FRIDAY 4th

13 of our group have gone on a 3 hour tour costing 9CUCs, a new tour introducted by ‘Cubanan Tours’ the National Tour Company of Cuba who Humberto works for. Enrique on the other hand works for the bus company ‘Transtur’ driving Chinese built coaches. (Today China is one of Cuba’s biggest supporters.)Snippets of information given to by Humberto during the tour include details about the exportation of sugar cane which has dwindled considerably and production been so poor that the Government Official in charge was dismissed. We have seen lorries flash past us on many occasions as the sugar cane is transported to the factories before it begins to ferment when it is then only fit for making rum! We have noted that none one has really spoken about their outings or the visit to the Tropicana night club when we have not been present. The only tour that seems to crop up in conversations was our walk in Vinales valley and the visit to the tobacco farm.

This morning we went for an early stroll around the hotel grounds and found the garden area where the mint for our mojitos is grown. The gardener collecting coconuts was very welcoming but only spoke Spanish. We didn’t see the proteas or the humming birds that Diane spoke about yesterday so I took a photo of the lovely flower arrangement in the cafe arranged with flowers from the gardens.

The weather is really lovely so we settled down by the Paella restaurant foregoing our morning vitamins as we shall be sampling the sangria at lunchtime. We have got sunbeds by a small rockery and the ‘dog lizards’ are running all over it before disappearing down some of the holes. I even caught a glimpse of a long thin black snake as it too disappeared into the rocks. At last a humming bird made an appearance to take the sap from the flowers of a coral coloured cactus before disappearing into the large green bush behind us and blending in with the greenery.

11.30 the entertainments team attempted to get us off our sunbeds and into the pool for aqua aerobics. There was only three takers and I felt the water was too cold for my liking!

Lunchtime arrived and Mary Jane joined us for paella after she had gone to check on the group who should have returned at 1pm. I said they would be late back as they were still waiting to be picked up at nearly 10.30 when we went walkabout. They eventually came back saying it wasn’t a very good tour which only covered about 2km, when some thought they would be going down to the end of the peninsula. 45 minutes in a market was far too long as well and Mary Jane was right - Varadero wasn’t very good.

Back to my sunbed and I was still a little concerned about the ripe coconuts above my head and what had happened to the snake. I carefully checked my canvas bag to make sure it had not taken up residence in there along with my books, etc. By 4pm I was getting very thirsty from the salty paella so we adjourned to the cafe for a mojito where we were joined by some of our group before we returned to our room. I suggested we meet a little earlier tonight as the cafe so busy last night. Unfortunately we were late down as we got interested in a Rolling Stones concert on TV but we managed to secure two tables by the entrance with Mary Jane following shortly after us so she saved another. She too had been watching the concert. A solitary lady was sitting at the 4^th table but I went to chat to her warning during our conversation that it wouldn’t be long before our SAGA group met and we were all crazy. She soon finished her drink and left – I wonder what I said to her? It was John’s birthday and when we were all gathered we say 'Happy Birthday' to him and Mary Jane presented him with a card and a couple of gifts informing him the large parcel contained a bottle of blue pills. Lost for words and totally surprised he began opening the smaller parcel which was a trick camera made out of coke tin and when operated a fluffy face sprang out of the lens compartment. (Like me he is a keep photographer.) I think he was a little disappointed to find the bottle was rum and not Viagra!

Those eating in the steak restaurant left and the rest of us eventually wandered over to the buffet restaurant to once again sit at a long table. John and Esme were missing as they had booked to eat in the seafood restaurant but joined us later in the cafe. There are other bars in the hotel but these are generally crowded with other guests and we find the staff in the cafe much friendlier.