Early start after the usual breakfast which is probably a government specified menu as they are all the same in every casa . Same fruit cut in the same way etc. Drove west past Havana passing a few oil wells dating back to the 1940s stopping for lunch at a small restaurant on a 4acre tobacco plantation. Again nice people and willing to give all the help or information you need. Drove on to Vinales a mid size tobacco town. Nana and I are staying in one house and ...

Had a very pleasant day meeting lots of interesting people. Talking politics and thoughts how the future may evolve for Cubans after Fidel has expired. Went to Valadero one of the tourist parts of Cuba. Not on our planned itinerary however we were very pleasantly surprised with well spaced out developments and really nice beaches. Tomorrow off to the mountains and Pinar del rio to see the tobacco plantations and try to persuade Nana to ride a horse again. Nan...

After saying goodbye to our nice host Idolka we were on the road at 0900 for at long trip to Matanza just arrived now at 1930. A great drive of around 300k on a quite narrow road. Stopped for lunch in Santa Clara near its pretty square and lots of evidence of Che Guevera as this was his resting place. Bought some CDs from a young Cuban boy who was the first one we have heard speak badly of the present regime. I gues the older people are more careful of what the...