Time to test my inner-circle trip arrangements. Taxi arrived
in time at 10:30 am, as promised, and Nuria reminded me that the cost would be
20 CUC’s. A comparatively new Pegeaut (the legend about Cuba having only old
American cars is false; there are plenty of Japanese, European, and Russian
cars as well), with air conditioning, and traveling shotgun. Not bad at all.
After crossing the city we took to a highway in quite a good state, and settled
for the 180 km trip to Viňales, which is west of La Habana. I was a bit puzzled
that I was the only passenger, because I understood this was a colectivo, but after 50 km he took a
short detour to a small town and picked up a young German couple that was also
going to Viňales. The road crossed through beautiful green country, which
promises surprises very different from those of La Habana.
Once in Viňales the taxi drove me to the house of Ana
Belkins and Dayron (Calle 3a. Pasaje 19, No. 2-A; entre 2da y Sergio Dopico;
Tel. +53 5 834 2958 (Cell and WhataApp); email dayana.belkis71@gmail.com), who
would be my hosts for the following three days. Nice friendly couple, and the
room in the back was deliciously modern and comfortable. Ana welcomed me with a
planning session, so I have determined that tomorrow I will go to the seashore
to go snorkeling, and the day after I will go for an ecologic hike. As for
today, I am free to do whatever I want.
The Valley of Viňales is carved along a contact between red
beds on the northeast flank and massive limestones on the southwest flank. The
land has been uplifted, and the limestones have developed a karstic topography
not unlike the one in the Pearl River in China or Halung Bay in Vietnam (OK,
maybe not as impressive, but pretty cool nonetheless). At first I thought they
were reef limestones, and decided to spend the afternoon hiking to go check
them out. They ended being massive micrites, with abundant styolites, so I am guessing
the massive aspect is a consequence of recrystallization under orogenic
pressure rather than an original sedimentologic structure.
The heat eventually drove me back home, where I had a good
time reading in the breeze porch (the house is high over the town, so it enjoys
good wind), until it was time for dinner, when I was served an enormous meal
with salad, French fries, sweet potato fries, fish, moros y cristianos, and fruit. For once I had to accept defeat, and
have requested , that the leftover salad and fruit be served as breakfast. I am
certainly not suffering from hunger!
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