Gibara. Our seaside stop in a town which has fortunately recovered well after being badly hit by Hurricane Ike in 2008. A small sleepy town. With lots of pretty pictures everywhere!
We could not make up our minds about spending the next two nights here or
rather inland in Bayamo. Convinced by Ivan and Lucy and with the
address of an 'amigo' casa in our pockets, we chose Gibara. Which was, in
hind sight, a very good choice since we never saw blue skies in Baracoa later in the week!
The first morning in Gibrara we walked to nearby Parque Calixto García. It was Sunday Dec 7 and it looked like half the population of the town were gathering on the plaza. Under which a few old men with medals pinned to their shirts. All under umbrellas and not bothered by the light rain. We later learnt that it was the day on which they commemorate the Cuban soldiers who died in the Angolan war. Leaving me with memories of friends who fought in that very same war during my last years in high school.
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| Wreath in commemoration of Cuban soldiers who died in the Angolan war. |
After breakfast the rain had stopped and we wandered around in the tiny streets. Similar to the rest of Cuba, but much more peaceful and quiet.
We walked along the waterfront and out of town, stopping every now and then for a chat with curious Cubans. Wonderful how well we could still communicate with our very limited spanish. I hear that I, after 2 weeks in the sun, look a little cuban already. My dutch friend on the other hand, will certainly never be taken as a local in this country.
In the afternoon we drove out to Playa Caletones and walked around on the beach, watching fishermen mending their nets. In the evening, back in town, we walked up the hill to have a look at the remnants of the old fort and got a lovely view of the whole town.
Ivan back in Camagüey had done a wonderful job of organizing our next stay! Arriving at Casa Los Hermanos here in Gibrara we were welcomed by a group of really friendly spanish speaking Cubans. It took us a while to figure out who was part of the family and who just work there. A process of restoration was in progress and there was an artist working on a mural, another guy (or the owner's son) painting doors, 2 men on ladders working on the ceiling. And something I saw for the very first time - a woman washing the decorative satin flowers and haning them on the washing line! Yes, this certainly was a clean casa!!
During our trip we often opted for the evening meal served at the casa where we were staying. And having read that this one serves good seafood, we did the same here. One of the cleverest decisions we made during the 3 weeks! We were served the biggest lobsters I have ever seen! Cooked to perfection! With a whole selection of side dishes! And this for around 10 euros! Certainly another one of my favourite memories of Cuba!!
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| My half! |
And as all casas have a courtyard, almost all of them have a parrot! This one was certainly our favourite and was in danger of being secretly exported to Holland!
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| The cutest parrot ever!! |
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