Departing Santa Clara we passed through some low hills before again driving across relatively flat terrain that was primarily agrarian with the occasional low hill and tufts of dense foliage. The four lane road was quite bumpy but we were able to maintain a speed of about 60 MPH until we got to Taguasco where the road turned to two lanes, became somewhat more irregular and began passing through more small towns.
Our destination was Camagüey, about a four hour drive east from Santa Clara. Camagüey was the name of the indian chief who ruled the area of the country. It is a 500 year old city in the biggest providence in Cuba. The city was originally on the coast but was moved inland to defend it against pirates.
On the way to Camagüey the bus was stopped by an inspector. According to our guide, these inspectors stop state-owned vehicles to be sure they are being used for a legitimate purpose. Such vehicles are required to pick up anyone needing a ride when not engaged in an activity (such as transporting a load of tourists) that exempt them from doing so.
Upon arriving in Camagüey or first stop was Plaza del Carmen. We visited the art gallery of Martha Jimenez. We met the artist and learned about her work. Some was entertaining and some thought-provoking, but none of it would fit in our home, so we were not tempted. We did have some fun with some of her outdoor sculptures.
Next we boarded a fleet of “bicitaxis” and were pedaled between the three main plazas in Camagüey. These taxis are common throughout Cuba. They only have one gear, necessitating the driver to get out and push when the road grade is too steep. In the narrow streets of central Camagüey, a bicitaxi is a good way to get around.
Saying good-bye to our bicitaxi driver, we walked to a dance studio to see Andariega (no English language link found) where we watched children (age 10-14) perform some disturbingly good modern dance. I use the word “disturbingly” because for the child to be that good at that age suggested they had been given little time to be a child. And with one exception they were all very thin.
We walked to our hotel, - Hotel Gran. It was a wonderful old but well maintained one. We relaxed there until it was time for dinner at a paladar named 1800.
When we arrived the restaurant, and in fact the whole neighborhood, was experiencing a blackout. A buffet was set up in a relatively small interior room with no auxiliary light and way too many people. The lights came on just as I returned to the table with my food, revealing the selections that I had made by the light of my cellphone. Fortunately only one was a bad choice.
By the way, while I used my cellphone to make notes, take pictures and light up food, it was useless for its primary purpose - communication. There was no viable signal for a US-based service anywhere in the country.
After dinner we got into vintage cars for a ride back to the hotel. Pam and I were in a 1954 Ford Fairlane. The woman who drove it had owned it for 43 years. She took pride in the fact that all the parts were genuine and everything worked, including the radio.
A drink at the roof bar in the hotel and it was off to bed.
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