Time to explore...

This morning we left Havana, and headed east to the Zapata Peninsula, now mostly a national park of swamp,mangroves and beaches. It was noticeable that outside Havana there were barely any cars at all. Trucks and buses, but very few cars. The preferred mode of transport was either bicycle or horse and cart. And whilst we quickly entered flat, green landscapes there appeared to be little agriculture, apart from some sugar plantations or citrus groves. 

We arrived at the Caribbean Coast and were given the chance to swim in the sea. I managed to negotiate a good rate to hire a rather shabby snorkel, but it did the job. Never having been good at any sport (apart from my excellent tennis, eh Gilly, Tricia & SJ?!!!), I have always loved the water. So I was in my element! There is something about being enveloped in water, which muffles all sounds, and just slows everything down. The coral was quite extensively bleached, but still alive, and there was some diversity in fish ( I really must remember what they are all called, another epic fail on my part!). I do remember looking back at the shoreline and seeing a whole swarm of white butterflies, just fluttering along. After a while those of us that had swum grouped across the small track, with snorkel in hand, through the trees to a "cenote", effectively an underground river where the ceiling has collapsed. Still saltwater as it was close to the sea the water was a bit cooler, and sooooo black, because it was over 60ft deep.

After lunch we arrived in Playa Giron, a museum dedicated to the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. I hadn't realised that the Bay of Pigs is so named because pig was the slang for pirates, who used to attack frequently in colonial times. We watched an antiquated video, that blamed the "Yankees" for training the invading force and providing air support and ex halted Fidel and his fellow revolutionaries for repelling the Cuban exiles within 72 hours. 

We had a quick stop in Cienfuegos, a colonial seaport, and wandered around, stretched our legs, before heading towards Trinidad. Another stop to break up the journey was at a fruit stall on the side of the road. The owner provided us with a taste of all of the fruits that he had, guava, mango, custard apples, papaya, coconuts, avocados, and plenty of other local fruits that tasted equally as delicious but I can't remember their names!