Topes de Collantes

We took a daytrip to the Topes Collantes. It cost 28 per. person incl. lunch. The area lies 18 km outside the city in the mountains, so its a good idea to remember a jacket because the temperature may fall slightly. On the way up there stops Mon 2 locations. First stop is at a viewpoint, and second stop is at a coffee farm, where you can see how they are dried and ground coffee before. There is also a small kopkaffe included. Trip highlight is the walk through the jungle to the waterfall, where there are swimming pools inviting. Unfortunately, they were quite brown of mud when we were there, so we hopped in. It is not a relatively easy hike of one hour each way through the rainforest. Our guide was good to talk about the rainforest plants, as we passed. You can actually hold an entire party out in the rain forest, featuring plants that contain substances found in drugs, headache pills and Redbull. There are even magazines that farmers use for toilet paper. A plant was so large and heavy leaves that in the past used them to write on instead of paper or cards. The tour ends with a late lunch consisting of typical Cuban dishes - rice with black beans, salad, bread and pork. We found a five-star hotel, Iberostar, with a cozy pianist who loves our company since we have shown great interest in his music. He plays all the songs that we want to hear while we sit and sip Mojitos in fine surroundings: o) We bought his CD, 10 CUC, instead of just giving tips. Some Cuban families have chosen to open a restaurant in their garden to earn extra money. Paladar Estela is extremely popular. The menu is basically the same as offered in Casa Particularas. There is so much choice in Cuba. Rice with beans, salad and bread. In addition, you can choose fish, chicken, pork or beef and lamb. We tasted lamb and fish, which was really good dishes. The best party often by accident in Cuba. Around the corner from this fine hotel, had a little band stood up to play. We were only few people present but the mood was high, with more Mojitos and salsa music in the air.