Walking Cuba: El Camino del Cimarron

Cienfuegos-Havana

After a quick shower, I meet Orlando in the courtyard again. We walk across the Parque Marti to a local restaurant for lunch. A nice space facing the park, carved out of a central courtyard of an old house. Some kind of net covering the open-air mutes the sunlight and its heat. The cast iron tables and chairs give it a lean, clean look.

The president of the Benny More museum, who I met at the Casino Congo in Lajas, also happens to be eating lunch.

He approaches, shakes hands, and reiterated his interest in the Camino. “I think that if we can make it known, it will help us all,” he says.

He introduces me to his guest, a representative from Cubanacan, a Cuban travel agency. “This project should be a tourist itinerary,” he says to her after explaining a bit with my help.

She listens patiently and nods.

“Sounds fascinating but, so you know, we go where we know we can have good results,” she says, meaning that Cubanacan will take tourists where they can spend money. “Where we can get a good response from the locals. Where the locals can offer something unique.”

The museum director interrupts. “There is nothing more unique that what Grenier just did.”

“Yes. Agreed,” she says. “And we’ll be on board as soon as it becomes economically feasible.” The word in Spanish is “rentable.” As soon as we can make money on the deal, we’ll be there, she assures.