Santa Clara is now known for having the Mausoleum of Che Guevara......and that is there because it was his strategic disruption of the rail lines in that city which led to victory in 1959.
Most tourists pass through, stopping only to visit the mausoleum. I had no interest in the mausoleum...Lenin in Moscow was enough! We had not intended going there but as we couldn't get into the Casa Particular we wanted in Trinidad until the following day...we decided to detour and stay a night in Santa Clara.
After we saw the Autentica Pergola Casa Particular we really wished we were staying longer....
It was fabulous!
Such a difference from the prior night in Cienfuegos......and the cost (35CUC) was the same!
This is an old colonial home which has been totally remodelled by an architect......who obviously kept tight control of work in progress!
Our welcome drink was most welcome.......
It now has 4 rooms, because rules for stays in family homes have relaxed. Originally Casa Particulares could only have 2 rooms, and professional people were not allowed to run them. Now under Raoul Castro all has changed....
Our room was in character with the building.....
all the rooms were centered around a lush green area....with the original pergola pillars ...
Its location was also superb....it is just round the corner from the main pedestrian shopping street and just one block from the main square.......
As tourists just pass through the city, mainly in tour buses, this was one of the few places with virtually no tourists in the downtown part. So it was very pleasant......
Here again we found an interesting coffee house..... on the square...
...the Cubans do not have internet readily available but they are always on their phones! They can communicate within Cuba by email through Cubacel, and this apparently is a cheaper method than sending text messages.......
... a great cup of coffee.......
..with music.......
..looking out at the action on the square......
We opted to stay in our casa for dinner......which was superb...on their roof terrace!
.
and breakfast the following morning was tranquil.........
traffic on the street below being minimal.......
Most tourists pass through, stopping only to visit the mausoleum. I had no interest in the mausoleum...Lenin in Moscow was enough! We had not intended going there but as we couldn't get into the Casa Particular we wanted in Trinidad until the following day...we decided to detour and stay a night in Santa Clara.
After we saw the Autentica Pergola Casa Particular we really wished we were staying longer....
It was fabulous!
Such a difference from the prior night in Cienfuegos......and the cost (35CUC) was the same!
This is an old colonial home which has been totally remodelled by an architect......who obviously kept tight control of work in progress!
Our welcome drink was most welcome.......
The main rooms were rather formal but delightful.............
Our room was in character with the building.....
all the rooms were centered around a lush green area....with the original pergola pillars ...
Its location was also superb....it is just round the corner from the main pedestrian shopping street and just one block from the main square.......
As tourists just pass through the city, mainly in tour buses, this was one of the few places with virtually no tourists in the downtown part. So it was very pleasant......
Here again we found an interesting coffee house..... on the square...
We opted to stay in our casa for dinner......which was superb...on their roof terrace!
...which has its own rooftop kitchen.....
lobster...again!!
.
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