Those damn cockerels woke us up again at 5am!! Every time I hear that sound now my hair stands on end. However, it was an early start anyway to get the bus to Cienfuegos, which is only an hour or two north of Trinidad. We drove through it on the way to Trinidad and it didn't seem like it had much to offer a tourist so we got quite a surprise when we started to explore. The homestay we are in is palatial! It is owned by two sisters Miriam and Gladys and a husband...

Before we left the UK someone told us that pens and soap were hard things to get hold of so anytime we got soap in hotel we saved it to take with us to Cuba and we bought a big box of pens just in case. Having spoken to some guides we have had in Cuba it seems that there was a shortage in the 90s but it is available in any shop now...that is only if you can afford it of course. But a week into Cuba and we are still carrying around Boots supply of soap. We were be...

I was quite chuffed that we had seen a few iguanas on our travels but today blew those sightings out the water! We went on a catamaran excursion to Laguano Island, so named because of it's reptile inhabitants. It took two hours under motor to get there. It was a shame we couldn't put the sails but A) there was no wind and B) there were 30 Germans, 2 French, and two Scots cluttering up the deck! We had a little time for some snorkelling before docking at what I c...

We went on a walking tour of Sierra Escambray, a mountainous area half an hour from Trinidad. Our guide, Jack, had been studying the area, flora/fauna, animals etc for 4 years but like us, nearly all his clients question him on life and politics in Cuba rather than anything to do with the land or the area! He was obviously used to it so happily talked about it all, but whether he had ever had quite as eager a quiz master as Ian before is unlikely! It was a beaut...

We had a free day in Tinidad today so we spent the morning exploring the city, which didn't take very long! It is a small colonial city with a lot of character (and a lot of characters!). All the streets are cobbled, all the buildings are colonial (although a little run down as is the case in most of Cuba), and everyone seems to hang outside their houses chatting to neighbours and relaxing in the shapde. You will freqently come across groups of men playing domino...