Día Doce - Santiago & route to HolguÍn

Today is our last day in Cuba! We started off downtown in Santiago. We saw a few squares, took a few pictures, almost got our bus stuck (but our driver was awesome) and sweat like crazy in the inferno once again. Santiago is the most populated city in all of Cuba and we were in its busiest area. 

One of the trucks converted to mass transportation with the City Hall of Santiago in the background...

Oldest building in all of Cuba...

 

A cathedral... 

Saw a pharmacy...

Paid a man to use his cab as a photo op...

Then we were off to Mella to a naif artist's studio & gallery. The town of Mella is famous for this type of art and sugar cane. However when we arrived we found out that he was in the U.S. with his artwork was at an exhibition. So we did some exploring, "a lo Cubano." We first visited the local library where there was a children's art project and computer science school. At the computer science school they learn about different software and use of the Internet. 

Jean is so fun to travel with. 

We had lunch in a private house before heading to the airport in Holguín. 

Of course our Cuban tour guide Marlón sent us off by performing "Bailando" one last time before arriving at the Holguín airport. It was difficult to say goodbye to our Cuban guide and bus driver. They truly gave us a very personal experience and I hope in some way, one day we can repay them for what they gave us. 

This visit to Cuba has been more than an understanding of their past and most recent history. It has been more than an open door into a culture deep in the arts. It has been more than meeting people with such an ability to overcome. It has been more than visiting an island surrounded by 3 different bodies of water with a unique geography. It was more than exploring several different cultural influences that have their place in Cuban culture. It has been so much more than I can put into words. I can only hope that other people of the world, our students included, can come to appreciate such a small place filled with so much. I hope that people can open their minds and repair the stigmas so many Americans have about this wonder of our world. 

Día Once - Baracoa & route back to Santiago

I truly had a wonderful birthday yesterday. Our guides put together a birthday surprise for me. I will never forget it. The cake's flavor was like one I've never had before. It definitely had some peanut butter in it! Mom, I know you'd be happy that everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me. 

We started off our morning in Baracoa visiting a "casa particular." Their are hundreds of them in the city of Baracoa. They're private homes that are rented out. The one we visited typically rents to foreigners. It is called La Casa de Daysi. She advertises by word of mouth, the yellow pages and through casa particulares in other providences. You can identify a casa particular by the anchor looking symbol out front of the house. The cost per night is $20 CUC. Daysi must pay $60 CUC per room (she has 2 rooms for rent) per month plus 10% of what she receives in rent to the state. Breakfast is included and for a small additional fee other meals can be prepared for you. Prior to the opening of private business in Cuba, Daysi worked at a polyclinic as a bookkeeper. Many private business owners are excited for the opening of the relations between Cuba and the U.S. as they think it will drastically be improving the tourism economy.

We then visited a cacao plantation. We learned about the cacao season and plant as well as the family that lives on the plantation and some of their traditions. We also were able to try the fresh cacao fruit before and after it had been dried. One of the family members had been asked to research the dance of Son that we had practiced earlier and she discovered a family that had practiced a dance called Kiribá that has been around since before Son. We were able to view the dance and practice it as well. One of the steps involved a foot movement that drags the foot in a motion similar to that of the plantation workers moving cacao beans. We then experienced an authentic Cuban meal that they had prepared from their home for us. 

And we used our first Cuban outhouse. 

After that we started on the long windy journey back to Santiago... we are sad that our experience here is coming to and end!

¡Hasta mañana!

 

Día Diez - Baracoa

We started off our day in the city of Baracoa with the city historian. We sat and spoke in the church of Baracoa that had originally been a hut and most recently restored 2 years ago. When Christopher Columbus landed in Baracoa, he had planted 29 crosses. The last original, which recently was carbon tested, is located here. When Christopher Columbus landed in the harbor in Baracoa he named it Porto Santo after a port in Portugal that seemed similar and that he had married in. He spoke passionately about the city of Baracoa's connection to the U.S. and the previously more amiable relations. 

We then visited a local gallery named after the first art teacher in Baracoa. 

We saw the original city hall of Baracoa that has never been relocated as other city halls of Cuba have been. 

Then we were off to a museum. Baracoa was the first capital of Cuba. It is the city with the most biodiversity in all of Cuba. We also spoke of Baracoa's connection to New Orleans with the relocation of many people of French decent. 

After the museum we headed out on the Toa River. They say if you bathe in this river, you will return to Cuba. We had a wonderful guide, Josmel who shared with us some information. There are "domesticated" crocodiles (riiiight), piranhas and crabs in this "Amazon" of Cuba. It begins in the mountains and flows into the Atlantic. 

I was THINKING about going in, since it was my birthday and all... and our tour guide, Haley "helped" me along...

Some salcocho with lunch!

After lunch we were off to a Cucurucho farm. Cucurucho is a mix of coconut, honey and almonds. It was a nice treat! Those are all almond shells on the ground in the pictures below. Our Cuban guide Marlón is holding a cone of Cucurucho as well. 

After our visit to this farm we were able to spend a little time on the beach behind the establishment. The waves were intense!

Jean, utilizing our wonderful journal from Fund for teachers in the Porto Santo!

Dinner & some dancing for the evening! Not a bad way to spend turning 31!

¡Hasta mañana!