Complete Cuba Day 8

Day 08 - Thursday, January 16, 2014 - Travel to "Green" Las Terrazas; See Las Terrazas Waterfall; Lunch at Cafetal Buena Vista; Stop for a Coffee at Cafe de Maria; Look at Hemmingway Museum

Our travel day began with packing and then taking our carry-ons down to the lobby. We had a light breakfast and then left the hotel and Soroa at 8:30.

While we were driving Claudia told us more about the economics of Cuba. The farmers are responsible for the land, but they do not own it. In all professions, 90% of the profits go to the government in the form of taxes; only 10% goes to the worker.

Salaries are very low but the government provides for most of the needs of the people. Most employees are paid in the old Cuban peso, they must convert to the new currency, and then they can purchase goods and services in Cuban Unified Currency, or CUCs.

When we reached Las Terrazas, we had to stop at the security gate to check in. At the reception area Ottis, our Las Terrazas guide joined us on the bus. He explained that in 1968, 130 families came to this 5,000 hectares of barren land.

Now a biosphere where people and nature live in harmony, over 1030 people work together in a commune, kibbutz-like community. The first priority was to terrace and reforest the hillsides.

Our first stop was a visit to the school where the principal greeted us and as Ottis translated, we learned about the curriculum and the mission of the education in Cuba. Gennie gave her pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and toothbrushes for the children. Vic gave the school two of his photographs representative of Colorado.

We had a wonderful half hour with the children and then got back on the bus and Ottis described the various species of trees planted during the reforestation. We saw the apartments and craft stores and also visited with Maria, one of the original residents of Las Terrazas.

Maria and her family run a thriving coffee shop; we stopped at Cafe de Maria for a cup of her specialty home grown coffee. We even had a chance to meet this 70 year old woman and talk with her about her experiences.

The next stop was to visit the art studio of Lester Canaya. Several us bought a few of his small prints and he gladly signed them for us.

At 11:30 we left the main compound and took a ride to the Río San Juan and the Las Terrazas Waterfall. There are several pools, perfect for bathing. Vic took advantage of the medicinal stream; he took is shoes and socks off and walked in the water falls to cool his feet.

Our last stop was at a 17th century French coffee plantation. Lunch was a generous and delicious meal at the Cafetal Buena Vista. The menu was typical, but the taste of the organic food was exceptional.

We said goodbye to Las Terrazas at 1:30 and drove to Havana arriving at the home and museum of Ernest Hemingway at 2:30. A friend of Fidel Castro, Hemingway was allowed a huge estate and extravagant life style.

His home, Finca Vigia, is well kept with original furnishings except for the priceless art work that he lost in a divorce. Hemingway’s yacht, El Pilar, is beached on the grounds

From San Francisco, Hemmingway's neighborhood we went through several of Havana's districts. We had time to take photos in Revolution Square where Fidel Castro gave his famously long speeches.

At 5:00 we checked into the hotel and were offered a welcome drink, a Melia Cohiba, fruit juice, grenadine, and a dash of rum. There was always more rum if one wanted.

This twenty story hotel, one of the most modern in Havana took us back to the luxury of plenty of towels, extra pillows, and hot water! We took time to repack and look over photos. Gennie worked on the journal although she has been able to keep a running account on her iPad as we travel on the bus.

At 7:15 just as we were gathering our things to go out to dinner, the lights went off in our room. We had a flashlight to see enough to call the front desk. Evidently other rooms had experienced the same problems. A fuse had been blown and was quickly fixed.

We met our group in the lobby for dinner and drive to El Templete for a marvelous dinner. We returned at 10:00 and crashed from our long day, and anticipating a fun day exploring Havana tomorrow.

Accommodations: HOTEL MELIA COHIBA - - - Meal: B, L, D

What fabulous pics of the two of you!!! Thank you for having a GREAT time.

Is that Vic "smoking" again? He said once and no more.

Day 9: Mediterranean Navigation

Kasbah Cuties

Ramadan Sweets

Trash pickup in the Kasbah

Furniture Maker

Wedding Dresses

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Continue Reading Day 9