Cuba 2003 VI... Trinidad - Sancti Spíritus (50 p.)

Railroadforums.com is a free online Railroad Discussion Forum and Railroad Photo Gallery for railroaders, railfans, model railroaders and anyone else who is interested in railroads. We cover a wide variety of topics, including freight trains, passenger and commuter railroads, rail news and information, tourist railroads, railway museums and railroad history.

ronik24

Proud Earthling
Hi,

To the previous trip report part:
Cuba 2003 V... Odyssey Bay of Pigs - Trinidad (50 p.)



February 22 2003

Next morning in front of our private accomodation in Trinidad we could only hope for more luck on the road that day.
cu030601.jpg




Our destination was Camagüey, first we drove towards Sancti Spíritus. Next place to visit was UNESCO world heritage site Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills, more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valle_de_los_Ingenios ) near Trinidad. On the main road 3 miles east of town the viewpoint Mirador de La Loma del Puerto enables a lovely vista across the amazing landscape.
cu030602.jpg




View towards the sea.
cu030603.jpg





cu030604.jpg




Escambray Mountains in the background.
cu030605.jpg




What it's all about: sugar cane, here it was squeezed as juice for tourists.
cu030606.jpg




Always ingenious, Cuban ways of transport!
cu030607.jpg




But mostly travelling means for Cubans: waiting...
cu030608.jpg




One of the most prominent sights in the area is Manaca Iznaga plantation, from Torre de Iznaga slaves in the fields had been guarded.
cu030609.jpg





cu030610.jpg




You can see how the Cuban landscape is honeycombed with railway lines - finding a moving train is another matter, however.
cu030611.jpg





cu030612.jpg




Revolutionary slogans have even been laid out with stones.
cu030613.jpg




Wait a second, what was that in the background?
cu030614.jpg




Look closely! ;-)
cu030615.jpg




Oh, through pure coincidence I had run into the tourist steam special! :)
cu030616.jpg




Introducing #1517, a 2-6-0 engine (Baldwin #32083, built 1907).
cu030617.jpg




Right away the aged iron horse steamed past me.
cu030618.jpg




Towards a larger bridge structure.
cu030619.jpg





cu030620.jpg




We looked around Finca Guachinango, frescos still could be found inside the building.
cu030621.jpg




Turkeys had also made it to Cuba.
cu030622.jpg




The type of bananas growing and being sold on the island is significantly smaller and greener than those known internationally in supermarkets.
cu030623.jpg




No question where we were.
cu030624.jpg




Still no reason for circling vultures...
cu030625.jpg




I took a closer look at the bridge.
cu030626.jpg




Back at Manaca Iznaga we passed the steam train one more time, but I was not allowed to get out of the car.
cu030627.jpg




We continued to search for some more obscure plantation buildings.
cu030628.jpg




The purpose of the zones can be read about here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committees_for_the_Defense_of_the_Revolution
cu030629.jpg





cu030630.jpg




Found! Inside the already very decayed colonial building remains of frescos had also survived the centuries.
cu030631.jpg




Children in front of the plantation.
cu030632.jpg




It was time to leave for Sancti Spíritus, we came past kolkhozes.
cu030633.jpg




Through the mountains.
cu030634.jpg




After entering Sancti Spíritus I immediately spotted a sugar cane train waiting to approach the main station, hauled by diesel #38137.
cu030635.jpg




My first panoramic picture made of photos from the old digicam.
cu030636.jpg





cu030637.jpg




Nothing much happened at the station.
cu030638.jpg




An ambulance car of the "Yayabero", the train from Havanna to Sancti Spíritus.
cu030639.jpg




And the rest of the rake consisting of old East German coaches.
cu030640.jpg




We went on a sightseeing tour through the old town.
cu030641.jpg




The place stayed true to its name.
cu030642.jpg




Cuban towns are not lifeless!
cu030643.jpg




Probably a more elegant zone.
cu030644.jpg




Very tasteful furniture store - only what was the purpose of those inflatable pink animals?
cu030645.jpg




Bicycle rickshaws could be found everywhere.
cu030646.jpg




If siesta was not held, cakes were being transported around - they would follow us into evening.
cu030647.jpg




You don't suspect the scene being set in Cuba - yet it was the old bridge across Río Yayabo - (see "Yayabero" ;-) ).
cu030648.jpg




Collection of the propaganda signs of the day.
cu030649.jpg




Once more we arrived quite late at Camagüey. In the evening we set out into the crowds and prepared a little surprise for my aunt's birthday. Via a security guard we organized one of the omnipresent cakes, of course the man also received a share for his efforts. The cakes themselves were purely there for show, however, just consisting of fat and sugar.
cu030650.jpg


We continue at Camagüey next time! :)
 




RailroadForums.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

RailroadBookstore.com - An online railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used railroad books. Railroad pictorials, railroad history, steam locomotives, passenger trains, modern railroading. Hundreds of titles available, most at discount prices! We also have a video and children's book section.

ModelRailroadBookstore.com - An online model railroad bookstore featuring a curated selection of new and used books. Layout design, track plans, scenery and structure building, wiring, DCC, Tinplate, Toy Trains, Price Guides and more.

Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top