Another belated 4/23

Today we began our last program trip, traveling three hours or so from Havana to Pinar del Rio city in its namesake province. This trip we traveled with a member of PC’s abroad programs office. So, while she had questions and was interested in the dialogue our tour guide microphone’d through the bus, we had heard it before and enjoyed the scenery more I think. When we got to Pinar del Rio we drove to a horse ranch for lunch. got Cuban lobster for lunch. Now, I know am quite spoiled when it comes to lobster being from Portland and working on the waterfront, and even more so having family who host me for a mean lobster cookout every summer. Cuban lobster is good- there is a lot of meat, and they are very big and not very expensive but I am faithfully partial to the Maine lobster. It has more flavor and a softer meat. We did see a lobster on our first dive however, and I must admit the Cuban lobster wins for looks.
After lunch we got a quick tour of the place. The place is an eco-tourist ranch where hundreds of horses are bred. It was really pretty. On our walking tour we got to try a almond straight off the tree (well, after the seed had fallen off the tree). Then we walked to the spot where they train cock-roosters for fighting. Normally, this is highly illegal (especially gambling which is so often associated with cock fighting). The ranch has a special license because the roosters are used for breeding, and they told us something about how they should be strong and the winners for breeding optimization. Gambling on the fights is still strictly forbidden. It was kind of interesting to see how they were trained, but I never want to see a cock fight to the death. When we got back to the center I opted for a boat ride instead of another horse ride. It was very pleasant.
From the start of this trip we have had some trouble breaking free from the tourist stereotype to the student resident one. It is a constant struggle. At dinner we got to know our tour guide a little more. He taught us a few jokes. He, like practically all of our others, used to teach foreign languages at the University before changing to the tourist sector.
At dinner we also discussed our impending departure date. Diana, the woman from PC, asked us if there was any food we were going to miss especially. Besides fresh fruit and fresh baked bread, there really isn’t much food I will miss here. I will miss so many people, and so much about the culture, but the food is one aspect of the culture for which my love has not ‘ripened’ with time. The fact that none of us really predict missing the food gave us the idea of blogging about things we will not miss, rather than just the things we will especially miss. It is an interesting idea I would like to try if I have time in the next week. We’ll see. Now I’m back in the Pinar del Rio hotel room… which is right above the pool… which is currently the setting of a raging musical night out. It is quite loud and the water in my water bottle is rippling from the bass. Enough for now- enjoy your-selves readers!