5.5 Collectivo a Viñales

Those typical old American (50s/60s) cars that everyone knows Cuba for are mostly used as taxis. But some are also used privately by Cubans.

In our case, we shared a “collectivo” taxi from Habana to Viñales, a popular city in the tabaco region Pinar del Rio of Cuba (tabaco is Spanish for tabacco). Very interesting ride, especially when the driver keeps going 50 km/h in a strong rain shower ... with no windshield wipers what so ever.

However, we stopped at a tabaco plantation and got free (I mean really free, free) coffee and an introduction to the tabaco making process. You could even smoke one fro free. I did not use any of the services, as I still don’t smoke and drink coffee. I enjoyed the smell though.
We also made our own cigar, being taught by a professional. Of course it is not that easy, so ours looked like sh...

Never mind, it was super cool.

(Unfortunately I took no pictures, only video, so you have to wait for th Cuba movie)Read more