Recent trip observations… No got loads to tell you this time. We intended to do more, but due to unfortunate circumstances, had to limit what we did.
Main things I noticed about Santiago this time – more police, more tourists, more pisicorres - and rain. Apparently there are fewer camiones and guaguas, so the pisicorres are doing a roaring trade.
More police – I thought due to there being more tourists. While this is in part true, apparement, there are more specifically due to the US tourists disembarking the cruise ship that docks every Tuesday.
In our hire car, we got stopped maybe every other occasion we were out. Word on the street is that Cuban nationals are using hire cars to traffic prohibited items – coffee, drugs…
Raul was in town while we were there, so that could also account for the extra vigilance – he seems to visit whenever we do :-)
Police were always courteous. Even when Mr yinkx realised he’d not got his ID and licence with. There was talk of taking him down to the station, but we persuaded them that although of course they had every right to, we were law abiding citizens and they let us on our way.
Weather - not as hot as I’m used to in Santiago. Had to sleep with a sheet and a throw – I am a friolenta. And it rained quite a bit. At first, it was torrential for an hour or so in the late afternoon, but towards the end of the month it was heavy rain which would start late afternoon, go on through to late morning the next day.
The rain is much needed. Water shortage continues. Before we arrived, our street hadn’t had water let through for 20 days. A desalination plant is to be soon up and running, to provide water from the sea, rather than the reserves from rainwater. Not sure how soon is soon, though.
Oh yeah - the prohibited swimming pools I mentioned in a previous report have been ordered to be demolished or filled in.
As usual, we stayed out on the farm in Holguin for a couple of days. Helped take care of some new born, abandoned goats, fed the horses, hung out with a gaggle of very entertaining kids in the day and drank beer and rum with the adults in the evening. Noticed more tobacco being grown in that region.
Went out to Guantanamo for the day to look for lamps and showers - without any luck. I did spot a masonic lodge, which threw me a bit. I know there are masons in Cuba, but I’ve never noticed a lodge in Santiago and didn’t really expect to see a lodge with its great big insignia on it. Doesn't quite sit right with me.
Back in Santiago, we saw Los 4 at Tropicana – that was okay, went to a rumba at Casa del Caribe – that was ace.
Hotel Imperial is looking very nice and the rooftop bar and restaurant is a great space. Service slow, but friendly. The lobby desk is also a good place to buy wifi cards.
Unfortunately, we also had to go to the funeral of a relative. That was tough. I also now know far more about the cleaning of decayed corpses, than I ever wanted to. The topic came up over and over, as people expressed relief that the deceased was to be cremated rather than interred. Cremation is said to be more popular, since the death of Fidel.
Oh – and I broke my leg five days before we left. Was treated at “el militar” initially. Turns out they shouldn’t have treated me, but by the time they realised I wasn’t a national, they seemed to think “what the hell”. Also had to go to Hospital Provincial three days later. Both took good care of me.
