We decided to skip breakfast at the casa and get some in town. We strolled around in the one main street. The numerous souvenir stalls is a clear giveaway that this is a tourist mecca. Inge buys some nice paintings and I tick off my dad's order of a Che t-shirt and ship. A quick ice cream and I climbed behind the wheel for the 4 hour trip to Remedios.
We arrive in Remedios - the only place other than Havana where we had accommodation booked (through the internet). Inge and Jeneen disappears around the corner behind the casa owner, to appear back after 5 minutes explaining that the casa owner didn't know about our booking but another casa owner's daughter has a top floor with a room and another 2 beds that we could rent whilst having our breakfast and dinners in the casa across the street. No hot water but a pot on a stove to boil some water for a bath in a stunning old fashioned bathroom with a pink basin, toilet and bath. I absolutely love the 'flat' - It feels like we're living in an apartment dating from second world war times! The antique 1950's TV adds to the 'antique' feel! We take to exploring the streets and get a feel for the festival. Lots of people on the streets, stalls selling eats, drinks, ice cream, popcorn and of course pina coladas! We buy popcorn and get our first 'local currency' as change. Jeneen and I buy 2 pina coladas topped with condensed milk and cinnamon. We pay with 1CUC and get 15MNs back as change. Converted this means we paid about R5 for both! Dinner at the casa and a relatively early night leaves us looking forward to the next day - what is said to be the highlight of the Las Parrandas festival.