We took a day tour to the lush Viñales Valley, an organized tour that included a lot of seemingly random sites that just so happened to be located in the same-ish area. There was the trip to the liquor fabrication plant that wasn’t running because, Saturday. There was the stop at the Cueva del Indio, a visit that consisted of entering a cave, walking about 100 meters, and then taking a boat-ride right out. It seemed to be off the beaten path, and we felt lucky it was part of the tour.

45 minute line to get to boat to get out of the Cueva del Indio; the one in yellow our guide, a beacon in the low-lit cave.

Then we headed off to have lunch in the middle of a field in a restaurant adjacent to the enormous Prehistory Wall. Finally, something of anthropological interest.

Imagine my surprise when this is what we saw. Not only had ancient man managed to scale huge cliff sides, but those colors! Still so vibrant since their application…in 1964. At 120 x 180 meters, the mural is impressive in size and is one of the largest in the world; local farmers were commissioned to draw the lines of the painting, directed from below by the artist, Leovigildo Glez, whose claim to fame is he went to school with Diego Rivera. The painting represents the “evolution of the life in Cuba, set down for posterity” showing life in this region from prehistory to man. The food at the nearby restaurant was plentiful, and the cat who meowed to the music of the live-band that played table to table made for great company.

Hill in the shape of a mammoth

The afternoon activities proved to be most interesting, leading us to believe the tour company’s mantra must be “best for last”. We visited a tobacco plantation to learn how tobacco is harvested, how cigars are made, and we all had complimentary fresh cigars to try.

Tobacco leaves drying and guide

Then we drove out to a mirador to admire the Viñales Valley. The landscape is a karstic depression which is the result, in this case, of limestone being washed away leaving these megotes or haystack-shaped hills to rise up above the plains. Apparently eSteven eSpielberg considered this area perfect to shoot Jurassic Park but, embargo.

And then we drove the two hours back to Havana and enjoyed some more wandering, dinner, and music.

Hair-braiding extraordinaire, “Irma la Dulce”, so named for her soft touch as she corn-rows tourists’ hair.

Another Obama

Stain-glass windows by night, on Plaza Vieja

Cuba has very strict penalties against aggressors of tourists; consequently day or night, one feels quite safe roaming the streets.

Two kids, two rollerblades

Night chess