February 3, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Our Last Day in Trinidad Cuba

Our last afternoon in Trinidad mom and Connie went to the beach. They rode in an old classic car for a taxi. But you will never guess what happened. Mom forgot the camera and me. She was hurrying, and I did not get to go. But Connie did have a camera, so this is what they saw. I was excited to see it also.

Sandcastle on Playa Ancon

They went to Playa Ancon, which our guidebook said is the best beach on the southern coast.

Ancon Beach

End of the day at the beach

Looks great!

When they retuned, mom took me to the lobby of our hotel. Are these presents for me??

Wrapped gifts in our hotel lobby. For Zeb?

We stayed at Iberostar Trinidad. This is a nice hotel on a town square. The lobby looks very pretty.

Lobby of Iberostar Trinidad hotel

From our central location, we walked on our tour of the city. We really like this hotel.

One evening we returned to the Plaza Mayor area and listened to music on the stairs I showed you a few days ago. We heard a group of musicians play and people started dancing.

Music and dancing

It was very nice and a lot of fun. Then another group of musicians played and professional dancers performed for us.

More music and dancing

We liked it all.

Before we left Trinidad in the morning, mom and I walked more streets to further experience this city. These are public telephones.

Public telephones

I never saw public or pay phones before. Telephone booths were everywhere before cell phones were widely used. Across the plaza from our hotel we saw children waiting to enter the school.

Time for school

This church across the park from our hotel seems serene.

Church in Trinidad Cuba

The old car parked on the street

Classic car

and the horse cart,

Ready for the day

moving down the street, are morning activities in Trinidad. I am on a bench by our hotel.

Relaxing on a park bench by Iberostar Trinidad hotel

I will miss Trinidad, but am looking forward to visiting Cienfuegos, Cuba.

January 31, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Trinidad Cuba Valley de los Ingenios

On the bus and ready for lunch. I, Zeb the duck, on my way to Hacienda de Manaca Iznaga for lunch.

Lunch will be here. What is a trapiche???

Riding through the country and watching the lush vegetation, I learn that this was once a center of sugar cane production. In the early 19^th century hundreds of French refugees fled Haiti and set up about 50 small sugar mills in this Valley de los Ingenios. Soon this region produced a third of Cuba’s sugar.

Here we are, ready for lunch. We sat outside near the gardens.

I love eating outside

A very beautiful and peaceful setting. While we waited for our food, these musicians entertained us.

Cuban music for us while dining. Wow!

It was very nice.

After our delicious lunch we inspected this trapiche.

Trapiche used here here ago

The trapiche was used to extract juice from sugar cane. The force or power for this tapiche was often provided by animals, but not by ducks.

We ate outside, enjoying the fresh air, but as we walked through the restaurant, I loved these table decorations.

I am on the table with these ladies

So much a part of a vacation experience.

Some vacation memories

I am a very happy duck today.

This tower was used during the sugar cane plantation days. At the top is my friend Barbara.

Barbara is way up there

She climbed all the way to the top. Wow Barbara! These friendly people were selling craft items

Crafts available here

and linens.

Beautiful linens

They were beautiful. I like to see all the items for sale.

Time to get back on the bus now. We are going to visit Casa del Alfarero, a pottery house. The Santander Family founded this pottery house and they have produced pottery here for generations. We love family businesses.

Here the gentleman shows how to make pottery.

Casa del Alfarero pottery house

He makes it look so easy. Now he asks if anyone else has ever made pottery. Here is my friend Susan.

My friend Susan is very talented.

She is making pottery. She is very good.

There are many beautiful pieces of pottery to see and purchase. Mom bought this mask and ashtray with a cigar.

Pottery mask and ashtray with a cigar. So Cuban

Pottery must be packed in checked luggage to go home, so we bought small items. More about cigars later, when we visit the cigar factory and store.

January 29, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Trinidad, Cuba Part II with Zeb the Duck

Last time I, Zeb the Duck, shared some scenes in Trinidad, Cuba as we strolled through the streets. I saw so much. These photos are also in Trinidad. Diego Velázquez de Cuellar founded Trinidad in 1514, but in 1518 Hernan Cortes passed through recruiting mercenaries for his expedition to Mexico. The town almost disappeared.

Here I am on a horse cart.

Zeb and Channel on horse cart

My friend, Channel the bear, is with me.

These street musicians entertained us. Mom and other humans gave them some money.

Musicians on the street

We liked them.

At Las Terrazas, near Havana, we saw a food ration store. If people have money, they can purchase additional food in stores like this.

People can buy food; not this duck

In the streets we saw many horses, some of them with carts. This horse was working with the men to repair the road.

Always work to do

The famous plaza in Trinidad is Plaza Mayor. This church is by the plaza.

Near Plaza Mayor

You can see that other buildings are being restored. In 1988 Trinidad was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

These stairs are also near Plaza Mayor.

Near Plaza Mayor

We returned here one evening to listen to music. More about that later.

This is a very nice house and I liked the old car in the driveway.

Nice car

Unfortunately this street market did not have all the venders at this time.

Street market in Trinidad

I do like markets.

This elementary school was near us and the teachers and children were very friendly.

Kids in school in Trinidad

Before leaving for lunch, we gave them school supplies we brought from the U.S.

In Cuba, Casas Particulares are similar to our bed and breakfasts. We visited this Casa Particular. Maria del Carmen Reyes was the hostess. She and her husband rent to visitors. He is the horse whisperer. Horses are very important to Cuba, and he teaches people how to care for and feed them. His horse is very well behaved and he brought the horse in the house to meet us.

Horse in the house

We walked around the house and out to the patio.

I am on the stairs

There are lots of rooms for his family and for visitors. We were there in December,

Merry Christmas or Feliz Navidad with Zeb and Channel

so we enjoyed his Christmas tree.

We are going to Hacienda de Manaca Iznaga for lunch. I will tell you about that next time. Visit me again at ColoradoTravelingDucks.com

January 25, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Trinidad, Cuba with Zeb the Duck

I, Zeb the Duck and my group of humans arrived in Trinidad, Cuba. Lonely Planet describes Trinidad as a one of a kind, perfectly preserved Spanish colonial settlement, where the clocks stopped ticking in 1850 and, apart from tourists, have yet to restart.

I am not sure about all that, but I have never seen this street sign anywhere else.

Horse and cart crossing

Our first morning in Trinidad we walked through town. Here are some of our observations. This is the reason for the horse cart crossing sign.

Horse and cart. I like it!

People on cobblestone streets doing daily chores.

Daily chores

These cakes look yummy.

Look so yummy

Decorated and wrapped, but mom didn’t buy one for us.

I saw everything while wandering these streets.

Busy street

Here are cars, bikes, a horse and people all mingling together. The mountains as a backdrop contribute to Trinidad’s beauty.

Trinidad has hotels, casa particulares, and hostals. Hostal Colina is bright and has flowering trees. My friend, Channel, the cutest bear, and I are enjoying the view from the hostal.

Zeb and Channel at Hostal Colina

This man is selling vegetables,

Selling vegetables

but doesn’t seem to have many customers at this moment.

This pottery store looks nice.

Pottery store

This little girl is my friend.

Our new friends

Mom and I brought small balls and candy to give as presents. This little girl’s mom said she could have the blue ball in her hand. In her other hand she has strawberry candy and butterscotch candy. Mom said we could only bring candy that was individually wrapped.

Here is an old car used as a taxi

Old cars run well as taxi

and here is one of the new taxis.

New taxi.

There is so much to see in Trinidad, so I will show you more next time. We hope you like Trinidad as much as we do. See you soon.

January 24, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Sancti Spiritus Cuba with Zeb the Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, wandered around Sancti Spiritus, Cuba on a sunny afternoon. Sancti Spiritus is one of 7 cities founded by the Spanish in 1514. Today I will show you pictures of the town.

I love this street. The street tiles are beautiful.

Street in Sancti Spiritus

Old buildings are so sturdy and majestic.

Love this building

This statue is in Parque Serafin Sanchez.

Statue in park

The park was named after a local hero in the war for independence.

This horse with a cart is patiently waiting for the driver.

Very patient horse

Love the stability of the building.

Old building

Saw this adorable dog.

So adorable

Looks just like a dog that lives with JB Duck.

This is one of many older cars and they all run!!

Great mechanics in Cuba

Cuba loves Che Guevara

Che is everywhere in Cuba

Such detail on this old iron work.

Detailed iron work

Many metal statues in Sancti Spiritus.

I love these statues

Another statue on a clock

This is my last statue in Sancti Spiritus

Zeb’s new best friend

I like my new best friend! And I like Sancti Spiritus. Be one of a few tourists that learn about this town. It is really great.

January 22, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Santa Clara, Cuba with Zeb the Duck

Leaving Havana, Santos drives us along the coast. As you can see, there is not much traffic.

Leaving Havana

We are going to Santa Clara. In Santa Clara, founded in 1689, we will visit the Mausoleum and monument of Che Guevara. We will enjoy a buffet lunch and then attend a performance by the children.

The remains of Ernesto “Che” Guevara and some of his fellow combatants were brought to Cuba, from Bolivia, and are in the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Che Guevara

Also in this complex is a tribute to Che with his possessions and a photographic chronicle of his life.

The mausoleum complex contains a 22 foot bronze statue of Che

Che 22 feet above ground

and various political billboards.

Fidel says “We want to be like Che”

Chavez of Venezuela is our best friend

Che was killed in Bolivia in 1967, but October 17, 1997 his remains were brought to Cuba and he was buried here with full military honors. This ceremony was witnesses by hundreds of thousands of Cubans, who enjoyed the singing of school children, a speech by Fidel Castro that was followed by a cannon salute.

Che’s mausoleum is in Santa Clara as a remembrance of Che’s troops taking Santa Clara December 31, 1958, hours before Fulgencio Batista left Cuba.

Taxis in street of Santa Clara

We, humans and Duck, enjoyed a buffet lunch in Santa Clara at Los Caneyes Hotel.

Good meat dish

The music was nice,

the food was tasty

Fruit and vegetables

Chocolate dessert!

and the waiters were friendly.

A new friend

I like new friends

That is a wonderful combination!

After lunch we were entertained by the children of Compania Teatral Infantel, the Children’s Theater Company.

Almost ready

Many talented children

Leaving the theater, I liked seeing the kids in this cart.

Outside the theater, kids in cart by plaza. Cobblestone street

The cobblestone street and the plaza are very nice. We like Santa Clara.

January 20, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Fusterlandia near Havana, Cuba

Near Havana, Cuba we were speechless at Fusterlandia. This is the home of Jose Rodriguez Fuster,

Entrance to Fusterlandia

affectionately referred to as Fuster. Fuster, a Cuban from a small fishing village, is an artist.

About 30 years ago Fuster started remaking his home and his neighborhood.

First view entering Fusterlandia

He spent time in Europe and was inspired by Gaudi in Barcelona (La Familia Sagrada and Casa Batllo) and by Brancusi in Romania. I want to share some photos of Fusterlandia with you.

Looking down at pool

Big guy

What a clock

All this artwork exhausts me. I am just a little duck

According to www.havana-cultura.com more than 80 neighbors have allowed Fuster to use their homes as his canvas.

He puts his art everywhere

This is an unforgettable neighborhood.

Mom and I saw some little boys with their moms. We asked the moms if we could give them small high bounce balls and butterscotch candy. Moms said yes and the boys were happy. One of our friends had a baseball to give the boys. Cuban people love baseball. Making people happy is fun!

Fuster sells much of his work and much of that money he puts back into the neighborhood.

Fuster’s art throughout his neighborhood

We were amazed and really liked Fusterlandia. We hope you will visit Fusterlandia when you are in Havana. It is really a place to see.

January 18, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Las Terrazas in Cuba with Zeb Part II

There is so much to see here at Las Terrazas, that this duck needed more than one day to tell you about it After our wonderful lunch, we met an artist.

We visited a man that recycles paper and creates beautiful cards and pictures. Here he is in his store.

Artist recycles and uses the paper

We bought cards and pictures. This workshop is where he recycles used paper and creates his art.

His workshop

No big machines here. Just one very talented man.

Next to his workshop and store we liked these apartments.

Apartments

They look so friendly and colorful.

I thought this old tractor was great.

Tractor

I like old things.

Now we are visiting Café Maria.

Cafe Maria

This is Maria’s coffee shop. It is the town’s only coffee shop

Inside Cafe Maria

and they say that Maria is the oldest member of the community. She lives above her coffee shop.

Near the coffee shop there is a clinic. The young doctor talked to us. She was very nice. There were also some people selling jewelry and other items. We saw the ration store.

Provides food rations

People in Cuba receive some beans and other food and 5 pounds of rice for each person in their house every month. This duck had never seen a food ration store before. This lady is receiving rice that was weighed for her.

Receiving her monthly rice ration

I liked the horse with a trailer.

Horse with cart

Horse was patiently waiting. Look at this trashcan.

Love the painted trashcan

Never in my duck life have I seen a beautifully painted trashcan. This is so great.

United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Terrazas a Biosphere Reserve in 1985. This project combines sustainable development and tourism in the mountainous community in the San Juan Valley at the foot of Salon Hill. Las Terrazas consists of 5,000 hectares or about 12,355 acres. Swimming, hiking, zip line and other activities are available. This is a necessary trip when you go to Cuba.

Las Terrazas in Sierra del Rosario mountains in Cuba

Alejandro said we are going to Fusterlandia next. Hope you visit me again to see what Fusterlandia is.

January 17, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Las Terrazas Eco Village in Cuba with Zeb the Duck

I, Zeb the Duck and the humans are riding to Las Terrazas. Our first stop at Las Terrazas is by the lake for orientation and welcome beverages.

Las Terrazas Cuba

Lake at Las Terrazas Cuba

This is a beautiful location.

Las Terrazas is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve. Started in 1968 as a reforestation project and eco-village. This is now a popular day trip from Havana. You can stay longer at Hotel Moka located on the property.

Our Cuban guide, Alejandro, told us it started as a small village with limited number of people allowed to live here. The village has grown, but the number of residents is still limited.

We drive to Cafetal Buenavista,

Cafetal Buenavista

the restored ruins of a 19^th century coffee plantation built in 1801 by French refugees from Haiti. This is Cuba’s oldest coffee plantation.

The restaurant has a view of the estate.

Beautiful, but where is the food??

This was used to grind coffee beans by hand.

Grind coffee beans by hand

A long and difficult process. The kitchen for the restaurant is located here in a separate building.

Kitchen is out here

Strolling through the coffee plantation I noticed this tree with red bark.

Red bark. Pretty

Red bark on trees is new to this duck. These stairs lead to the grinding stone to process coffee beans.

Stairs to coffee bean processing area

This huge tajona (grinding stone) was used to extract coffee beans from their shells.

to extract coffee beans from shells

After the tajona, the coffee beans were sun dried on huge platforms.

Platform to sun dry coffee beans

Leaving the coffee bean processing area, this basket caught my eye.

Very convenient basket

I think it is so cute!

We had lunch at this farmhouse.

Lunch was served here. Yum!

The food was so good! We had black beans and rice and ropa vieja. I love ropa vieja. The shredded beef is seasoned, but not too spicy. This is what I always order in Cuban restaurants. Yum! And, we had fresh coconut ice cream. This was my favorite meal. But, mom did not take pictures of this restaurant. I don’t know why???

Near the house with the restaurant, I sat on these rocks.

Zeb the Duck likes these rocks

Duck on a rock

They are fantastic for ducks…and humans. Las Terrazas is wonderful. I still have so much to tell you, but it will wait for another day. Be sure to read the next part of Las Terrazas here at Coloradotravelingducks.com. I will have more duck stories next time.

January 15, 2014 by coloradotravelingducks

Plazas of Havana with Zeb

Zeb the Duck and his group of humans explored 2 more plazas. So old and historic and so peaceful. First we discovered the Plaza de San Francisco de Asisi. The Basilica is now a museum and concert hall. Two to three times weekly choral and chamber music is performed. The inside has excellent acoustics.

This plaza is known for the beautiful Fuente de los Leones (Lions Fountain) which was built in 1836 by Giuseppe Gaggini.

Lions Fountain

On one side of the basilica is the statue of El Caballero de Paris (The Gentleman of Paris).

Rub his beard for good luck

People rub his beard for good luck.

This statue is near the entrance.

Near Basilica of St Francis

The plaza is so peaceful that couples get married here.

Beautiful wedding

Horse carriage rides are available also. We did not have enough time for a ride.

Ride in a horse carriage

The streets here are rather narrow.

We strolled down narrow streets

Walking through San Francisco Plaza we head for Plaza Vieja (old plaza). We discovered this aqueduct built between 1565 and 1592.

Aqueduct in Havana

In 1982 Old Havana was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity and restoration began. Now this plaza is full of people

Plaza Vieja

and has many restaurants, an aquarium, a planetarium, and the Chocolate Museum.

Chocolate Museum!!

Really the chocolate museum is more a café with reasonable prices and decadent chocolate. I even saw a lady’s high heeled shoe made of chocolate. Go inside purchase chocolate and relax at a small marble table. Yum!

I, Zeb the Duck, liked this street with café tables, not cars or horses.

Cafe in the street

We saw little cafes like this everywhere.

Let’s have a snack

I like the plazas of Old Havana. You will too.

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