Camagüey. Thursday Dec 4 2014 - saturday Dec 6 2014

Camagüy.  The third largest city in Cuba.  With crooked streets going in all possible directions.   On our first night we strolled the streets, getting a feeling of what this city is all about. And we were not disappointed!

 

We sat on the beautiful  Plaza San Juan de Dios and enjoyed our Bucanero's while watching kids playing soccer on the far side.  For them just another ordinary Thursday night.

Later we ate right there at Restaurante 1800.  Getting great service  - us in our creased shorts and with backpacks, Lonely Planet travel guide and plastic water bottles  - being treated like the rich and famous!  Nicely folded napkins and a bottle of wine served in a silver wine cooler!  A little different from what we were used to by now.  We were then lead to a great buffet of fresh salads and seafood.  The entree to a great meal that followed.

 

On Friday morning we got up early and walked around watching the Camagüey Cubans do what they do on a Friday morning. 

    

Butchery

 

And then there was the beautiful cobbled Plaza del Carmen!  With the studio and work of Martha Jiménez Pérez!  Who, at that very moment, became one of my favourite artists!    

 

 

  

 

   

 

 

 

Here in Camagüey we also encountered our most serious hustler!  When arriving, there was this guy on his bicycle, trying to stop us.  We just ignored him and kept on driving, following the gps trying to get to the casa of our choice.  Due to the nature of the typical Cuban traffic  -  having to wait on horse carts and bicycles  -  we could just not get rid of him.  He followed us for more that 5 kilometers though the labyrinth of tiny streets to the heart of the city.  Then he got really annoyed when we did not want to tell him where we were going!  We just parked the car, closed all windows, and sat. And sat.  Then, after about 15 minutes, he probably realized that we were not going to give up first and he went away.

Ceramic replicas of the old cuban cars.

Some more local art. 

 

Casa Carmencita where we intended to stay, was unfortunately full.  But as it goes, Carmen's 'brother' lives just around the corner and she lead us to his double storey house with big courtyard and balcony where we decided to stay.  Here at Casa Ivan and Lucy we even had the luxury of parking our rented car in a garage!

 

 

A few more pretty Camagüey pics that could not have been left out!