For 10 peso each (less than $.50) we took a truck bus with the locals to Las Tunas. It was roughly the same distance we traveled the day before ($7 each on the CUC bus). In our more cramped accommodations, we had more interactions with our fellow travelers which is the point of our trip afterall. Of course, Alisa was the center of attention as the guys were eager to chat with her.
The t-shirts that we see often have English written on them. For the women of all ages and shapes, it's common to see Sexy written boldly across the chest, or Beautiful. One grandmother's shirt said Love Girls strategically positioned to raise my eyebrows.
Our Bayamo host apparently contacted our next host to let them know that we would be arriving by truck. I'm still not used to this so when a man approached me asking if I was looking for a casa particular, I brushed him off thinking that he had singled me out as a gringa. But, he persisted in letting us know that he had been sent to pick us up.
Our host is an English teacher at the local medical college. She has never been out of the country but says that most students have been studying English as their second language since primary school.
We have been told not to drink untreated tap water. In Santiago the casa particular gave us boiled water. Here in Las Tunas the casa particular gives us bottled water.
Las Tunas is another unpretentious, non-touristy town that isn't on the primary route for tourists. We have been traveling along the main road that bisects the island but steers away from the fancy beach/destination towns. But, like most towns, Las Tunas has its central square or plaza so that I am able to orient myself without getting too lost. We enjoyed music at night in the plaza.
The woman who works at the casa particular offered to make a soup for us. We contributed fresh fruit -- papaya and pineapple -- for dinner. It was delicious.
Throughout the night the roosters crow. I guess if I can sleep through noisy garbage trucks in NYC then I would eventually learn to sleep through roosters.
The t-shirts that we see often have English written on them. For the women of all ages and shapes, it's common to see Sexy written boldly across the chest, or Beautiful. One grandmother's shirt said Love Girls strategically positioned to raise my eyebrows.
Our Bayamo host apparently contacted our next host to let them know that we would be arriving by truck. I'm still not used to this so when a man approached me asking if I was looking for a casa particular, I brushed him off thinking that he had singled me out as a gringa. But, he persisted in letting us know that he had been sent to pick us up.
Our host is an English teacher at the local medical college. She has never been out of the country but says that most students have been studying English as their second language since primary school.
We have been told not to drink untreated tap water. In Santiago the casa particular gave us boiled water. Here in Las Tunas the casa particular gives us bottled water.
Las Tunas is another unpretentious, non-touristy town that isn't on the primary route for tourists. We have been traveling along the main road that bisects the island but steers away from the fancy beach/destination towns. But, like most towns, Las Tunas has its central square or plaza so that I am able to orient myself without getting too lost. We enjoyed music at night in the plaza.
Horse carriages are everywhere. They cost 10 pesos. The bici-taxis cost 5 pesos.
The woman who works at the casa particular offered to make a soup for us. We contributed fresh fruit -- papaya and pineapple -- for dinner. It was delicious.
Throughout the night the roosters crow. I guess if I can sleep through noisy garbage trucks in NYC then I would eventually learn to sleep through roosters.
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