The last stop of our one-week trip to Cuba provided the full dose of Cuban flair. Together with the two English girls, we drove to the Caribbean coast of the country to Trinidad.
In the colonial city characterized by artistic and classical charm, we were accompanied by the clatter of horse-drawn carriages on cobblestone streets at every corner. Discreet live music echoed through the entire city from courtyards and rooftop terraces.
One highlight was our evening visit to a live band performing at the "Casa de la Musica". There we witnessed Cuban enthusiasm for fast Latin rhythms.
Otherwise, we enjoyed our stay in a relaxed manner, strolling through the city and enjoying the views from the church tower and the rooftop terrace of our accommodation.
Haribo
Since we only carry the supposedly necessary things in our backpacks, we unfortunately don't have the opportunity to give much away. However, in order to appreciate nice encounters or simply as a small thank you in between, we have taken small bags of Haribo with us, which we give away on special occasions.
For example, we made a nice acquaintance with an older Cuban writer and historian. Without ever having been there, he obviously knew more about Germany than the two of us combined. Accordingly, he was very happy about the small attention and dedicated his own poem to us.
After two nights in Trinidad, we headed back to the capital. Because the next day our flight to Mexico was scheduled to depart, where our Central America trip was about to begin in earnest.
Conclusion on Cuba
Considering that Cuba was chosen as the first stop of our trip rather spontaneously due to the favorable flight situation, it was a very nice and valuable experience. Due to the foreseeable complications and the relatively high costs, a one-week stay made sense for us.
Especially politically and historically, the country is very fascinating, but it is not an easy destination for tourists with a small budget. Due to the lack of long-distance transport and the gasoline shortage, transportation costs accounted for 40% of our expenses.
But in conclusion it can be said: Cuba is and remains a great feeling of life, but it is not as carefree and easygoing as it is often portrayed.
