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Classic Cuba CKU1901

Thursday, January 24, 2019 | Domenico Schiano Moriello | North and South America

Day 10, Varadero - Havana

Back to Havana, also the most beautiful things unfortunately come to an end! We left Varadero not too early and then slowly "cruised" back to the capital of this "complicated" but awesome land. Lots of memories to bring back home! It was a real pleasure meeting (and of course riding!) with such an harmonious group, see you hopefully soon on another Edelweiss tour!

a beautiful pelican
Anabela feeding pelicans at the Al Capone house in Varadero
The Bacunayagua bridge
One of our last photo stops at the Jibacoa beach, east of Havana
Stephen
The Peterson brothers
Hemingway's table at Las Terrazas de Cojimar
Havana!
We almost made it back!
back to where our journey begun, a well deserved boot beer
And the final surprise, a classic car drive to reach the restaurant!
Havana by night
Goodbye!!!

Day 9, Remedios - Varadero

Leaving Remedios, we visited the cigar factory of Camajuani and then used the Carretera Central to reach Jovellanos in time for a great lunch in the beautiful Finca Luna. Another stop in Cardenas to see the workshop a local Harley mechanic, and then we finally reached the hotel in time for a bath in the pool!

bikes ready, and horse too!
Remedios
at the Finca Luna
cutting coconuts
Harley workshop
Harley evolution
Varadero Marina

Day 8, Cayo Santa Maria - Remedios

The shortest ride of the tour started after lunch, so we had time to enjoy the beach of Cayo Santa Maria a little bit! Then we rode on the causeway to reach the mainland and, before entering Remedios, we visited the very interesting museum dedicated to the sugar industry in Cuba, once the most important product of the country. Tonight we are sleeping in casas particulares, a kind of local bed and breakfast!

On the causeway
Jorge Guevara
At the museum of sugar industry
Steam train coming
spying the production of cigars!

Day 7, Trinidad - Cayo Santa Maria

Today we crossed the whole island and reached the northern coast of Cuba, we are not too far from Florida! Leaving Trinidad, we entered the Valle de los Ingenios, a Unesco World Heritage site that was once the core of sugar production in Cuba. Passing through Santa Clara, we paid homage to Che Guevara and then we finally reached the 50 km long causeway that took us to the island of Cayo Santa Maria. Enjoy the pictures!

Visiting a former sugar mill in the Valle de los Ingenios
The family was so wealthy that they could hire artists from Europe to come here and decorate the rooms!
preparing sugar cane juice
At the Manaca Iznaga tower, that was used to control the slaves working in the fields
Stephen making friends
The Che Guevara monument, mausoleum and museum in Santa Clara
Lunch time
weather changing suddenly... fortunately the rain did not last long!
The derailed train, remainings of the final battle of the Cuban Revolution
Last picture stop on the causeway between mainland and Cayo Santa Maria

Day 6, Rest day Trinidad

A rest day but quite full of activities! After a morning walking tour of Trinidad led by Chris Baker, we rode to Playa Ancon for a lunch at the beach and then rode along the Caribbean coast into the Sierra Escambray. A dinner in the old town was a perfect end for such a beautiful day!

Busy street in Trinidad
walking tour
Lazaro Niebla, a local artist that we had the pleasure to meet
Trinidad
no parking
Coffee break
A harley from the 50's
Children of Trinidad
At Playa Ancon
Lunch
In the Sierra del Escambray
Riding downhill back to Trinidad

Day 5, Cienfuegos - Trinidad

The day begun with a visit at the Cienfuegos baseball stadium, where we met Alex King, former Cuba national team pitcher. Then a visit at the historic centre of Cienfuegos and lunch at El Nicho, in the heart of the mountains of the Sierra del Escambray. Now we are in Trinidad, the most beautiful colonial city of Cuba!

Leaving the hotel
The baseball stadium
Meeting with Alex King
Jorge and his drone
Parking in Cienfuegos
The main square of Cienfuegos
El Nicho waterfall
so beautiful
At Yaguanabo, last coffee break for today

Day 4, Havana - Cienfuegos

A long ride but another great day from Havana to Cienfuegos! Leaving the city, we used the highway for a while and then entered the famous Bay of Pigs in the Cienaga de Zapata national park. We could feed the world's smallest birds at Casa de Zunzun and, a few miles after, we could also take a refreshing bath in the Cueva de los Peces before finally reaching Cienfuegos.

First picture stop at the Plaza de la Revolucion of Havana
Hummingbirds feeding at the Cienaga de Zapata national park
At Playa Larga, in the Bay of Pigs
Lunch time and meeting with Frank Medina, director of the park.
The Cueva de los Peces, a deep sinkhole by the coast
Oliver diving
While somebody watches...
... others enjoy a bath!
At Playa Giron we visited the museum dedicated to the Bay of Pigs invasion

Day 3, Viñales - Havana

This morning, before leaving Vinales, we went to see the huge mural de la Prehistoria, and then rode to Pinar del Rio where we spent some time in the Finca Robaina, a famous tobacco farm where we learned a lot about the famous cuban cigars. Riding along the Carretera Central, we stopped for a break in Artemisa and finally reached Havana again.

The beautiful Valley of Vinales in the morning
Group picture
At the mural de la prehistoria
Let's go again!
At the Finca Robaina
How to roll a real cuban cigar
Today we learned a lot about tobacco!
Leaving the tobacco farm
Last coffee break in Artemisa

Day 2, Havana - Viñales

Let's hit the road! After some paperwork, we were finally ready to leave! We headed to Mariel and then entered the Terrazas reserve, a beautiful mountain area with lush vegetation where we also had lunch. After that, back along the northern coast of the island, we slowly reached the area of Vinales with its beautiful "Mogotes" mountains and green valleys. A long but beautiful day!

Ready to go!
Lunch at Banos de San Juan
Visiting the shopwork of a local artist
The beautiful area of Las Terrazas
The valley of Vinales
Our hotel
Oliver traded his bike!

Day 1, Guided city tour of Havana

Welcome to Havana, Cuba, another great tour is about to begin and today some of the riders took the chance to visit the city before hitting the road. What an interesting place! And we also had an exceptional guide, Chris Baker, motorcycle journalist and book writer, one of the best knowledgeable persons about Cuba!

The Capitolium
Traditional dress
Walking around
In the Plaza de Armas
The Cathedral
The Bodeguita del Medio was one of the favourite bars by Hemingway
Inside the Taller de Arte
Plaza Vieja
Havana is 500 years old!
Old lights being restored, what an interesting project.
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Add a comment Rate this post
Ray Peterson
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at 04:34

Cuba has been on my list of “must see” places for many years, so when the opportunity to tour and ride came along, I jumped on it. The country, its people and the sights were incredible and were only enhanced by our knowledgeable and personable guides. I would strongly encourage others to take advantage of the beauty of Cuba on two wheels. If you are lucky enough to have Chris, Domenico and Anevar as your guides, you will not be disappointed. Thanks for a phenomenal trip!
Domenico Schiano
Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 00:43

Thank you!
Oliver und Kathrin Gerber
Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 08:27

wir sind wieder gut, gesund und voller, fast unbeschreiblicher Eindrücke aus Kuba zurück gekehrt!

Es war unsere erste Motorradreise mit Edelweiss. Wir können gar nicht genug in Worten ausdrücken, wie unglaublich uns diese Reise mit den Guides Domenico Schiano, Christopher Baker und Anivar Falcon Hayes beeindruckt hat
Domenico Schiano
Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 00:43

Danke Kathrin und Oliver!
Mike
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 16:57

Can’t imagine a better trip. Learned a great deal about Cuba, the Cuban people and the history in a place I never thought I would be able to visit given the politics. The bonus was being able to do it all on a bike. Chris Baker and Domenico were knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions we had. Chris has amazing contacts from his years in Cuba and introduced us to people and places we would have never seen without him. The international mix of people on the tour led to many interesting conversations with our shared love of motorcycling.
Domenico Schiano
Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 00:44

It was a pleasure meeting you!
Stephen Figel
Friday, January 25, 2019 at 04:19

Thank you for the amazing experience. You did a great job of making the trip fun and educational at the same time. This is definitely a place everyone should experience.
Domenico Schiano
Thursday, January 31, 2019 at 00:44

Thank you Stephen!
Tom
Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 13:42

Great trip and great blog!
Domenico Schiano
Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 17:01

Gracias Tom!
Jorge
Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 20:27

Loved it! Great group and great guides! Thank you so much for this unforgettable experience!
Domenico Schiano
Monday, January 21, 2019 at 17:40

Thank you Jorge!!!

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