Today we went to Viñales. Unfortunately it wasn't as interesting as Soroa and the trip was longer--about 2.5 hours there and another 2.5 hours back.
We stopped for a break along the way and I bought a Cuban flag (because today is Flag Day in the US! haha) and a little seahorse carved from wood. Pepe gave us a pretty entertaining nature lesson using that seahorse. Then, after about another hour, we arrived in Viñales. First we stopped at the best view of the landscape and the mogotes, which are the distinctive limestone hills around the area. I took pictures and bought an opalite (a type of glass that looks somewhat like moonstone) ring for my cocktail ring collection. It was a little pricey at 25CUC, but I really liked it and I haven't found any other stone jewelry here. [And I didn't find any for the rest of my trip--gemstones aren't a big priority to the Cuban government, or the people, because they make approximately $30/month.]
We stopped for a break along the way and I bought a Cuban flag (because today is Flag Day in the US! haha) and a little seahorse carved from wood. Pepe gave us a pretty entertaining nature lesson using that seahorse. Then, after about another hour, we arrived in Viñales. First we stopped at the best view of the landscape and the mogotes, which are the distinctive limestone hills around the area. I took pictures and bought an opalite (a type of glass that looks somewhat like moonstone) ring for my cocktail ring collection. It was a little pricey at 25CUC, but I really liked it and I haven't found any other stone jewelry here. [And I didn't find any for the rest of my trip--gemstones aren't a big priority to the Cuban government, or the people, because they make approximately $30/month.]
After the viewpoint, we went to the Mural de la Prehistoria. It's very large and very ugly. The mural was the idea of Fidel Castro and I don't think that government officials should be involved in government art, based on how that mural turned out. The painter of the mural, they say, studied with Diego Rivera, which I think is a pretty good insult to him. I wish that it had been a joke because the mural was horrible. Pepe, Madison, Duane, and I really enjoyed mocking it anyway. I did get to see some goats and horses and other animals around there though.
Then we went to Cueva del Indio. We walked through part of the cave and then took a boat the rest of the way. It was interesting but the formations weren't very good compared to those in the caves in the Black Hills, and it didn't have pre-Columbian Taino carvings like the ones at the Cueva del Indio I visited in Puerto Rico.
We ate lunch while a man sang sad Spanish songs with his guitar. The landscape is pretty near Viñales, but if you don't have time for camping or hiking or an excursion on horseback, Soroa is probably a better choice for a day trip outside of Havana.
I almost forgot--after the cave there were two men weaving baskets from palm leaves. I bought one for 4CUC. It's really well-made and the men gave us little woven grasshoppers made from the palm leaves too.
After lunch we went to the city of Viñales. There was a plaza and people that sold souvenirs but not much else. I bought wooden animals for my siblings and a bracelet made of orange seeds for me before we left. When we got back to Havana it was raining a lot. Eventually Lauren, Rachel and I took a taxi to our house. I hope that it doesn't rain tomorrow because it's our second beach day.
After dinner (which was sausage and macaroni and cheese) I wrote this and now I'm ready for bed!
xoxo, xenophile
Then we went to Cueva del Indio. We walked through part of the cave and then took a boat the rest of the way. It was interesting but the formations weren't very good compared to those in the caves in the Black Hills, and it didn't have pre-Columbian Taino carvings like the ones at the Cueva del Indio I visited in Puerto Rico.
We ate lunch while a man sang sad Spanish songs with his guitar. The landscape is pretty near Viñales, but if you don't have time for camping or hiking or an excursion on horseback, Soroa is probably a better choice for a day trip outside of Havana.
I almost forgot--after the cave there were two men weaving baskets from palm leaves. I bought one for 4CUC. It's really well-made and the men gave us little woven grasshoppers made from the palm leaves too.
After lunch we went to the city of Viñales. There was a plaza and people that sold souvenirs but not much else. I bought wooden animals for my siblings and a bracelet made of orange seeds for me before we left. When we got back to Havana it was raining a lot. Eventually Lauren, Rachel and I took a taxi to our house. I hope that it doesn't rain tomorrow because it's our second beach day.
After dinner (which was sausage and macaroni and cheese) I wrote this and now I'm ready for bed!
xoxo, xenophile