Getting there…
From Habana Bus station (after long negotiation to get a fair price) we finally got inside an illegal taxi adding even more excitement to our journey. The Cuban government does not allow private taxi drivers to transport foreign tourist leaving only two choices: One, you need to use a tourist’s taxi (which costs 4 or 5 times more) or you find these brave drivers who don’t care about the rules and risk their destiny for a ride. There is also a bus from Habana to Vinales, but as we missed the first one and the other one was not leaving until the afternoon, we jumped into this old American ford. Later on, after chatting with the driver, we found out that this mobile antique was running with a Nissan engine and the gear box belonged to a Lada, as well as the tyres. Despite the strong smell of burning diesel and very loud music (the driver’s “favorite tune” played over and over again) the old wheeled Frankenstein successfully make it to Vinales town in a bit more than two hours. Even when everything in the car seemed to be falling apart and there was not even any seat belts, the Hi-FI sound system inside the old “Beast” (as the proud owner Pepe called it) was very powerful, expensive looking and in top condition. Music genuinely plays an important role in the Cuban’s life and culture, more so than the “typical tourist band experience” we heard playing outside a chinese restaurant the night we arrived in Habana.
Welcome to Vinales…
Vinales is a nice quiet little town where the atmosphere of traditional rural life blends harmoniously with the slowly growing eco-tourist trade. So far these two ingredients are well balanced. You can taste the rural Cuban way of life and (whilst chilling out in the evening after that long climbing session with a few bottles of Bucanero) have an interesting conversation with the locals and people from all over the world who share the same interest for nature.
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