13/04/2019 – Poo, Vinales, Cuba

We woke up for a 10:00 breakfast at the casa. Halfway through I had to excuse myself for an urgent need to sit down on the toilet. Unfortunately, a few seconds later Josh also had this urge, and excused himself from the table to join me in the bathroom. I had literally just finished when he came into the toilet a bit frantic, so stood up in order for him to sit down. However, comically, he chose to strip off and stand in the shower! I saw his face stricken with panic and whilst looking me in the eyes he said ‘I’ve just pooed myself!’ To which it was absolutely impossible for us not to both fall about laughing!!! It took us a little while to get sorted after that. I left Josh (at his own will) to sort himself out in the bathroom. He later told me that he had transferred himself onto the toilet and finished his business then looked down and realised there was poo on his feet so had to hop straight back into the shower. He then cleaned the bathroom. Just when Josh thought it was all sorted he used his foot to put the toilet seat down and knocked over the bin full of used toilet roll (you don’t put it down the toilet here) and so had to clean up, again! Then, even later, when we were completely ready to leave, Josh sat down on the bed to put his sandals on (new barefoot running ones he is very pleased with) and as he stood up realised he had just sat on the open jam sandwich that he had basically been forced to take with him as he had hurriedly left breakfast! The whole thing was absolutely hilarious and it is safe to say we know each other a little better today!

Next we went and got some wifi so that we could change our Monzo settings. Apparently it doesn’t work in Cuba because the ATMs use magstripe instead of chip and pin, but you can change this in the app settings, which means some free cash withdrawels for us, very pleasing! We withdrew some more cash and then went to tourist information and booked a salsa class for today and a walking tour for tomorrow. We got a quick coffee and then headed back to the casa. I read my book in the rocking chair in the sunshine and Josh sat in the a.c. chilling on the laptop and had a power nap.

We headed to the main plaza for 17:00 and had a 1hr 30min salsa class, it was so much fun! The class was in the courtyard of the culture & arts centre, it was beautifully run down and overgrown and was probably the most surreal place I have ever had a dance lesson! Salsa rhythm: 1,2,3 (silent 4 beat), 5,6,7 (silent 8 beat). Hopefully we can try and remember some of it! There were only 6 students so it was a good, intense class (I think Josh enjoyed it but he said his head went fuzzy towards the end). Afterwards we paused in some shade to catch our breath. cool down and drink some water,

Where we had our first salsa class

before stomping some distance up into the mountains to a look out point (near hotel loz jazmines) to watch the sunset. The views were absolutely spectacular, Josh referenced prehistoric and Jurassic park to give some kind of idea. It was vast, green, mountainous, with a red sunset cast across the sky. It was absolutely magnificent, I hope Josh got some pictures but I think it will be so hard (even for him!) to do it justice, let’s hope! As it started to get dark we thought it be a good idea to start the trek home. The walk is along a main road with no pavement and the cars have no mercy here. Josh had brought his headtorch though which was a great idea. As we were walking home I thought I could see a laser in the woods across the road. We looked across, followed the light, and realised it was a firefly! We saw them lighting up the national park throughout our walk home, it was very mystical.

A view over Vinales country side.

We got back down into the village and went for some dinner. There was a huge fiesta in the street. All the restaurants had tables and chairs on the road and there were Cuban bands and dancers and DJs and mojitos and rum and coconuts. There was such great energy, and the Cubans seem to have great rhythm, tourists and Cubans dancing and singing and drinking together, having a great time! We had a little boogie and then got ourselves to bed.