Meeting People & Making Friends While Vacationing in Trinidad, Cuba

Vacationing in Cuba

We love traveling! Traveling to new places is exciting as we will see new things, taste different food and learn about new cultures.

The talented performers at our Cuban resort

Another enjoyable aspect of traveling is meeting new people, such as fellow tourists, local people and making friends with some of them.

We met a few couples at the resort, and within a day or so we could hang out, exchange information and went on the same excursions together.

Emil under the Tarzan Tree at the Botanical Garden

Grace and Emil, the youngest couple we met from Mississauga  ( a city about 45 minutes drive from Toronto)  have a lot in common with us.





















We found out that we both like water sports and enjoy snorkeling. Therefore, we made a plan and went snorkeling  together not far from our resort.

We also met Barbara and Roger from WSt, Anne and Dale from PBor, Louisa and Costa from Miss.



Though meeting for the first time at the resort, we had a lot to talk about because of our delayed flight.

We met a nice couple at our resort

We shared our thoughts on retirement life, talk about our families,  taking care of our aging parents and how our kids were doing.

Meeting & getting to know some of local people 

Beside meeting and befriending fellow tourists, we also have enjoyed meeting and getting to know the local Cubans such as our wait staff and our entertainment coordinator, Claudia.



It was nice meeting people for the first time and be able to connect with them and engaged in exchanges beyond the superficial weather of the day type of conversation.

Many spent the evening at the Toronto airport due to our delayed flight to Cuba

This has taught me a good lesson - when we are faced with  difficult situations in life, they are not always bad.



For instance, our delayed flight to Cuba was unpleasant as we needed to stay overnight at the airport.

We shared a common experience of spending a night at the airport!

The passengers on this flight shared a common awful experience.

We start many casual conversations in the lobby with fellow tourists

This commonality has brought us together. It became our conversation starter when we met each other again at the resort, helping us to break the ice easily.

We enjoy meeting new people while on vacation in Cuba

Therefore, take heart, my friends, don't be discouraged when you have roadblocks in the future.

The difficulties we encounter in lives can be blessings in disguise!











R.T.
A resort at Trinidad, Cuba

A Lovely Visit to Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos (Central Square), Cuba

On our recent trip, we visited Cienfuegos in Cuba .



We chose to visit this city because of the historical aspect since its recognition as a UNESCO  World Heritage Site in 2005.

The cost of this tour was reasonable compared to our other excursions as it only costed 25 CUC.

Other excursions cost between US $50.00 to 100.00 per person per outing.

Cienfuegos, Cuba

We were picked up at 11.a.m. by a tour bus.  The ride was comfortable and it took about an hour and half from our resort.

A wide street in the downtown area of Cienfuegos, Cuba

Our tour guide explaining some history to us at Parque Jose Marti, Cienfuegos, Cuba

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People relaxing in  Parque  Jose Marti,  Cienfuegos' Central Square, Cuba

We have never heard of Cienfuegos until this trip.























Founded by the French in 1819, Cienfuegos was one of Cuba’s newest settlements. 

Cienfuegos is known for its colourful colonial era buildings

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We could see the |French influence on many of the buildings in this city

A pretty city with a population of about 150,000 residents, Cienfuegos is a good size city in Cuba.

Cienfuegos reminds me of an European city.

 Palacio de Gobierno, the Government Palace, Cienfuegos, Cuba

It is full of French architecture.

We saw a lot of  grand buildings such as the Government Palace at the Central Square but we did not have time to go in and see them in detail.

Statue of Jose Marti, Cienfuegos Central Square, Cuba

Cienfuegos' central square - called Parque Jose Marti, named after a beloved Cuban hero who led and was shortly martyred during the Cuban revolution.

Cienfuegos Boulevard, Cuba

A good size town, Cienfuegos is visited by many tourists.
















Unlike Havana where it was crawling with tourists everywhere we went, Cienfuegos was a lot quieter, and unhurried.

Stalls selling local arts and crafts items at the marketplace

We walked the market place looking for some interesting souvenirs.

I saw a beautiful original piece of artwork and kicked myself not buying it right there.  It was gone when we went back to get it after dinner.

















There were a few restaurants opened to feed hungry tourists.


















We enjoyed a Cuban lunch in a small restaurant close by the water.

Waterfront area of Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cienfuegos is situated on the Caribbean coast of south central Cuba.

It is a town known for its colonial era buildings with colourful facades, wide streets and charming French colonial architecture.

Cinefuegos is also called Pearl of the South

It is called the Perla de la Sur (Pearl of the South).















With only about an hour before heading back to our tour group, we hailed and got on a horse drawn carriage at the waterfront.













The carriage driver took us for a ride to the neighborhood around the waterfront area.

It was a short fun ride.
Next time, we must remember to take a longer ride when we are in Cuba!

We stopped at a rooftop restaurant and had some coffee and dessert there.

A typical street in Cienfuegos, Cuba

From the top of the restaurant, we had a good view of the neighborhood streets of the city.

French architecture abounds at Parque Jose Marti Cuba

In only a few hours, we were able to pack in a stroll & a dinner on the waterfront, a carriage ride, and dessert and coffee on a rooftop restaurant in the urban historic part of Cienfuegos.

We got back to the Parque Jose Marti to rejoin our tour group.


The evening lights had already came on in the square.

Parque Jose Marti, ( Central Square) Cienfuegos, Cuba,  seen in the evening lights

Waterfront area, Cienfuegos, Cuba

We enjoyed our visit to Cienfuegos!

The only regret - our visit was too short! I am sure if we could stay here for another 2-3 days, we would be able to explore and enjoy what this beautiful city has to offer!

R.T.
Cientuegos
Cuba
Week of Feb.4, 2019