Las Terrazas to Soroa

We rode a quick 30 km back the way we had ridden the day before then a long transfer to Las Terrazas where we arrived about 4.30 in the afternoon. 

Our lunch stop was rather special. It was on the side of the road and was sort of like a mini resort in a way. There was an open air restaurant selling hot food, cold food, any sort of food WITH condiments, as well as cold beers. And there were market stalls as well where you could buy various mementos of Cuba . 

On our arrival The hotel looked absolutely magnificent nestled into beautiful gardens and the architecture was superb. We climbed out of the bus and grabbed our bags with much excitement.

Check-in was not as smooth as it could’ve been and when Des and I were finally allocated our room we discovered it was about half a kilometre from reception down steps to a beautiful room with a stunning bathroom overlooking the forest, but not only was there no hot water,  it ended up there was no water at all. That was a bit of a problem for toilet flushing to say the least reception provided us with a 10 L bottle of water to use for the toilet, but that didn’t actually wipe away the grime of the day.

Apparently, this area of Cuba is unique in the government owns all of the houses and all of the people who live in them work in the park in which this hotel is situated. No one can buy in. I didn’t understand what happens when people die and how they get replaced as workers and dwellers.

Dinner however was perfect. We climbed down many many many more steps to a local house in the village where we were treated to home-cooked food as well as a five piece band that sang us through dessert and coffee. Then up the stairs and straight to bed.

In the morning after the weirdest breakfast we’ve ever been served. We took a bus trip up a hill to where there had been a coffee plantation owned by a man who had employed hundreds of slaves. The conditions looked absolutely awful. The present conditions weren’t beautified as the recent cyclone that had passed through Cuba had torn down trees everywhere and those still standing had lost their leaves.

Des at the coffee bean grinder

The distinguishing feature of this place were the vultures. There were scores of them hanging in trees or flying around.

We rode down the steep hill and visited Rio San Juan a marvellous place with cascading ponds and clear oxygen rich water. I climbed into my bathers and swam as I wasn’t intending to ride the hilly r
oads any longer. The gradient were about 17% and the potholes were more like fish ponds.

We arrived at Soroa and visited the Orchard Gardens. Again where we met with an excellent botanist with a great sense of humour and vast knowledge of the plants we then walked to a waterfall before going back to the hotel which had an enormous pool that we all took advantage of.

And our swim was followed by a long hot high pressure shower. Bliss.

Dinner at the hotel was shared with a large bus group of French tourists. I had some fun talking with them.

Played pool, had another mojito and went to bed a happy woman.