We were impressed that there were so many little sailing boats available for kids to learn sailing as well as rowing boats. For sure an unexpected view in Cuba. Before we had hardly seen boats at all on the water. Later we heard that some Canadians had sponsored those years ago. Anyway it was nice to see them sailing almost every afternoon.
a double rowing boat early in the morning; in the back a part of the marina, Club Cienfuegos and Hotel Azulthe cute kids in their sailing boatsAnthem had a visitor, Sebastian for one day so the tribe had to take him out we went for several walks, here we went to “Punta Gorda” the fancy end tail of Cienfuegos; hotel “Palacio de Valle”the inside had better times but one could still see how posh it once waseverywhere in Cuba we found elaborate tile floorsthe hotel offered a beautiful view to Cienfuegos bay and the end of Punta Gordasuch a nice roof but nobody was enjoying it; waiters were there but no guests, that was in most places owned by the government the stair to the roof topmore pretty tiles La India de Guanaroca sculpture in Punta Gordaanother side of the Palacia de Vallethat rather ugly building which was close to Palaciao de Valle used to be the well booked hotel “Jagua” before covid, the government and hurricanes killed most of the business in Cubajust liked that houseat the very end of Cienfuegos there was this parkthe park offered a nice relaxing area including a bar and a simple restaurantand a pretty Pavillonthose two beautiful cold coffees we got at a small hotel close to the marina
Market and more
the market was indeed a fun and very busy placeprices per pound were often either written on the floor or on a cardboarda street next to the market where some other vendors sold mainly non perishable food like pasta, sometimes flour, a few canned products, whatever was available that dayour last market visit with our tribe friends in Joannas TuktukPhil took the above pic while we were moving , that pic was the proof Joanna also took us to a seller who sold only beer and beverages in bigger amounts, Joanna and meone day we were lucky and found the open ice cream parlour having power and ice cream !!!!the “Malecón” of Cienfuegos, where locals liked to gatherthat was a hilarious evening, we passed by Cubanísimo (a cultural centre) and saw locals entering the event, as it cost only about 1$ fee for the two of us and they had draft beer we thought we give it a try, it turned out to be Mexican music and only a few locals seemed to like it the room was almost emptysunset at the bay with crazy coloursour last day with the Australian tribe, Lesley, Adrian, Marianna, Sven, Phil and El Capitanoon the roof top bar after a nice meal and the life music at Piña Colada
The days before visiting Havana
we ran into a a flock of goats a pretty car in front and people queuing to get some money from the bank in the backkids were having a baseball game Cienfuegos against another towna typical DIY in Cubapeople make revolutionsshade is important!big old battered carsome flowers for a changethe last end of the Punta Gorda, the area of the city that narrows to a fine point sticking out into the Bay of CienfuegosAltimate all alone in the anchorage, she was grateful to have the little sailing boats using her as a turning pointsome art at the park which was right next to the marina and fairly wrecked down it was a mazing how many art and sculptures we had seen in Cienfuegosthe band at Piña Colada placing their tip box here he was just watching but later he joined the bandthe dock right next to the bar with its great wheel glasseswho knows what was in there? right”maní”, which means peanutsJim in the green sweater who also sings with the band invited us to his home, next to him his wife Della, on the right next to him Aimare, then Blair and Norbert, on the left Jims friend who’s name I can’t recallhere we were waiting to enter the Club Cienfuegos for a life music event at the Clubfinally we were in, that was the view from the Club to the entrancethe entrance fee again was only 1$ for both of us but they were very serious about checking the tickets, they did twicewe had not expected such a big seating area, I mean we were in Cuba and the Cubans always like to dance!!!they had nice big draft beer containersand another sunset at the Malecón
SY Altimate 