Hasta la victoria siempre!

Around mid-February, Olga and I made up our minds among the many possible destinations and decided to spend a short holiday in wonderful Cuba, thanks to an extraordinary offer we found at a travel agency.

On 7 March we boarded the flight that took us from Milan to the fascinating Cuban capital.

When we arrived at the airport our guide was waiting for us and in the minibus we reached the small resort “Club Atlantico” that we had booked from Italy on an all-inclusive basis. Staying at a resort was quite unusual for me; before that occasion I had always avoided them.

This resort was located 20 km from Havana and from there, thanks to a free shuttle service, it was very convenient to reach the Cuban capital.

After the first 4 days spent relaxing on the beach near the resort we decided to hire a car so we could visit as many places as possible in this wonderful country.

The first day we had the car we headed east, driving along part of the island's Atlantic coast. We saw the oil fields of Santa Cruz, we crossed Matanzas and then stopped on the touristy (but not too touristy) peninsula of Varadero.

Having left that strip of land we headed east, reaching the crumbling town of Cardenas, and stopped in the far-from-touristy spot of Coliseo. Here, having parked the car, we had a wander through the streets; everyone stared at us as if we were aliens… the atmosphere and the feelings were similar to those I had experienced in India when I walked through unknown places.

We stopped in a small shop and for the first time since we had been in Cuba we paid in non-convertible Pesos, that is, the currency for non-tourists…the real Cuban currency.

Back at the hotel late in the evening, the next day we set off again in our Peugeot, this time heading south.

Crossing Santa Cruz del Norte again, here we turned off towards Madruga and then on towards Cabezas and Nueva Paz.

On this stretch we gave a lift to a Cuban nurse and to some guys who asked us to take them from Madruga to Nueva Paz. On Cuban roads so many people ask you for a lift; the old trucks, more than for carrying goods, are used to carry people… Shame I had the car…I would have liked to try getting a lift from one of those old vehicles…crammed among the people…who knows, maybe next time. Having reached Nueva Paz we took the Autopista N°1 (the most important road in the whole Cuban republic) as far as Jaguey Grande, from where we took the turn-off for Playa Larga, arriving at the Bay of Pigs. At last we were on the Caribbean Sea!! Here we had a wander on the beach collecting strange shells and at a shack by the sea we tasted crocodile meat. Fatty and not good at all, but given the opportunity it was certainly worth trying.

Back aboard our Peugeot we headed for Playa Giron, stopping in a wonderful spot. Hard to find words to describe it. Untouched, and the ocean water crystal clear! In the late afternoon we reached the city named in memory of commander Camilo Cienfuegos. Here we made a long stop, strolling through the city and eating a Cuban pizza…an experience not to repeat. Towards 9.30 pm we got back into our car and returned to our “Club Atlantico”. 3 hours of driving along the dark Cuban roads. At 10.00 in the morning of 13 August we were already in the car heading west. We crossed the Cuban capital to make a first stop at Soroa; a place famous for its orchid garden and its waterfalls. Having left Soroa we headed for Pinar del Rio and then reached the wonderful valley of Viñales. Here, from a farmer, I finally bought the famous Cuban cigars. I paid 5 convertible Pesos for 30.

In Havana a single cigar would have cost 2 Pesos…. A great deal, I'd say. Driving then along secondary roads we returned to the Cuban capital, where we spent the evening at the casa de la música, dancing and drinking some very good Rum.