Mark and Eva Scrancher welcome us to Havana, Cuba.
Some of the architectural highlights of Havana.
Some of the architectural highlights of Havana.
Some of the architectural highlights of Havana.
Some of the architectural highlights of Havana.
Keith has a cigar and rum on the roof terrace of the Bacardi building!
At the museum of the Revolution.
At the museum of the Revolution.
Ladies in costume for the tourists.
Ladies in costume for the tourists.
The wide variety of transportation in Havana…
The wide variety of transportation in Havana…
The wide variety of transportation in Havana…
The wide variety of transportation in Havana…
… and the old canons used as traffic barriers!
At Marina Hemingway…
At Marina Hemingway – there was a lovely pool! (Our new cover photo!)
The local village near the marina.
The local village near the marina.
Leaving Havana, we headed west along the coast. This is Cayo Levisa…
…boardwalk through the mangroves to the resort…
The resorts show a very different side of Cuba.
Further west to La Esperanza…
… not a very pretty village…
Our cruising guide recommended the services of Sandra…
…she helped us organise a car and driver to go to Vinales to get some money from a bank.
At the bank we met Roos and Vincent, a Dutch couple starting their cycling tour of Central America – they told us about an interesting walk through the Valle de Vinales…
Once the banking was complete, we heard there was an interesting walk through the valley…
During the walk, we invited them to hitch a ride on Poco Andante to Isla de Juventud…
They agreed to meet us at Maria La Gorda the following Monday – about a 120km cycle ride for them.
Then it was a glorious sail around the west coast to Maria La Gorda.
Roos & Vincent on board Poco Andante.
Success! It’s lobster for dinner again. Keith & Vincent show off their catch …
At Nueva Gerona on Isla de Juventud – the local market.
A walk up to the local view point.
This is a prison building – not much chance of escape!
On Isla de Juventud we met Erik and Anders off Ed Hunter and they ask if they can cruise in company with Poco Andante.
Still with Roos & Vincent aboard, we both sail to Cayo Campos, a deserted island where we enjoy BBQ lobster…
We both sail to Cayo Campos, a deserted island where we enjoy BBQ lobster…
… and build a great bon fire!
Then it was on to Cayo Cantilles – a monkey conservation sanctuary…
…with no monkeys! But four uniformed Cubans – undoubtedly security forces!
Christmas Eve Dinner on board Poco Andante with Roos & Vincent and Erik and Anders.
It was a tight fit on the dock…
Setting up for Christmas Day Dinner ashore at Cayo Largo.
But we managed!
Poco Andante decorated for Christmas
Cayo Largo is a resort island – and after Christmas we moved around to the main jetty area.
Anders off Ed Hunter celebrated his birthday on 30th December – Keith baked him a cake.
The beaches are beautiful with clean white sand and turquoise blue waters.
The beaches go on forever.
Erik and Anders enjoying all the benefits of the “all inclusive” resorts…
… as did we all!
Roos & Vincent left us at Casilda to resume their cycling travels.
Back on our own again, we enjoy yet another resort at Casilda.
And learn to salsa on a Cuban beach!
The town of Trinidad, Cuba – a World Heritage site.
The town of Trinidad, Cuba – a World Heritage site.
The town of Trinidad, Cuba – a World Heritage site.
The town of Trinidad, Cuba – a World Heritage site.
Red Snapper, Yellow Jack and Prawns for dinner!
The Valle de Los Ingenios (Sugar Cane mills)…
The Valle de Los Ingenios…
The Valle de Los Ingenios…
Nearly our last stop – Marea del Portillo – just west of Guantanamo Bay…
Some of the wonderful boats we saw – Lobster divers on a raft made from tractor tubes!
Patchwork sails…
A typical small fishing boat…
… and a typical large one.
These guys came about 1nm in this pedallo – asking if we wanted to eat in the local restaurant!
The Guardia Frontera often visited Poco Andante courtesy of a local rowing boat.
Keith getting some ice – and prawns for dinner from a prawn trawler that came to check us out…
… they were interested to see a foreign cruising yacht.
And finally, the Cuban Navy? A local fishing boat in camouflage during miitary exercises!
