The Rum Diaries Part XLI

Ok, don't worry, we are almost finished with the Cuban Rum Diaries...at least, the ones we drank on Cuban soil. There will be a few delayed entries from the multiple bottles we brought with us to Holland (cost-saving measures for pricey Europe).

We left steaming hot Santiago de Cuba for the slightly cooler town of Baracoa, located on the Bahia de Miel (Bay of Honey) and completely encircled by mountain ranges. 

The country side around the city is beautiful; it's just a shame you can't appreciate the many lovely views free of charge. For a communist country, Cubans are remarkably adept at parting you from your money. 

Enjoy the view. It cost us CUC$2 per person to look at it

We found our next bottle of rum at the local Casa de la Trova in town. A Cuban guy nearby was drinking it and we asked him what it was. The owner didn't look too impressed when we asked for the same- I think they make a bit more money off Havana Club- but we were very impressed indeed!

Los Marinos Paticruzados (Cross-legged sailors) is a rum made in Santiago de Cuba and sold for the measly price of CUC$1 per half bottle. At about one-fifth of the price of Havana Club or similar it's the cheapest rum we drank in Cuba- and was surprisingly good. Go under-the-counter rum!!

The Rum Diaries Part XL

It's official!! I am in uncharted roman numeral territory. I just had to google 40! Happily this Rum Diary entry is equal to such a momentous occasion. 

We bought this bottle of Ron Matusalem 15 Años as we listened to some live music in Santiago de Cuba, from some guy who worked in the factory. I hate to think how much it goes for normally (considering the Havana Club 15 year is around $150), but with the five finger discount we nabbed it for CUC$10. Everyone's a winner baby!! Especially us, because the rum was freaking tasty!!

Although we didn't love Santiago de Cuba, the bar where we found this rum was probably one of the better ones we went to in Cuba. It felt like a genuine local (as opposed to gringo-central) and had some pretty awesome anti-American artwork on the walls.

 

The Rum Diaries Part XXXIX

Trinidad is one of the most beautiful cities in Cuba- the streets are narrow and cobbled, the houses in the historic centre all unfailingly charming and brightly painted, and the pace unhurried (even by Cuban standards and let's face it, they're not exactly the busiest people on earth).

 

We cycled out to the Parque el Cubano and swum at the Javira Waterfall, took coco taxis to Playa Ancon and swum in the Caribbean and wandered all over town admiring the scenery. 

 

Being such a popular tourist destination, Trinidad is also home to some of Cuba's most persistent jinoteros (hustlers) so we'd invariably spend large portions of each day saying "no, gracias" to offers of cheap cigars (filled with sawdust), taxis, horse-riding tours, souvenirs and black market  Havana Club (ok, we said yes please to that one).

Ron Mulata is one of the average-priced aged rums that comes in at around the CUC$7 mark. While I loved the chica on the label, I was not a fan of this one at all. Mainly because it smelt like whiskey (which I loathe). Martijn had to finish this one off on his own. He was also not particularly enamored of it, but he's a good Dutchman and wasn't about to waste it!!

The Rum Diaries Part XXXVIII

Ron Cubay Añejo was next up on the list. Another good value rum at around the CUC$7 mark- I really liked this one!! We cracked it open on our lovely roof terrace in Trinidad, and then finished it over the next few days between sightseeing, and Cuban-style: on the beach. Martijn also got into the only other thing that Cubans make well- cigars.

The Rum Diaries Part XXXVII

Bienvenidos a Cienfuegos!! La ciudad que Benny More le gusta mas!!

Cienfuegos' main plaza is just about the most sparkling collection of buildings in Cuba. In contrast to Havana's eclectic range of building styles, Cienfuegos boasts mainly neoclassical, french-influenced architecture and was home to one of Cuba's favourite musos- Benny More. 

It also hosts our next Rum Diary installment!! Our next bottle of Cuban rum we purchased in the plaza's Teatro Tomas Terry for the low, low price of CUC$9 (about the price of four beers- bargain). 

Havana Club Añejo Especial is the workhorse of Cuban rum- reliable, awesome value for money (about $5 in a shop), damn smooth and tasty straight (which makes Martijn happy) and goes well with soda water (which makes me less drunk).

It also seemed to be the rum of choice for a group of guys we met by the beach. We bonded over our respective bottles and discussed the price of gold in Cuba (not such a random topic when you  consider how much bling some of the dudes were covered in). 

The Rum Diaries Part XXXVI

Brace yourselves. There are a lot of Rum Diaries on the way. 

Rum is cheap in Cuba. I mean, it's been cheap pretty well everywhere we've been over the last 13 months, but in Cuba it's the ONLY thing that's cheap and that made us love it more. 

Our first bottle was purchased in the beautiful Viñales Valley- heart of Cuba's tobacco growing region, where Martijn puffed on his first habano; and where we had the best coco locos in Cuba...happy days)

Our first bottle of Cuban rum purchased was Guayabita El Pinar El Occidental, a locally made rum flavoured with guava (and with two baby guava's, hence guayabita, in the bottle). Unsurprisingly, it was kinda fruity and sweet, though the 40% alcohol content ensured it wasn't too cloying. Neither of us were really that into it but maybe with ginger ale or something it would go down a bit easier.