Viñales

It is our third day in Cuba.  Today we will drive out of Havana to the Cuba countryside and spend the next 2 nights in the town of Viñales.  The Viñales Valley is located on the western part of the Cuban island and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.  On the way we'll stop at the village of Jaimanitas to see the Gaudi-inspired artwork of Jose Rodriquez Fuster.  He calls his project Fusterlandia.

Waiting in line for purified water

Tap water in Cuba is not clean enough to be drinkable.  We stopped at a water processing store to fill up our water.  There are bottle water for sale but they are too expensive for Cubans.

Fursterlandia

On the way we stopped for lunch at the Balcon Valle restaurant with a beautiful view of the Sierra de los Organos mountains and Viñales Valley.  

View of the Viñales Valley

We checked into the house of Lidia & Fernandito, where we'll be staying for 2 nights.  All over Cuba there are many guesthouses similar to AirBnB, run by families.  It's a way for Cubans to make some extra money.  Our stipulation for coming to Cuba is to help the Cuban people. Therefore we are not allowed to stay in hotels, which are all owned by the Cuban government.

Casa Horizontes Lidia & Fernandito

My bedroom

There are two activities that we are to do in this town:  learning how to make mojito, a popular beverage in Cuba, and how to dance salsa. 

A Government Ration Store

Price List for Rations

A local relaxing with a cigar

A Government Pharmacy

A local church

A street market

Learning how to make a mojito

The next morning we walked through the farming area of Viñales valley and saw how what farming life is here.

A horse carriage for transporting people, like a taxi

Oxens are used to carry heavy stuff

Solar panels for electricity

Black beans, which is a staple here

Cueva de la Vaca farm

At the farm we were given a lesson on growing tobacco and rolling it into cigars.

Drying tobacco

Demonstrating cigar making

Enjoying a freshly-rolled cigar

No inhaling.  Just smoking

The Mural of Prehistory

That evening we were treated to a dinner at an organic farm.  The owner told us that when she started the farm everyone told her that it'd not succeed.  Now it's a thriving business employing many locals.

The Organic Farm and Restaurant

A very basic kitchen

Information about the farm