Bienvenidos a Cuba!

Hello Bikers out there - finally we made it - our first motorcycle tour around the beautiful island of Cuba. First of all, what should I say - it was great!

But it is not the typical tourist destination - it is really different...

Cuba is special - and in all ways:

it is a really nice island, the Cubans are great, friendly people, the weather is perfect - we had all the time between 20 - 30 degrees, no rain. Water is warm pool and ocean!

But, it is not the perfect organized country like the rest of the  world... Everything works somehow, there is no better or worth. The people, the most of them live pretty basic, but they enjoy live anyway. They have a lot less facilities and things we are used too - the question is if we really need all this stuff.... I would say - enjoy some impressions - later more information:

This is Havanna - great city!

First view from our roof terrace - Hotel Plaza, Havanna old town. Beautiful old buildings, some are in good conditions, some not....

in front of our Hotel "Plaza"

Hotel "Ambos Mundos", Hemingway was living here...

Our Motorcycles:

looks great, or? Harley from fifties - still running!

Local Harley guys - great people!

On the way to Vinales on brand new Harley Davidsons...

public bus....

local bikers - isn´t it great?

what is he looking for -  the car or the...

lady???

somewhere in Vinales, surrounded by tobacco fields...

nearly no traffic, that´s really great to be on a bike.

Of course there are other tourists around, but nobody travels on a motorcycle, 99 % are sitting in a tourbus - poor people...

The little traffic that exists, is pretty relaxed, most of the time slow. Private people normally don´t own a vehicle, if they are lucky, maybe they have a horse... Nearly all the cars or trucks you see belong to companies. Local Cubans use the bus, hitchhike or stay in their village...

"Mural de la prehistoria"

local band in Vinales - a good way to earn some extra money - good guys!

before the revolution there were a lot of american cars around... they are still running... some worth, some better:

what a beauty!

Somewhere on the way to Cienfuegos, on the so called Cuban motorway...

Okay, it should be the motorway, I would say it is paved, actually not too bad, but it has nothing to do with a serious motorway like we know it. In some places it is so wide - a airplane could land easy on it(maybe the Russians???)

look at this - we met a Mexican on his own Harley! He brought it on his sailboat - all over Cuba Design - great paintjob!

Wherever we stop people are interested in our bikes

somewhere at the coast, close to Playa Giron in South.

Lunch on the way...

Coffee at the main square at Cienfuegos, beautiful old town.

Gas at Trinidad, maybe the best preserved colonial town all over Cuba. Good place for a rest day. Look why:

friendly kids...

and great Salsa Music and dancing close to the main square at night:

During our rest day of course we went for a ride - Topes de Collantes - great mountain ride!

local fruits - we need them for the pool - later...

maybe the best pineapple ever.

back to Trinidad - the pool is waiting for us!

- - - Let´s go North - - -

After Trinidad we crossed the island to the North and out to the Cayos, little islands which are connected by human to the main land.

La Torre Iznaga - watch tower for the slaves of the Sugar plantations

View from the tower

--

--- Happy People ---

Sugar Cane - very good!

on the road...

great police bike- look at the tank design:

what do you think?

on the way to the Cayo Santa Maria - finally we made it:

great beach - ideal for a little swim...

what do you think?

not too bad, or?

great spot - we should stay longer...

Okay, our last riding day is coming up, Santa Clara back to Havanna, but first we have to stop at the Che Guevara Monument - the Hero of the Cubans!

great trip, what should we say?

The feeling of trip around Cuba is very difficult to describe. it is not the typical tourist resort island, everything is so different, the way you travel on Cuba, the way the people live, most of them are really poor, but they still look happy. It is not a question of money to be friendly - Cubans are great!

Some more impressions:

wedding in Havanna

local Coco-taxis

How to live in the Carribean...

which cigars are the best...

Thanks for a great trip!