Today was another early morning. We were going on the Jeep Safari. We once again set the alarm clock for 6:45, went back to the buffet for something quick and headed outside of the main lobby to the parking lot to join the others people waiting to go on their tours. YAY THANK GOODNESS!!! No Oreo today. I guess it was his day off so we could wait outside without being pestered.
Once again the bus was late. Actually it was so late that we were one of the last 2 people standing after everyone else left on their tours. We were starting to wonder if we were forgotten. But then a small car pulled up the the front door, asked for Jay and I as well as our voucher, and told us he is taking us to meet the others on our tour. Along the way we had to stop at another hotel to pick up this young couple who were about our ages (26-27).
We drove for about 10 minutes and pulled into a back side street off the main Varadero drag where we saw about 20 open backed tracker jeeps lined up on the side of the road. We were the first to arrive here. But after about 5 minutes a big Gray hound style bus pulled up and about 30 other people jumped out. Our guides for the day came over and told everyone to pick a jeep (Not once during any of this tour were any of us asked for a drivers license. Many reviews online say the same). These cars only hold 4 people, so we had to share our jeep with a father and daughter who were from Toronto Canada. The daughter was in her early 20's and they were both so nice. The dad said he wanted to drive (Typical) off roading seems to be more of a guy thing. We didnt complain, lets give him some fun, and if we want to drive later we can switch.
Once everyone was settled in their jeeps, off we went. We drove through fields, we drove through desert land, we drove through pot holed dirt roads with wild cows and bulls running through the shrubs on either side of us. After about 45 minutes of this we got back onto a main road and headed to the Canamar River.
We drove to this small outside grass hut that had a bar and a small shop beside. They were situated along the river and had a big dock with about 20 little speed boats attached. We were told to stay in our jeep groups and get into a boat.
I was not going to pass up driving, so I took the wheel and raced 20 boats down the river for a good hour or more. Once we turned around and docked back where we started, we had time to go into the bar and have a drink. Jaylene and I were more in the mood for something a bit healthier then a rum and coke so we decided on boxed apple juice. Cuban apple juice is strange. Its 1/4 juice and the rest is froth.
While we were relaxing, I noticed a few men with long hair wearing a loin cloth walk passed. I looked and Jay and said "I am going to take a picture". They went onto the dock and met up with these 3-4 women who were topless and covered in paint and also wearing loin cloths. Then some music started playing and these indians started to dance around.
It was a ritual dance. Cuban natives once believed that if a woman gave birth and the baby was sick, if the father killed himself he would give his own life to that child. So before he sacrifices himself there is a ritual dance. Well we go to watch this performance, and I guess I was right in the line of fire because one of the native men came over, grabbed me and dragged me into their performance. I got to dance around with them, and then watch the father throw himself into the river to drown himself.
Jaylene thought all this was damn funny. I now had war paint on my face, several people taking pictures of me doing this, and now a missing man who I never saw again once he threw himself off the dock. Im sure it was just a staged performance for me and that he swam to shore, but I didnt see him.
After this we all got back into our jeeps and drove about 15 minutes to a snorkeling site. Actually the site was a little shack on the side of the road that said "SNORKELING" and rented out your snorkeling gear (life jackets, flippers, snorkel, goggles etc). All the gear being free as its included in the cost of your tour. Attached to this shack was another bar. GO FIGURE. 2 guides came out of the bar and started explaining that we all stay together, dont wander off in the Caribbean by yourself, and whatever you do, dont touch the coral. It will sting.
So we all got our gear on, went into the Caribbean and swam out a good mile or more to this HUGE coral reef. I know we werent in Australia but it certainly looked like Finding Nemo to me. There were fish of every shape, color and size swimming all around you. It was just the most incredible thing. Ive been to Aquariums before but nothing could touch this.
Once we swam back to shore and dried ourselves off, we got back into our jeeps and drove another 10 minutes to the "Belmar Caves". To get to the caves you have to walk down several flights of stairs to an under ground cave, which holds a spring pool that was very cold. But we got to swim here for about 45 minutes.
After this we got back into our jeeps and did some more off roading for another half hour or so on our way to this coffee plantation that was built in 1820. This plantation even has old slave quarters. We got to have and all you can eat buffet lunch here, and after we had free time to walk the grounds, go horseback riding, ride a bull, and also walk around a wishing tree. This tree grows in Africa and an African ritual is that if you knock 3 times on the trunk, then walk around 3 times counter clock, then make a wish and knock 3 times its supposed to make you lucky and or make your wish come true.
After a nice few hours at this plantation we got into our jeeps and drove to a bus depot in where we parked our jeeps and said good bye to the group, and had a Gray Hound style bus take us back to our hotel.
Would I take this tour again? HELL YEAH!!!
When we got back to our hotel, we went back to the buffet for more ice cream. Actually it was a chance to see if we could find Yosdany (Dish Boy). He was there, he waved many times, smiled, and kept looking at us but never came over to say hello. Whats up with this guy??? We will get him to speak.
Tomorrow is another day.
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