Thursday December 4, 2014

We left Sagua at 8:15 and it took us 30 minutes to “cycle” 2.5 kms. That is because the road was washed out and was literally one big pothole. We had to keep getting of and pushing the bikes through mud and around puddles and potholes.

Eventually we were able to connect to the main road to Moa and it was a good road all the way.

Again some beautiful scenery, but quite different from other areas in Cuba that we have cycled through already. The other areas we have cycled through have been sub-tropical with palms and banana plantations. As we climbed the hills today, we came into an area of conifers and rocky outcroppings.

As we topped one small hill there was a man at the top with bunches of bananas. He held out two ripe ones which we ate very quickly. Ralf offered to buy four more from him, at first he wasn’t going to take any money, then Ralf gave him a peso and he was quite happy with that.

We arrived in Moa at about 11:00 and went straight to the hotel. Unfortunately it was fully booked with two tour buses. I asked about a casa and the receptionist directed me down the hill into the Town.

As we arrived in the centre of the Town a fella in a pick-up truck shouted to us and asked if we wanted to go to Baracoa. I laughed and said we were going tomorrow. He offered to take us. I was tempted for about 2 minutes, I really want to ride all of Cuba and only have to take transportation if we really really have to.

He took us to a casa he knew and we have settled in to a very nice casa. It has a lovely restaurant behind where we had lunch, the full meal deal – pork steak with rice and salad and 2 beers (CUC 8.00). The pork steak was really tender and tasty.

Unfortunately the power was out in Moa for about 2 hours. We went up to the store to buy some water, but Ralf was getting impatient with the service so we left and wandered up to the internet office. Three computers and we were next in line. We sat down to wait on a nice leather sofa. The people waiting to pay their bills or recharge their phones were sitting on red plastic chairs. A woman came up to us and babbled away about us sitting on the sofa. I waved my internet card at her and told her in English I was next in-line. She glared at me but I just shrugged and waved my internet card at her again.

After I had checked my email, and we were leaving we noticed that the black leather sofa had been removed from the room. I guess she really didn’t want anyone sitting on the nice leather sofa.

Thank you everyone for all your lovely birthday messages. I didn’t get a present from Ralf, there isn’t much to buy in Cuba, I don’t need anything and I don’t want to carry any more stuff. However, he did make my day special as he always does.