The way from Santiago to Baracoa is gorgeous! Vieuws over the Sierra Maestra, banana trees, Palmtrees, Fruitplantations... When we arrive, we get picked up by the lady of our Casa. She had already arranged 2 Bicycle-taxi's. (bicitaxi each 1,5 cuc).
We stay in a very nice 2 bedroom Casa, en this time with loads of privacy – We actually get the whole top Floor and a balcony and we can use the terras on the roof as well! We do feel like princesses again. But maybe we are just easy to please. :-)

It looks like Cuba Tur is closed all afternoon – we still have to pay & confirm our reservations for our bus back to Santiago... and we wanted to get some information about getting into the surrounding area around Baracoa. From what i have been reading, it must be brillliant.

We choose to go for some food instead. (what else, hehe). We also buy some Chocolate from Baracoa. Baracoa is well known for it. Well, we tasted it, its not bad, not bad at all. But... us "chica's belgica" are to spoiled with delicious chocolate back home to get excited over this chocolate.

We decide to mail home and walk into an Etesca-internet service center. Bling bling it all looks 'tres chic' – very fancy. But the internet Works 'dead slow' (and even that is an understatement. It cost us 6cuc (= 6 US dollar) per hour. All 3 of us buy a cart. After 15 minutes Gwen and i are still not on the internet – and lost them 15 minutes as well. We keep on getting kicked off 'for safety-reasons', Well yeah yeah yeah, whatever! Its just another rip off. So, Gwen and I are going outside sitting on the square waiting for Greet. We decide not to get frustrated and try again maybe in the next town/city. "Its all part of the game here" Cuba is Cuba.

Something about Baracoa: Baracoa has 50.000 citizens. Its the oldest city of Cuba, founded in 1511 by Diego Velàzquez. It was the First capitol city of Cuba. (Until a few years later Santiago became the capitol city. The 'Cathedral de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion' on the plaza independencia is the oldest Cathedral of Cuba.

Until the 1960's there was no acces to Baracoa. Before the Revolution the town was only accessinle by sea. The opening of La Farola (by Fidel Castro) road through the Mountains changed all that by providing a direct link with Guantanamo. La Farola makes for an amazing trip through the knife sharp peaks of the Chunchillas de Baracoa Mountains.

We walk along the Malecon – apartmentbuildings look very neclected. The sea however brings a fresh breeze.

We end our walk at "La punta" an old fort that is used now as a restaurant with a terras. We celebrate Greet's Birthday! Yes Yes today Greet is our "party animal"! We eat and drink (mojito's & beer)@ La Punta.

We see the sun set in the distance between the mountains overlooking 'El Yungue' - the tablemountain.