Snorkelling here we come

La Bajada near Maria La Gorda

Children

Leaving Santa Lucia

Cato Jutias

Horse riding in Puerto esperanza

Maria La Gorda

We are at the most southern tip of Pinar del Rio province, it's wind swept, beautiful and wild (apart from this diving centre which has internet - the village where we have found somewhere to sleep has no electricity nor running water) 

We are still being lazy, only 635 km and we are half way through our holiday but it's wonderful 

Vinales valley

The west of Cuba must be the most wonderful place in the world to cycle. Roads, although full of potholes seem to be used only by bullock and horse carts, a few cyclists and quite a few pigs!

Buildings

This building had a tree growing on its walls 4 years ago... (see blog dec 2010-jan 2011). 

John is over the moon to realise so much good renovation work is being done to these magnificent buildings.

We re off to Pinar del Rio province tomorrow morning but will no doubt come back and explore more of Havana.

Fumes

More shops, more food, more cars, more fumes.. But still lovely people, good music and much creativity. Saw a group of children spontaneously performing a mime in a side garden. Stunning!

Havana

Havana, dark when we arrived...if it hadn't been for two friendly lads we wouldn't have found it!

Two days of blissful rest, exploring the neighbourhood and savouring fruit juices and lovely food from Rosa

 

Gatwick

Met inspiring fellow cyclists on ferry, Jo (from Bembridge) and Liz, who cycled for 18 months in Europe and South America. Lovely people.

 Tandem is now packed and checked in

Here we come Cuba!

2015

The end of 2014 and the start to the new year couldn't have been more chaotic.. We were meant to move in for Christmas but the electrician and the plumber still had lights and pipes to sort out so we went for a tandem ride instead and went back to work on Boxing Day despite our resolution to take two days off.

However, we have now moved in!

Left the boat on 31st

Stayed the night at Shalcombe manor (too many drinks and not enough Scottish dancing..) and properly moved in on 1st January. 

Since then we have had a bath every day

Are climbing to our sleeping loft (no space for the bed yet)

And are slowly organising ourselves. I have now a desk and a computer!

Sadly everything is covered in sawdust: Simon has been sanding nearly non stop for 5 days. Everything is smooth smooth smooth...