I prepare myself for what will be my last dive here at Racho Luna. Sharky gave me another mango, which is by the way the nickname he gave me.

The dive "La corona" (="The crown") takes 49 minutes, goes 36 meters down between corals, with a visibility of 25 meters! Back up via a "coral-canal-tunnel" – very nice light. Along some corals we dive in the direction of a schipwreck, where i went true. Back along some nice corals.

There are beautiful fluorescent purple sponges here in the shape of big vases. Loads of lovely coloured little coralfishes here, parrotfishes, a school of the purple bleu barberfishes and a spotted eel.

A very nice dive, i was enjoying the last few minutes of diving, when someone abruptly pulls me up. "Thanks Sharky, i could have enjoyed that last dive a few minutes longer!" – "Hehe (big grin), sorry mango!"

After diving, I let sharky cut the mango in little peaces, mmm sweet and juicy. Tropical fruit is sooo much better here.

I say my goodbyes to everyone and walk along the beach back to the hotel. I watch the dive boat take of and a bit further stop for another dive.

These people are really nice, i'm glad i've met them. Because we are here for 6 days, i got the chance to get to know a few people that little bit better. In all the other places, we were more like quick passengers, but then thats also fine.

In the afternoon, we visit Cienfuegos – Big parts of the old centre are Unesco World Heritage.

We walk around Parque José Marti, the buildings are all very nicely restaured, almost too nice – i know, for weeks we are saying how sad it is that everything is neclected in Cuba, but it looks just a little bit too sterile... Or maybe we are not used to see restaured buildings anymore.

Its so hot and the air is very very humid. We drink water and i guess we sweat it out immediatly again.

"Cienfuegos, the only city in the country founded by French settlers, established in 1819. Its an easy going place, noticeably cleaner and more spaceous than the average provincial capital and deserving of its label 'Pearl of the South'." (The rough Guide)

Located in The South coast of the central region of Cuba, Cienfuegos, capital of the province with the same name, was designed in its definitive layout by French colonos in 1819. Those pioneers coming from Bordeaux and La Luisiana laid the urbanistic foundations of civil architecture that gives singularity to the city, and attest their refinement. The perfect layout of their streets, harmonically conjugated with multiple constructions and other elements of high architectural value, reveals the splendor of a cosmopolitan culture with a strong French accent, and allows the visitor to breathe the neoclassic atmosphere that distinguishes this large city, raised at the border of a bay of strongly rooted marine traditions, in a region also equipped with innumerable natural attractiveness and a vast culinary culture. (source)

The Parque José Martí, formerly the Plaza de Armas, is the city's hub. It's a broad city park with a gazebo/bandstand at its center and a little Arco de Triunfo (Arc of Triumph) dating from 1902 at its western end. Surrounding the park, you'll find Cienfuegos' most interesting historical buildings.
The Teatro Tomás Terry (tel. 432/51-3661). Inaugurated in 1890, the theater has been wonderfully maintained. It has been declared a national monument, and stars such as Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, and Ana Pavlova performed here. (source)