Tu Kola is the Cuban equivalent to Coca Cola. Apparently a shipment arrived in Havana on this day because I saw cases being delivered in more than one location.
At Bar Metropolitanos my friend Damian found himself in the middle of the action. After he posed for a photo with two cases of cola I showed everyone the image I made earlier of a guy carrying six cases into another restaurant. We all had a good laugh.
If you are observant and pay attention, opportunities for images will present themselves to you.
You have to be quick because often those image opportunities don’t last long.
On the back streets of Trinidad I saw this little cowboy tugging on a horse’s reins. He was not afraid. Perhaps because his father was there. Perhaps because the family horse was quite tame. When the boy turned toward me, I was able to capture his expression.
El Tenedor is a family owned restaurant and hostal.
Stop in for dinner or drinks, watch the sunset, and listen to the live music on the terrace. I believe it to be the highest rooftop dining in Trinidad, Cuba. The food is good, as is the service. It’s all family here.
You’ll pass the kitchen on the way to the dining area and the terrace.
Stop and greet the chef, Emilio. He may offer to prepare a special dish for you on your next visit.
Say hello to Ava and her daughter Katiuska. You’ll feel like a part of the family. Be careful though, twelve-year-old Daniela will try to charm you out of some gum.
Don’t let the term hostal keep you from going. (it’s a Cuban classification). You will not find any difference between the rooms here and a Casa Particular. Both rooms have their own locks and are air-conditioned with private bath.
There are several large, well-known caves in and around Viñales, Cuba as well as many that are smaller and less popular.
On a guided walk through the tobacco farms we had the option to explore a small cave. After descending a few meters from the farmland, our guide Richard, lead us through a narrow opening in the limestone. We all grabbed our small flashlights as we were assured the passage would open up and become a less claustrophobic scramble to the other end.
I’m not a big fan of caves, but this one was just my size … ten minutes long.
Richard
Going down
Looking back
Looking ahead
The way out
Richard hugs his son as our tour ended.
Viñales, Cuba is known for tobacco farms, but farmers also raise a few pigs and keep some hens. They are quick to point out that their farming methods are all natural.
I’m thankful for shoes.
I realize that millions of people in the world go without shoes, but other than children at play, I don’t recall seeing many in Cuba without footwear of some kind.
We were about two kilometers from the main street in Vinales when
We spotted this man walking on the paved road, in the hot sun, in the middle of the day.
He had no shoes.
How far had he come?
How far was he going?
We tried to communicate with him, but could not understand what he was trying to tell us.
This man, Michael, will arrange a taxi for you in Trinidad, Cuba.
You can find him in Plaza Carillo.
While negotiating a ride to Topes de Collantes, someone suggested that he needed an I-Pad.
“I have one” he said, “and its unbreakable”.
He pulled out his notebook and slammed it on the ground. When he picked it up, he flipped through the pages and said “see? … it still works”.
We all laughed for several minutes.
Caburni is the largest waterfall in cuba.
It’s located in the Topes de Collantes Natural Park, just west of Trinidad, Cuba
The river drops almost 200 feet over numerous slides and cascades.
It’s slightly over a 4 mile round trip hike with about 1300 feet of vertical descent.
The trail is steep in spots and somewhat slippery, but easy to follow. The humidity makes the climb back out seem worse than it really is.
We had to walk a bit on the paved road to reach the trail-head.
Some of the geological formations on the trail.
I had the unique opportunity to meet and photograph this ninety-five year old man. He looked good to me, but his daughter said Pablo’s health is failing and he requires a lot of care. He remembers the days before the revolution when he drove an ambulance, but did not want to speak of those times.
The quaint name for do-it-yourself repairs is “Shade Tree Mechanic”, but in Vinales, Cuba its serious business. These tobacco farmers are rebuilding a three cylinder diesel engine for their tractor. No “Snap-On” tool chest, parts washer, or workbench here. These men will proudly make do with what they have and get the job done.
mstevensphotography 