

I move to El Vinalero, the bar opposite the ArtEx, and have a drink which I manage to last out until 2100. I then go across to the ArtEx. There should be a band here at 2100. It starts playing at about 2130. They are quite good. And the small place gets crowded, and they also attract dancers (and some girls who try to get the male tourists to dance).

I have my torch with me and I leave about 2330. On one section, a torch beams at me. A person says "Hello English, you're always about". It's Salsi. I shake his hand. Later I have to use my torch as it's totally dark.

Here is a link to today's photos. Click the big i button in the centre of the screen to get the titles of each slide.

Here is a link to tomorrow's diary.
Here is a link to yesterday's diary.
Here is a link to the index of the days.