TRAVEL
very keen to please with a real desire
to learn more about England. To my
dismay it became obvious that travel
away from home for Cubans proved
almost impossible owing to Government
restrictions on travel. During our time
we were able to visit a Cuban home
and family who invited us to share
in a meal which proved to be a most
enlightening experience, but moreover
their dependence upon Government
assistance with food and other day to
day requisites were clear to observe.
One evening we were able to share the
celebrations of a young man, being the
son of a local farmer, whom we met near
the beach and was to celebrate his 21st
birthday. My sons and I were invited
to join him in celebrating this special
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birthday at a local bar. He arrived at our
hotel in his horse and cart to collect us
which he had beautifully cleaned up and
lined with rugs and a portable cassette
player together with a lantern for our
return journey home.
As we passed through the countryside,
which seemed endless to reach our
destination in the local village we were
entertained by the music of Madonna
which somehow still echo’s in my ears.
Needless to say his name was Fidel and
he was dressed very smartly for the
occasion with a cowboy hat, smart shirt,
jacket, trousers complete with boots
and spurs.
To our amazement the local bar in the
district of Chorro De Maita was little
more than a large tin shed. It was packed
with locals inside sat at various tables
listening to guitar music and enjoying
bottles of rum either neat or mixed with
coca cola and plenty of cigars. My two
sons gasped when I offered to pay for
Fidel and all his friends for the entire
evenings drinks which included the
sharing of several spit-roast chickens
and bottles of rum for over twenty
people which lasted into the early hours.
To my great relief the entire bill was a
mere 80 dollars!
With us all somewhat worse for wear,
except the horse who seemed to know
his way home, the celebrations finally
concluded by us being dropped off at
our hotel shortly after 3am. We did
not see Fidel again but the evenings
experience with him and his friends
had left us with a great insight into the
local life.
During our two week stay we were able
to experience horse riding, swimming
with the dolphins in the open sea and
an unlimited supply of fresh fish and
particularly lobster which appeared to
be plentiful.
My first visit to Cuba had left me with
a vision of an Island full of colour and
vibrancy with wonderful rhythmic
music and people who seemed to get
the best out of life despite the severe
political and economic difficulties that
have taken place. There was no question
of my intent to return and next time to
Havana.