TRINIDAD Jim and I arrived in Veradero, about 90 miles east of Havana, on the night of December 6th, 2004. The next morning, we headed off to Trinidad, about a five hour bus ride east. At our first rest stop, we came across this homemade statement about George W. Bush, comparing him to 'Adolpho Hitler'. It prepared us for all sorts of anti-US stuff. In fact, it was the only overt statement of this type we encountered in our entire visit. The bus stop where we pulled into Trinidad, and were descended upon by people wanting to sell us cigars, or dinner at their house, or a room in their house. Or their brother's house. Or something. Anything. We stayed at the Hotel Ancon. It was on a peninsula about 15 minutes from beautiful downtown Trinidad. Very nice, albeit more touristy than most of our trip. This is the view from our room, looking west. The view looking east. Looking down from the door of our room on a nice outdoor bar where there was a nightly show for the gringos, featuring everything from a traditional 'son' band to a ventriliquist, a magician and a mime-to-records act. Also from outside our door, you can see the lovely pool they had. They were painting it, so there wasn't any water in it. We had to make do with the ocean. You can see the penninsula clearly, and the town beyond it. The dining room at the hotel ... 'all-inclusivo'. The chambermaids were always trying to impress with towel sculptures. This one seems to be some sort of scorpion or other giant crustacean. The Hotel Ancon from the beach. On the beach, obviously enjoying it! A fellow Vancouverite that I caught relaxing recumbant on the sand. Down at the outdoor bar at sunset, having a pina colada or two, waiting for dinner to start. And getting bitten by insects of some sort. Another view of the sunset over the Playa Ancon. Taking the CocoCab into town. With three big guys in them, these overgrown scooters roared along topped out at about 35 kph. A typical street in Trinidad. Beautiful and quite clean. Jim wheeling and dealing for embroidered linen in someone's living room. Here's Joe Tourist, saying 'Does anyone know where the Casa de la Trova is? It's supposed to be around here somewhere." Front lobby of the Casa de la Trova. Look ... CDs for sale! You can't have enough CDs. The band was on a break, and we waited around a while for them to start again, but no luck. Being welcomed to the Plaza Mayor, in the centre of town by a nice old gent. A group of school children being taught on the front porch of the Galeria de Arte (I think). They had probably just been on a tour there. Another view of the Plaza. The square tower in the background is part of the Museo Historico Municipal. It was supposed to have a great view of the city, so we headed up there. The guide books were right. It was worth the two-peso admission. An entire street specializing in embroidered linen sales. Looking north - you can see the Ancon Penninsula in the distance. ANOTHER gringo taking pictures! Click Click Click. A wedding taking place at the Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad church on the other side of the plaza. You can see the bride and groom, who have ridden up in a beautifully restored 1955 Chevy convertable. Same shot later on. They are in the church, and their ride awaits. Coming down from the tower, this is the restored original kitchen in the building, which was originally a mansion owned by a sugar plantation magnate. The central countyard in the building. I can't think of the number of times during the trip that I said 'That place would look SO much better with a coat of paint'. Hundreds, probably. Anyhow, a good example. Another view of the Plaza Mayor. Looking down from above on a Rent-a-Burro. We stopped in a little roadside bar for a cerveza, and the band was just finishing a set. We expressed our disappointment, whereupon they opened up their cases again, and played three tunes just for us. The woman in the front of the picture was at the only other table of people there. They were from BC - Williams Lake or Quesnel or some place like that. On one of the songs, the lead singer came over and sang it right to us - close up. Maybe he was gay. [Not that there's anything wrong with that.] After a hard day of sightseeing, we take our trusty CocoCab back home, for another equally taxing evening of eating and drinking pina coladas.

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