A lovely view of the Caribbean sea. That’s Castille del Morrow on the headland.  

Always better with a cocktail  

Waiting for the ferry across to Cayo Granma 
Resting in the shade of a tree on a walk around Cayo Granma.  

This is one of the oldest castles in Cuba. Built to protect the entrance to Santiago Bay from pirate attacks.  

It also served as a prison.  

To get the cannon balls and gunpowder up to the cannons there is a big box that runs up the slope on rollers. Push harder Stuart  

Having given up with the canon balls Stuart wants to be king of the castle…  

…but there are lot of steps to climb.  

 From tunnels at the bottom  

 Past the lookout posts  

Right to the top.  

Where Stuart can be King of all he surveys.

We arrive in style; a 1930’s Ford  

The oldest house in Cuba  

Which is enough sightseeing for the day; we’ll spend the afternoon by the pool.  

Someone wake Stuart when it’s time for ice-cream.

A paucity of stockings so some socks will have to do.  
Santa arrived; only small gifts someone must have been naughty. Dave is blaming Stuart for trying to entrap Santa with a pile of precariously balanced pillows.  

Off on a tour of Havana in a 1946 Ford Convertible.  
Revolution square with it’s portrait of Che Guerva…  

…and tribute to Jose Monti, hero of the war is secession from Spain.  

Nice and cool on the back seat.  

Dave even got a chance at pretending to drive.  

We visited the city Museum in the old Colonial era Palace.  
The courtyard is cool in the Carribean heat.  

Sumptuous big rooms full of colonial splendour.  

Short guy, funny accent; didn’t we work for him once upon a time?  

We might not be vacuum cleaner salesmen (although Phil did want a new vacuum for Christmas), but we are staying at the hotel Sevilla in central Havana.  
It’s one of the tallest buildings in the old town. The view from the top is unrivalled.

  
We’re staying halfway up the big tower.

  
The maids do interesting things with the towels. Jorge thinks this is an elephant but he’s not entirely sure.  

Dave likes the Cuban cars.   
They date from the 1950’s, before the revolution and have been lovingly cared for since then.

Dave has found Bananas  
The Vinales valley is very peaceful surrounded by steep limestone hills called mogotes.  

Jorge has found fresh coconut juice; straight from the coconut.  

A view across the valley from our lodgings.