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1st June- woken very early thanks for the roaster outside letting everyone in the neighbor hood know the sun was up. Had breakfast prepared by the women of the house again. Such fantastic fruits and always with this deliciously fresh squeezed juice. It was solid mango juice... Yummy :) headed out to meet the guide and start our walking tour of the local tobacco fields and national park. Just as we were leaving it starting poring rain. So thought we could wait it out at a local restaurant. An hour later it was still raining and no real sign of easing off, we decided to just walk out in the rain anyway. Made our way to a local farmers farm where he had the tobacco leaves drying in a hut made from palm leaves and bark. The crop is sold to the government with just a very small amount left to the farmer for his personal use. We then walked up to the house, which was incredibly poor and had the extended family living together. There we were shown by the farmer how to roll the cigars. It was great to see how they make them and also talk with the walking guide about rural life in Cuba. The farmer has a special fermentation recipe for the leaves using rum, water, honey that is flicked over the leaves and allowed to sit for at least 50 days. Then rolled during the raining season when the humid makes the leave more playable. We then enjoyed some local coffee and sat inside hoping the rain might ease up a little. Talking and learning how to food stamps work and the changes that have occurred in Cuba. Also tired smoking the cigars. It didn't stop raining, so we set of again into the national park. It was a short walk through local fields. We are all soaking wet by this stage from walking through the rain and covered in red mud from the rich soil. Of course it was meant to be hot and sunny so was once again wearing white. We made our way up a set of very steep and slippery steps to a small cave which we were able to walk through and look out over the valley and surrounding farmland. Then headed back to town through more farmland. It is still raining... I guess it is the raining season so this is what happens. Stopped to talk with and sample at a local organic farm. There was a little road side stall set up complete with giant tree rat in a cage. Delicious bananas :) When back in the town we had some lunch ( ham sandwich) and fresh churros donuts with chocolate sauce. Then got an old thunderbird car as a taxi and traveled to the Cueva del Indio. We walked unguided for a short distance through the caves, nearly fell down a unmarked hole. Then reached a little dock and tool a very small, very full boat through this undergoing river to explore the cave further. Then the boat took us out of the cave and headed back to the taxi. More back seat singing, still raining and the old taxi had no windscreen wipers but it did have a modern sound system complete with remote control for the stereo... Drove to the mural de la prehistoria. Which is this giant hill with an exposed rock cliff face that has been painted with a strange dinosaur mural. After a couple minutes there taking photos we headed back into the town. Had a few hours of rest time before dinner. Dinner was chicken again served by our host families. Sitting out on the porch overlooking the primary school. Had a few drinks in town near the square and then caught a taxi out to the rave in a cave party. This was a large open cave that had a bar and dance floor inside it. We enjoyed a bottle of rum and watching the locals before leaving. Had to wait for a taxi for ages but then got to travel in an old Chevrolet car. It was an incredible car... Beautifully maintained and original engine. Described by the owners as the number one car in Vinales.
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