Sadly, we left Yamelby and Abraham’s warm and friendly Airbnb in Cienfuogos, headed to the historical town of Trinidad about an hour bus ride to the east. During the delicious breakfast of farm fresh eggs, ham, warm baked bread, and fresh fruit from the family’s farm, Yamelby told us about her brother, a relief wood sculptor who lives in Trinidad, and we were anxious to see his gallery.
We waited at the bus station while horse drawn carriages passed by winter blooming cherry trees, and we gave out little toys and trinkets from the US to grateful kids who were also waiting for the bus. Just over an hour later we arrived in Trinidad, where cobblestone streets and rusty gates and crumbling concrete structures mark the age of the city.
Our hosts in La Boca, about 5k south of Trinidad, were warm and welcoming and couldn’t wait to show us around while serving us cold Crystal beer. We were thankful to be away from the bustling town of Trinidad and near the Caribbean Sea. The wind blew from the south and we drank it in as we enjoyed the view of the Escambry mountains to the north. Exhausted from traveling and thankful for the peace and fresh air, we went to sleep, anxious to explore Trinidad in the morning.
We awakened to crowing roosters, Cuban café con leche, homemade bread, and fresh farm grown fruit. I downed it all and hopped onto the back of our host’s electric scooter to go spear fishing! Loaded with snorkeling gear and slathered in sunscreen, we headed out on the short ride to his favorite fishing spot. I had no idea that within an hour we would bag 3 good sized lobsters and a half dozen fish, including a small hogfish that I was to eat all by myself later at dinner.
All this before noon. After a quick nap we headed into town to search for Lazaro Niebla, the brother of our host in Cienfuegos, a wood sculptor who takes a 2in thick cedar door from an old Cuban home and brings it to life with his sculpting tools. I was simply in awe of his work. His subjects are real life Cuban people struggling to make a life for themselves and their families. Lazaro’s work is also shown at a gallery in Los Angeles and in other parts of the US.