We are back in Havanna, getting ourselves ready for our return, realising that we can now find our way around easily through the city, find food and make ourselves understood. Even make phone calls in Spanish!
We met Ignacio again, the ciclotourism president, as well as his beautiful wife and 2 vivacious children. We were impressed by his bike workshop housed in 3 tiny sheds in his mother's tiny garden. He has an amazing collection of bikes, bike bits and TOOLS (this has to be seen to be believed in Cuba) that he has salvaged or been given by foreign cyclists like us. He works so hard and well at preparing cycling tours through Cuba.
It was a hard decision to leave him but we wanted to put a toe in the Pinar del Rio region west of Havanna. We calculated we could easily make it to Las Terrazas, an
eco-village, and back for our flight on Sunday. as it happened, we pushed on a litle further to Soroa, a quiet little mountain resort (yes, there WERE big hills to get there!) where we climbed to El Mirador and sat on rocking chairs at Don Agapito, surrounded with whispering palms and beautiful orchids. Idyllic...but there were invisible mosquitoes and we are still scratching our legs!
We had a bit of an argument at Las Terrazas, I wanted to stay and join the tourists for a swim in the cascades of the Rio San Juan. John wanted to go back to La Havanna. Riding a tandem means we have to stick together! In fact riding a little earlier to La Havanna (via the
Autopista, very safe very quick, very hot) meant we were able to rest, relax and walk around the streets of this absolutely fascinating city.
Our flight is tomorrow Sunday evening, hope snow won't await us like it did a couple of years ago when we had to put plastic bags on top of our sandals to ride home!
We met Ignacio again, the ciclotourism president, as well as his beautiful wife and 2 vivacious children. We were impressed by his bike workshop housed in 3 tiny sheds in his mother's tiny garden. He has an amazing collection of bikes, bike bits and TOOLS (this has to be seen to be believed in Cuba) that he has salvaged or been given by foreign cyclists like us. He works so hard and well at preparing cycling tours through Cuba.
It was a hard decision to leave him but we wanted to put a toe in the Pinar del Rio region west of Havanna. We calculated we could easily make it to Las Terrazas, an
eco-village, and back for our flight on Sunday. as it happened, we pushed on a litle further to Soroa, a quiet little mountain resort (yes, there WERE big hills to get there!) where we climbed to El Mirador and sat on rocking chairs at Don Agapito, surrounded with whispering palms and beautiful orchids. Idyllic...but there were invisible mosquitoes and we are still scratching our legs!We had a bit of an argument at Las Terrazas, I wanted to stay and join the tourists for a swim in the cascades of the Rio San Juan. John wanted to go back to La Havanna. Riding a tandem means we have to stick together! In fact riding a little earlier to La Havanna (via the
Autopista, very safe very quick, very hot) meant we were able to rest, relax and walk around the streets of this absolutely fascinating city.Our flight is tomorrow Sunday evening, hope snow won't await us like it did a couple of years ago when we had to put plastic bags on top of our sandals to ride home!
