It has been so hot that when we went to bed last night I set the air-conditioner to absolute zero.  The efficient device took me at my word and we froze in the night so I had to get up and turn it off.  It has been extremely hot and humid here in Trinidad, situated along the azure blue Caribbean Ocean on the southern coast of Cuba. Our AC at hotel La Ronda was a blessing.

Woke at 6AM, showered, dressed and joined our group in the hotel bar for a quick breakfast.  Unfortunately Mike, Rob and Jan have come down with Castro’s Revenge, an intestinal bug, and are staying in their beds at the hotel today.

At 8AM we boarded the bus for the hour and a half drive into Cienfuegos, a bustling historic town on the bay.  We toured government shops and pharmacies where locals buy goods using the Cuban peso, and other shops where the merchandise is purchased with CUCs (Cuban convertable pesos.)  Here is a link for more information on the Cuban CUC.

Next we visited a graphic arts studio where the works of several talented local artists are created, displayed and sold.

Back on the bus for a two-minute ride to a bay-side restaurant called Villa Lagarto for a delicious lunch of fresh warm bread, mango, pineapple, soup, omelet, grilled vegetables, yucca, soda and flan.

Throughout the day various members of our group, including Carol, have begun to feel ill either from intestinal distress or heat exhaustion.

After lunch the Hermes delivered us to Jose Marti Plaza where we shopped until 2PM.  At 2:00 we met at the museum for a truly memorable mini-concert performed by a local chamber music orchestra. the Orquesta de Camara.  At one point, the young spokesman/violinist said “We have a gift for you and we hope you enjoy it,” and they performed for us a very sweet, melancholy rendition of Shenandoah.  Many of our group were in tears.  It was a truly beautiful and unforgettable experience.

At 4PM we boarded the Havanatur bus (wonderful Hermes is always there to help us on or off) for the hour and a half excursion back to Trinidad.  I sat with Tyler and we compared notes about guitars, amps and music in general.

Back at the hotel we rested for a while. Carol is not feeling well but we walked in the vicinity of the hotel with Bob, DeeAnn, Bonnie and Phil, stopping to visit with a family that Bob had befriended on a previous trip.  Their warm and gracious hospitality overwhelmed us. The matriarch of the family served us delicious, cool tamarind juice as Bob schmoozed with the various members of the family in Spanish.  We love Bob’s strong Boston accent and I wondered if that accent was evident as he spoke Spanish throughout our trip.

All too soon we had to bid adios to our new friends and we strolled back to the hotel to freshen up and rest.  Along the way we passed several paladars, which are restaurants that people set up in their houses (capitalism?) and through one window we spied several tables and chairs set up in someone’s bedroom.

Carol is now officially ill and has started a course of Cipro antibiotics.  She rested in our room until 8PM and then we went downstairs to the hotel bar/dining room to join Jerry and Mary Caye for vegetable soup and bread and interesting conversation.

At 10PM we were back in our room.  Carol feels a tad better now and we finished packing for tomorrow’s journey to Havana.  By 10:30 we were fast asleep after another adventurous, fun and exhausting day.