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0700 – Breakfast at La Unión Hotel by Melia
0900 – Depart for Topes de Collantes National Park
Today’s drive takes us into the mountains of Topes de Collantes National Park. Coffee is Cuba’s second major export crop, along with tobacco, and we stop en route to the National Park at a humble coffee farmhouse to have lunch with the family. The simplicity of the kitchen and home [and bathroom], set on a hillside along a mountain stream, make this one of the more memorable stops on our journey through Cuba.
1330 – Arrive Topes de Collantes National Park for today’s walk
The walk of the day features a pair of delightful waterfalls, a rich variety of vegetation, and more opportunities to enjoy Cuba’s aviary wealth. As we descend through Topes de Collantes to Trinidad, we take in some of the loveliest panoramas of our trip.
1830 – Arrive Trinidad – check into our casas
Trinidad is Cuba’s third oldest town, and after checking into our private guesthouses, we stroll into the oldest parts of town for tonight’s dinner in yet another UNESCO World Heritage setting.
[As we were gathering to trek to the bus to get to dinner, we encountered a long-horned cow wandering the street where we were, very loudly, and to the delight of everyone – especially the Cuban folks that were out and about. There is a video of this on the main Cuba web page.]
This walk was a huge highlight for Sherry. To get to the start of the walk they loaded up into a Russian Zil 6-by deuce-and-a-half truck driven crazily into the park. The walk had lots of challenges, including steps with no hand rails and single planks across streams. A favorite. I sat it out because of difficulties with my back, and instead hung out in the cafe drinking rum, I mean, Vitamin R!
The Triumphant Return, highlight of Sherry's trip. Riding a Russian Zil Deuce-and-a-Half to a challenging walk through a beautiful Cuban ecosystem, then riding the Zil back to the top. Ha!
OMG! The Cow! Leaving for dinner a cow was wandering loose in the street!