Woke up at 7am in the sleeping bag on the floor at Havana int Airport. By 10 am we had managed to brush our teeth, shave, phone travel agents to work out an escape route (no joy) and established that the bikes had been cleared to leave Costa Rica. Teresa brokered a deal with the helpful TACA Airlines staff that when our bikes arrived they would put them and us in a taxi to “Las Terazzas”. They also agreed to store our luggage in their office while we took a day trip in Havana city. We walked away from the terminal and flagged down a 1951, battered, green Chevy. 5 CUC in to town (the driver used the taxi like a bus, picking up other people on the way). We had a full monty four hours, splurging on anything we wanted: ceramic shops, galleries, colonial buildings, coffees, mojitos, beers, ice-creams - you name it! Running late, we scampered back to meet our taxi driver. We were late but he was even later. The 60 year old Chevy rattled along with an isuzu second hand engine and Toyota gearbox. Total mileage a mystery.
Cheap Cuban cigar at the airport while Teresa located the bikes. They were bushed badly: Teresa’s back light missing and mudguard smashed, my derailleur protection twisted and snapped, bend plastic pump holder and scratched handlebar. Not impressed.
Eventually found a taxi driver willing to take us on a beautiful through the western hills towards Pinar del Rio. Las Terazzas was created in the 60’s as a model village and paradise resort – and actually worked. It is now protected as Unesco world heritage site (not bad for a Milton Keynes of Cuba). We put our bikes together outside the luxury hotel before leaving to find the nearby campsite. En route, we stopped at the lake front café for a sunset meal. Ended up cycling in a dark to a not so easy to find campsite. Passed a Cuban driver sleeping on the road guarding his broken trailer – gave him our last cake from Havana. After 3km we arrived at campismo in total darkness. Welcomed by security guards brandishing machetes and wooden poles, we were told there was no room for foreigners. After begging, they agreed we could pitch our tent just outside the entrance. Camped under the trees as the rain had started and our tent is far from waterproof!
Cheap Cuban cigar at the airport while Teresa located the bikes. They were bushed badly: Teresa’s back light missing and mudguard smashed, my derailleur protection twisted and snapped, bend plastic pump holder and scratched handlebar. Not impressed.
Eventually found a taxi driver willing to take us on a beautiful through the western hills towards Pinar del Rio. Las Terazzas was created in the 60’s as a model village and paradise resort – and actually worked. It is now protected as Unesco world heritage site (not bad for a Milton Keynes of Cuba). We put our bikes together outside the luxury hotel before leaving to find the nearby campsite. En route, we stopped at the lake front café for a sunset meal. Ended up cycling in a dark to a not so easy to find campsite. Passed a Cuban driver sleeping on the road guarding his broken trailer – gave him our last cake from Havana. After 3km we arrived at campismo in total darkness. Welcomed by security guards brandishing machetes and wooden poles, we were told there was no room for foreigners. After begging, they agreed we could pitch our tent just outside the entrance. Camped under the trees as the rain had started and our tent is far from waterproof!