If we told you lunch for the 7 of us at the end of our tour today was spit roasted suckling pig on the banks of a crystal clear running stream in a tropical rain forest listening to a Cuban music trio what sort of day do you reckon we would have had? You guessed it AMAZING!!!! Tour of a manual labour coconut processing cooperative, walking tour of a small private farm of mango, pineapples, coriander, bananas etc etc, rainforest walk near the sea, row boat ride ...

Drive today past Guantanamo Bay along the coast where we saw the only "desert" type landscape so far in Cuba. Great ocean views, cactus and pretty barren land - its probably the first bit of land we have seen in Cuba that isn't being farmed. Then inland across the mountain range to Baracoa - spectacular rain forest scenery and then back to farm land as we headed to Baracoa. A drive of incredible contrasting countryside. Ok Baracoa wins hands down. Our Casa is up...

Virginia ok this morning so we headed off with the group on a city tour on our bus. First stop the cemetery where many heroes of the revolution are buried including Jose Marti the Cuban hero who ideas were the foundation of the revolution even though he lived 60 years before it occurred. Santiago is the cradle of the revolution because it was near here that Castro landed in the Granma ship and started the battle which eventually defeated the Batista dictatorship....

Long drive to Santiago de Cuba and arrived about 2.30pm to a big spread of ham, cheese, salads, bread, fruit for a "light" lunch. Walking orientation of the main city centre buildings and services - we love the way the Cubans use the street as an extension of their house and kids still play in the streets. This is more city like than any of the other places so far - it was the first capital before Havana and is of great historical significance as it is in the reg...

City tour on tricycles and walking this morning - churches, squares, art galleries, farmers market and lots of fun. Our tricycle rider wanted my Barcelona tshirt as payment but it is worth a bit more than $3. Saw more of the city than we would have on our own. Lunch and drinks at Gran Hotel then a bit of shopping and more walking. Interesting and diverse city - cultural focus and called "city of churches". Relax time back at our hotel for few hours then dinner a...