After breakfast we headed in opposite directions, Wayne and Jean on a grueling mountain trek through the National Park Topes de Collantes to the Vegas Grandes waterfall and a well deserved swim in the cool water below the falls. The scenery looked spectacular and they got to see the national bird and flower of Cuba – the tokorrora and the mariposa.
Gray and I headed off to the Peninsula Ancon, one of the beautiful Caribbean beaches. Being a Saturday, it was fairly busy, lots of local people, drinking copious amounts of rum, it was really vibey.
We found some loungers under a tiki cabana and spent the morning bobbing in the warm, gentle sea. We took a taxi ride home and then strolled into town for a bite to eat in one of the courtyard garden restaurants.
We all had a relaxing afternoon La Jorre Padron.
Around 6pm we strolled back into town, it takes on a different look and feel as the sun starts to set. It is a feel of the days work is done and life is now to be savored and enjoyed. We found a courtyard pub, framed with beautiful old mango and avo trees. We ordered rounds of the most outrageous cocktails, having no idea what was in them, all our kids would have proud (or maybe not after round 2). Everywhere we go we peel back layers of this amazing and interesting country. It turns out the pub is owned by the temple next door and even the blue table cloths have meaning. Looking into the temple – a blue house on the outside with a large interior white room, housing only a black doll, dressed in white, sitting on a chair. Wish I knew more, other than she must depict one of the Saints.
The amazing Anna and her husband made us a delicious feast for dinner. Legume soup, local fish with shrimp and barbecue chicken with salad and veg, finished off with a light flan. We listened to salsa and chatted to Anna about her life in Cuba.
Pandas in Africa 