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 they say.
We then stopped off at a sugar museum housed in an old sugar mill. Fidel Castro closed half of them in 2002 putting thousands out of work. They had become uneconomic due to rising oil prices. Twelve steam engines that tansported the cane to and then sugar and rum from the mill lay idle and rotting in the mill. If you could get them out of Cuba like the old 50s American cars they would change hands for a fortune.
We are staying in an old mansion house
costing like the others we have stayed in for 25 cuc ( around 18euros ) with a lobster prawn and crab dinner with all the trimmings for 7 euros. A full breakfast with great fruit, eggs toast etc etc for 3 euros makes a pleasant change from the US or Bahamas. Must wish Max a very happy birthday today. Wish we were there in fact starting to miss home and all you guys.