Cuba, Ciego de Avila our second stop

Ciego de Avila, the Sanborns' Trip

We were lucky. While the heat and humidity made life difficult for some of our travelers, we traveled in luxury in a motor coach that was comfortable, air conditioned, and had a refrigerator that Torre kept filled. What a relief. Days were hot in the mid 90s and while we were comfortable, most of the residences had only fans to keep you cool.

From Havana, we traveled to Ceigo de Avila in the central part of the island. Probably the warmest part of the trip.

Home away from home for us, the only way to travel in Cuba.

Here we met a group of medical school students, who in their part time, perform dances and songs of the Spanish colonial times in Cuba.

After the performance, several of our group joined in, including Carmelo.

Ciego de Avila is a small, older city in the central part of Cuba. Bicycles, horses and carts were everywhere.

In town was also a wonderful museum devoted to this part of Cuba that shows the melding of their Spanish and African roots.

This is a shrine to Santeria, a religion unique to Cuba, combining parts of Christian, African, and Animistic rituals.

Outside of town was the sanctuary El Cobre (the copper) in a mining area where there is an image of la Virgen de La Caridad (Virgin of the Charity), Patron of Cuba. A very holy place in Cuba where we saw many people praying, singing, and babies baptised.This is also near the area where Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders rode up San Juan hill.

So, from here, now On To Santiago de Cuba, in Southern Cuba.

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