Today is dedicated to learn more about the valley in which Viñales is located. Our guide brings us around the fields for 3 hours and we encounter a couple of very friendly farmers.
The first, Alfredo is barefoot cutting some wood to repair his drying barn. He is very willing to talk with us and he explains about all the crops that he's growing in his farm. There is a particular emphasis on Tobacco plants, which are the main crop in this area. Apparently the plant takes just 80 days to fully grow. And when is time to harvest (May) he has to store leafs into the drying barn where they will stay until the beginning of the rain season. At that point Alfredo stores everything away and waits for the state to pick them up. He seemed to be happy about his life and when asked if working as a farmer is tought he answer "No No que dices..".
The walk continues into other fields, in one of those we meet the second Tobacco farmer that is working the soil with his two oxen. The scene is fairly surreal, comparing to our high tech tractors this method is slow and hard, but a usual the farmer wasn't bother about walking under the sun shouting orders to thee big animals. John, one travel mate also gives it a go to this old traditional method.
During the final part of our route we went into a dark cave with bats to see the other side of the valley. The walk was interesting mostly to learn more about tobacco farming.
We spent the rest of the day with our "families" and resting. We had some rain in the afternoon that was more than welcome due to the extreme high humidity. Today we decided not to go out after lunch and stay in to talk with the whole family and children. A decision that we are happy of because is the last night in Viñales and talking to Cubans is the best way to spend an evening.
No comments:
Post a Comment