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1 travel blog written in Vinales
Find accommodation in VinalesHorses & Cigars
24. April 2009 | en
Cab in Vinales:
We thanked the Goddess that Shockie continue to runs. We like to think of those little shocks she gives us as love bites. The important thing however is that she locked in on and not off, and with our stick we are able to avoid those shocks and ride off into the jungle! Of sorts. Either way, although she is no motorcycle, scooter is a great second place. There is no way I ever would’ve wanted to do this trip in a car.
However going by horse and seeing a little that way also seemed a great idea. The senary in Vinales is amazing and horses could take us where Shockie was not allowed.
And so we asked out kind hostess at the casa particular if she could recommend or set up a little expedition for us. We quickly figured out that it was illegal when we were retrieved and led down some back alleys before being shown our horses. More importantly before crossing the paved road into the mountains we were told to wait while our guide ran ahead to ensure there were no police on the road whom may want to see his non existent permit, and demand as to why he was denying the Cuban government their share of his little set up.
Such things rarely bother us however, and as he gave a most excellent tour we were quite happy. Besides, how many of us can claim that they hid out on a farm while avoiding the police? (Actually maybe more of us than we like to admit).
Long story short however, halfway through our ride we were led to a little farm house were a man gave us the shakedown to buy his homemade “organic” cigars. These cigars were not so cheap, and yet in fairness neither were they super expensive. And when given the choice of giving some money direct to the farmer versus having him lose 95% of the profit (which is what he says he loses) we thought why not.
And then the phone call came and our guide grabbed our horses and took off. We were told that the police were coming and we were to say we were wandering tourists. (That with just one look at me you could tell that i was no jungle wanderer mattered not.) But we were not to panic. He would roll us a cigar just to show us how he did them, and we could smoke it with him. (Honey was used to hold them together, which both of us found rather cool).
Shortly thereafter the phone rang again. It was lunch time and the police were taking their lunch break. Therefore they would not be making it up to the farm house after all, and we were free to move on again. Our guy came back with our horses, and we finished our trip. And I had cigars for my father´s birthday present, and Im still not rally sure how much of what happened was real and how much was staged.
Tags:
Viñales
Cuba
Map:
N 22° 61.666
W 83° 71.666
Created at: 23. July 2009
Vehicle to this place: Scooter
Logbooks written by Fernweh
Fahrt nach Viñales
24. April 2009 | de
184 km unterwegs
Da sind wir nun. Wir sitzen am Wegesrand und beobachte n die Laster voller Leute die an uns vorbeifahren. Neben den uralten Autos ein beliebtes Transportmittel.
Ich bin jetzt 32 Jahre alt uns fahre durch Kuba mit einem Roller klapprigen 50ccm Roller. Das Zündschloss ist kaputt und man hat jeden Moment Angst, dass noch etwas kaputt geht. Viel Geld haben wir nicht dabei, 70 CUC sind unser Budget für den Tag. Man möchte meinen, langsam seien wir zu alt für den Scheiß…
Aber wisst ihr was? Uns geht es gut, es tut gut wieder unterwegs zu sein, abseits des Massentourismus. Wir sind wieder unterwegs, aus Touristen wurden wieder Reisende.
Mit schmerzendem Hintern haben wir letztlich unser Ziel erreicht: Viñales. Hier befinden sich die Tabakfelder für die berühmten kubanischen Zigarren. Wegen den Karstfelsen ist es auch ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel, mein Bruder und Schwester waren letzes Jahr dort und waren ganz begeistert.
Tags:
Viñales
Kuba
Map:
N 22° 61.666
W 83° 71.666
Created at: 03. May 2009
Written by FernwehTabak und Pferde
25. April 2009 | de
17 km unterwegs
Heute waren wir auf einem Ausflug. Zu Pferd.
Wir haben die Campesinos besucht, die (Tabak) Bauern. Sie haben uns gezeigt wie man eine Zigarre rollt und ich wollte wissen wie man Ananas anpflanzt. Um diese Erfahrung schlauer ging’s noch zu einer Höhle und wieder zurück durch die schöne Landschaft.
Zum Nachtessen zauberte unsere Gastgeberin leckeres Hühnchem mit Reis.
Tags:
Viñales
Kuba
Map:
N 22° 61.666
W 83° 71.666
Created at: 03. May 2009
Written by Fernweh
