Santa Clara airport is probably one of the smallest airports I have been in, basically a security room and a baggage room. First Cubans we met were the security/military in the airport - the girls dressed in high heels, fish nets and short miniskirts. Expected security to be a lot stricter but they didn't even ask us the usual question - how long will you be staying? Philip tipped the toilet attendant £5 as he read he had to tip everywhere and had no smaller change... expected tip is 10c - 5p....probably made the dudes week/month or year!
Drive from the airport to the hotel was pretty hilarious - more animals on the road and roadside than cars at times. Every other car is a horse and cart or a moped or bike. Most the cars are impressive old cars and most the mopeds have a side car attached. We also passed lots of Cubans trying to hitch hike, as it is law for all Cubans to stop and pick up passengers if they have space. Stayed at Santa Clara Libre. It is the only hotel in the city and the tallest with 10 floors. It was on the edge of Parque Vidal, the main square. The room was very basic with a cupboard bigger than the shower and no toilet seat but it had air conditioning.
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| Santa Clara Libre @ Parque Videl |
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| Fruit Market on the back of a bike |
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| Cuban Scaffolding |
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| Parque Vidal at Night |
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| One of the main hubs of the square... good mojitos |
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| Parque Videl |
Philip wasn't well the whole time we were in Santa Clara, so most our days were spent chilling our in the square. The square is the place to be in Santa Clara, where everyone meets up during the day, where the bands come to play at night, there are Thai chi style classes in the morning, kids play baseball. We were there during workers day and that night there was a huge street party in the square. It's a really good people watching spot. Not much touristy things to do in Santa Clara but defiantly feel like I’m making up for that! Kept hearing "Blanco Blanco" followed by plenty of stares as we are one of the few tourists here and defiantly the whitest! There is a cigar factory not far from the centre, supposedly one of the best on the island, but it is closed the whole time we were here as it’s the weekend & workers day.
