Cuba is so much more than dreamy beaches. Cuban chronicles. Day 9.

After the breakfast I barely touched, we took off to a National Park called "El Cubano", really close to Trinidad, and where Javira falls are. Also, since my pre-travel research, this was one of the places I wanted to see the most. I had seen a video of another park in the area and googleing afterwards I found out that there are many parks in the area between Cienfuegos and Trinidad, crowded with forests and waterfalls. They are spectacular and have nothing to envy to any park in in the World. It was inevitable for me to remember the time when I was in the rainforest in Perú, when I was melting and sweating from the heat but entirely taken with nature. And now, when I'm relating those two moments, I remembered something I read on twitter a couple of days ago. A guy was asking his followers what was the thing that made us feel alive. And I had to stop for a moment to ask it myself, even though that answer should come as quick as my name, it didn't. So, I started thinking about it, a bit sad because I didn't have the clarity I'd wished about somenthing that important. The firsts things that came up were travel and photography. However, that wasn't it, it was somenthing more, somehow related, but more specific. And after thinking for a while, it came to me through an example, going up the mountains make me feel alive. It's actually a mixed sense of feeling some kind of wonder woman and a tiny ant in the inmensity of the World at the same time what makes me fee alive.

Yes, I'm a big fan of the beach, I even chose to live by the sea, but that's why when I get out of home I want to see other things. Don't you think this is a little paradise?

Ok, back to Cuba and its forests because I rambled a lot. People, here's an unsolicited advise: tour around Cuba, get out of the bubble that is Varadero and its resorts, that though paradisiac it's just like being in any other resort bubble in the World, and it's also like not being in Cuba at all. It's an awesome place to go and rest for a couple of days, but do also get out of there,I promise you, you won't regret it. This isn't criticism to the tourists, but to travel agents that don't even mention these places like the National Parks. Even in Trinidad we had to ask for advice to our host because all that people tell you about Trinidad is The House of Music, the old sugar production areas and Ancón beach. And that's how each passing day I'm more prone to research and plan your trips on my own. Does it take a lot of time and energy? Yes, of course it does, but in the end, it's your trip and it's your money that you're spending and I imagine that it took a lot of hard work -and therefore time of your life- to earn it, so...you better make that time worth of something, right?

This makes me feel alive.

So, apparently, today is rambling day. Sorry, not sorry. Now, I'm definetely back to Él Cubano" park. We did the trek that lasted about an hour maybe, and was mostly easy, there were only some parts that you had to walk more carefully through the rocks, but there were almost no uphill roads which is the thing that bothers me and my bad shape the most. And then, finally, the waterfall. I swear I could hear the hallelujah when I saw it, I was desperate to throw myself in there. The thing is that beyond being in a tropical place, I tend to feel hot and sweat pretty easily, even more when walking (one day I'll tell you about the time smoke was coming out of my head while doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing...in winter). The water is rather cold and surprisingly heavy, but oh how relaxing. It was like entering paradise.

I don't know if I'm able to put into words the pleasure I felt when I went into the water after the walk.

While I was in the water, I had my lesson of the day moment. An old lady got to the place and she set herself to get into the water, which was rather tricky. It wouldn't be extraordinary at all if this was an average lady, but she was using two canes. It was really hard for her to get into the water and she was so happy when she mdae it that I said to myself that each time I want to do something and think I can't, I'll think of her.

Don't forget.

We went back taking the same track. After the walk it was relax time, so we drove to the other side of town and went to Ancon Beach. Obviously paradisiac, kinda like Rancho Luna, but fancier. Sadly, the Caribbean dream moment lasted a short while, because the sky was threatening with a storm, and we didn't want to face a tropical storm right in the beach.Of course, as soon as we were back in Trinidad, the Sun was roasting us again.

I wanted to have lunch, I was starving and the meal options are short for me and my stomach bug, but out host was chatty and we didn't live the house until 3pm. There's something about the food places in Cuba that has been in my mind for days now. For some mysterious reason, here, the food always comes with something extra that isn't mentioned and that I happen to dislike (yeah, I know, my eating habits are worse than a 4 year old ones, but I'm this). The han and cheese sandwiches have also tomato and lettuce, the spaghetti with cheese also have tomato sauce, and so on. Anyway, I was that hungry that I ate the spaghetti with the sauce even though I was killing for a plate of noodles only with cheese and oil and I almost cried a little when I saw the color red in my plate. Yeah, I'm normally a baby person, and of course that hungry and tired I'm much worse.

In front onf one of the town squares, there was this place where people get together to play chess and hang out.

Another sorry, not sorry. I can't stop to take photos of these typical houses with their big windows and all its colors.

We walked around a bit more and went back for a mandatory shower, rest for a while and go out again to have dinner. How charming and lively is Trinidad after dark. What a shame that I shouldn't have rum still. I shouldn't, but I will, because last night was worthless without my Cuba Libre.

*You can read the original version of this post in Spanish here.