Valentines Day and Salsa

Amazing hosts, horse back rides through the valley, pouring rain, rum, dizzy heady, more rum, salsa and fiesta

Mary was by far our best host!

Mary, our host in Viñales* was super kind and helpful. My sister and I wanted to go on a horse back ride in the afternoon and she happily organised everything for us. We even got picked up at our Airbnb and drove on a carriage to the farm. I have to say, there's something calming and beautiful about riding on a horseback through the valley. The horses practically know all the trails by heart which gave us even more time to admire the country side. The horses run "automatico" our guide used to tell us. Yes, even riding through huge puddles. Or should I say swimming? The views were absolutely amazing though. Through our guides broken English and my broken Spanish we had some fun conversations - or misunderstandings. 😄 Our goal was to ride to some viewpoint and just seconds after we reached, it started pouring. 🌧 Rain was much needed for the land and it just gave us an excuse to get more than one drink on that viewpoint. That's also how my sister and I found ourselves getting some salsa lessons from the guides. Being stuck in a beautiful place has its perks! 💃🏼

It also gave me the chance to connect with Lissette and Ricardo, a couple from Havana, spending a few days in Viñales as a romantic get away. You will find out more about them soon! The locals told us that there's a fiesta in town that night and that we should go too. Our curiosity was high but without making any promises we left again with our guide after the rain stopped a good 2 hours later. Note to self here: Don't go horse back riding after drinking alcohol! 😁

Nothing happened but sure felt dizzy sometimes. The views we had now changed though. It was humid and misty from the rain and with the evening glow, everything looked somewhat mystical. By the time we reached the outskirts of town again it was dark. With our horses on automatico we easily found their home. 🐎 We walked back into town and had dinner with our parents at a restaurant called "Cubar", located right on the main street, close to the town's main square. After a few drinks and a horse back ride their spaghetti and shrimps were just what we needed, so delicious! Being so close to the main square we saw, and heard, that the fiesta was already in full swing. Naturally we joined them too, after a much needed shower and change of clothes that is. We were told that a fiesta like this happens every Saturday in Viñales. A fiesta where rum, salsa and reggaeton follows you everywhere! Occasionally also on special occasions like Valentines Day, which was a Friday in 2020. The main town square was crowded with locals and tourists of all ages, the streets to and from the square were blocked, big speakers set up blasting salsa and the latest commercial Latin music. 🔊 A couple of booths crowded the curb-side, selling water and drinks where you can get yourself a Mojito, Cuba Libre or just pure rum. That's actually how Cubans drink it - pure I mean. But having had already a few drinks that afternoon and at dinner, I decided to mostly go with water. 😉 It was expected that as white blond girls we would attract attention, but THAT much attention? Yeah well that's something we didn't expect. Which actually wasn't that bad! I mean, you get to dance with some handsome Latinos who (almost) literally fight to get a dance in with you. 😄 Okay yes, I did kinda like the attention. Because I was having fun, getting to connect with locals and learning some salsa and reggaeton moves. It's different in Switzerland where you're barely given a second glance because everyone's just so self-absorbed. Cubans are much more open, curious and outgoing. That's where you still connect face to face instead through texts. An other plus was that it made finding my sister so much easier. At one point I couldn't find her and the guy I was dancing with offered to look for her. All we had to do is ask around in the crowd for "la rubia" which simply means "the blond girl" and people knew exactly who we meant. 💁🏼‍♀️ I don't remember how long we stayed out, probably 1am? Or more like 3 or 4am? Well who cares, we had so much fun and that's all that counts! Especially when you're escorted back to your casa! Sabbu ❤️