We got the early bus from Santiago de Cuba to Baracoa & were at the bus station before 7 with our Korean friend from our casa & our Dutch travel buddy Ilona. Baracoa lured us in with the promise of nice beaches, cacao, spicy food & good hiking - a welcome break from time in Cuba's main towns.
The bus trip felt like it went forever but there were some spectacular views en route - lush green tropical jungle, red dirt & vast mountains. There was also plenty of snooze time despite our bus drivers fondness for loud Cuban pop music.
We checked in to our casa here which is run by the relatives of the family we stayed with in Santiago. The casa is the nicest we have stayed in so far - a great rooftop, big room & amazing view being set just a few metres back from the ocean & Malecon in the historical part of Baracoa.
We spent the afternoon cruising around the town, sampled some of the infamous cacao drink & even squeezed in a run along the Malecon.
We headed to an excellent little rooftop family restaurant called Casa Nielson for dinner with Ilona & also another Dutch girl we met - Wilomejna.
Enjoying several cocktails, including 'Canchacha' which is said to be the Cuban Warrior drink we feasted on seafood con coco leche, sweet potato chips & even had a coco-cacao local dessert.
After dinner we met up with our new kiwi friend Jodi & after a short stint at the local Casa de Trova we ended up at a Karaoke bar singing & dancing the night away with a few locals. Great fun!
