Viñale, Cuba

Havana  Viñale  Trinidad

Viñale

I managed to find the time to visit Viñale at the end of my trip in Cuba and I'm very glad I did, I actually regret that I didn't stay longer.

Viñale is the tobacco plantations area in Cuba.
I found very genuine people there, generous and respectful.
This man in the picture is a Cuban farmer who showed me the Tobacco processing in "his" plantation, a very good man.

Tobacco leaf

Tobacco leafs drying process

Tobacco plants

The landscapes in Viñale look prehistorical, Viñale is very rural,is beautiful and quite countryside. El camino de las aguas is a 2 hours walk in the mountains, is must! I liked it because you meet the local farmers who are genuinely nice and the view is spectacular.

Another Cuban farmer who helped with the direction when I got lost

Cuban farmer

Tobacco plantation

This was the last farmer at the end of the "Camino de las aguas" on the top  of the mountain, excellent man, he offered me a Rum made by himself, likely I found my way back. The picture below shows the view from his balcony.

View from the top of the "Camino de las aguas"

Trinidad, Cuba

Havana  Viñale  Trinidad

Trinidad

A lovely small town, definitely worth to visit. Beautiful beach, cobblestone roads  and colourful streets. I still remember the delicious lobsters dinners for 8$, just amazing. It's a very quite place to relax, also there is a very interesting disco called "La Cueva" Which is built into a cave.

A typical Classic Car parked in street of Trinidad

Casa de La Trova in trinidad. the trova is a type of music with a songwriter who sing this poetic song, like bolero, and play the guitar. El Trovador is singer who earn his living as a itinerant singer. This Trova singers appeared in the 19th century in Santiago de Cuba and they helped spreading Cuba music around the world

There is a Cigar factory in Trinidad where you are not allowed to take pictures, I was able to sneak my lens into the window.

Cigars are still hand-made, you will be approached by hundreds of people trying to sell you fake Cigars in Cuba, I mean not original Cohiba or San Cristobal which are the most popular. I've learned a trick by a Cuban tobacco farmer, he told me that if the cigar is a good quality, the the hash should burn evenly, if you see that the cigar burns more from one side then the Cigar isn't good. 

Cuban musicians playing in a typical cobblestone road in Trinidad

Russia use to supply help cuba until 1989, this an old Russian motorbike.