Hola



We're back in Havana after two exciting days in the Vinales Valley. We started our tour of the valley with a visit to Las Terrazas Eco-Center where our guide, Justo, took us on a nature hike. We learned all about all the medicinal properties of Cuba's diverse flora and fauna. We reached the summit and saw incredible views of this sustainable community which was once almost completely deforested. We sampled the fresh coffee at Cafe Maria and (despite the cold!) swam in the San Juan river. We then headed to our phenomenal hotel located atop a mogote in the Pinar del Rio province. With breathtaking views of the valley we ate a hearty breakfast before heading into the Santo Tomas caves. Every single one of us donned hardhats and headlights and began trekking up the mountainside to the 6th level of the caves. Upon entering, we learned about the karst topography and saw spectacular examples of stalagmites and stalagtites. We even braved a "black out" when everyone turned off their headlamps in the farthest reaches of the caves! Next stop was the Mural of Pre History . . you'll see some psychadelic photos we're sure . . . before visiting a working tobacco plantation and learning all about the cigar industry from seedling to cigar. Perhaps the most touching part of our day was our visit to an art center where we got to interact one on one with inspiring artists with Downs Syndrome.

Tomorrow we begin work on an urban farm in downtown Havana and we'll be visiting a Cuban highschool.

The students tell us that they've been pleasantly surprised with the Cuban food . . . not so pleasantly surprised by how cold it has been :) No tans yet . . .
As teachers we're not surprised, but we are appreciative, of just how terrific our travellers have been! We have enjoyed watching them take in this new world, participate in unique experiences and grow from their exposure to Cuban life and culture.