The year started early as the alarm went off at 6.30 to get up and at em' this morning. Another big breakfast at the casa & once again our ride was early so by 8am we were in our way to Vinales. Our taxi was shared by an Italian couple going to Havana. To pick them up we confirmed the theory that you need to ask five people directions to actually find where you are going as the driver asked someone at each street corner until we located their casa particular. We felt we were making great time & the kms were clicking by then suddenly the taxi pulled over on the side of the freeway under a bridge where we worked out we would be changing transport to take us to Vinales. We waited about 20mins before a large old style red & white truck which had been converted to a mini bus arrived as well as a Dutch couple in a separate taxi. We thought it must be time to get on the road again now but alas we waited another 1.5 arduous hours, a total of 2.5 all up, until another van with 6 French people turned up to fill our truck/minivan. Another couple of hours, including a much needed toilet stop & we were in Vinales at the Villa of Maceo & Gladys. They had a very bright pink house with quite a substantial tropical garden around in which our bungalow style room was set. It was certainly not as nice as our Trinidad room but it was clean & had soft mattresses instead of lumpy springy ones so it would do. Gladys talked a hundred miles an hour & was certainly a 'talker'. She organised for a guide to come & speak to us, although we thought she was just getting a price. After speaking to him we decided to just explore the area ourselves, probably just using the hop on hop off bus. Finally we had a chance to wander into town & as it was New Years day a few places were still closed so we queued for a restaurant which had a good description in lonely planet called El Olivio. Finally after maybe 30mins we got a table & the service was excellent. We ordered a glass of wine each, I had the rabbit in dark chocolate sauce which was ok to try although I think mum had the pick with the duck a l'orange. I even had a sort of apple pie for dessert. We paid about 15-17 cuc each. It was back to the casa for an early night afterwards- tucked up in bed by 9.30 after a long wearing day of travel.