Day Ten: Wake up, you're going to the valley
Early wake up to make it on our trip to the West of Cuba: Viñales.
At 7.45 our bus came to pick us up from outside of our hotel.
After picking up people from numerous other hotels, the two hour journey towards Pinar Del Rio began!
The first stop was to a rum factory where we got to taste the berries (?) rum is made from. A quick lick was enough - it definitely wasn't the taste I wanted in my mouth.
Later we also got to taste a couple of different rums. That wasn't a huge success from our, Sanni and me, side either. Plain rum...nah - I rather have the rum mixed in a mojito or piña colada, thanks!
Honestly there wasn't really anything to take pictures of in this factory. It was small, there were like 2 people working there and at the time we were visiting, there was nothing actually going on.
It was not what I expected.
In the rum factory shop they also sold cigars, coffee beans and other Cuban products. The weird thing was that we were told to buy our cigars from the rum factory and rum from the cigar factory. For some reason the factories had a deal together that rum was cheaper at the cigar factory and vice versa.
So, there we were, at the rum factory, checking out the Romeo y Julietas, Montecristos, Cohebas and what not. Both bought a few to take back home. I would have wanted a tin packet of Romeo y Julietas to have as a deco in my apartment but they didn't have any. Had to go with the cardboard version.
Next stop was the cigar factory where photography was forbidden as the employees would get too posey, lazy and forget to work if the flashlights were on all the time. That was a more exciting experience and I wish I could have captured something visual for you. We walked through the whole factory and basically went through the whole process from how the cigar is made to how it is finally packed and distributed. All employees were allowed to smoke as many cigars as they rolled, and they could take one cigar home with them daily.
This experience was closer to my expectations and I definitely suggest any Cuba travelers to pop by a cigar factory if possible. Though, if you tend to get a bit nauseous from cigar/cigarette smell - then forget about the visit.
Third stop was at Cueva Del Indio where we walked and went by boat through a cave, and later had lunch in a restaurant outside. The nature was beautiful and the fruit at lunch were tasty. Other than that the cave wasn't too special. Packed of tourists waiting to get on the boat to get out from the other side of the cave.
Fourth stop a rock painting.
Fifth stop the house of a tobacco and coffee farmer, which was also a nice visit.
We were given the possibility to try a fresh cigar the farmer rolled for us. Having never tasted a cigar before, we turned the offer down. Fat fresh cigar...thanks but, ehh. ;-)
Sixth stop an observation deck.
and back to the hotel.
The Viñales valley has beautiful nature with mountains shaped in a rare square kind of style.
The arranged tourist trip was definitely worth the price but I would suggest renting a car and doing it all by oneself. Exploring the places the tourist bus doesn't go to - that's the excitement and experience you want in this environment.
<3
Linda
ps. find Sanni's blog post about the day here
