What a pleasure to reach Camagüey and return to the delightful, friendly Cuba of the tourist brochures! Our casa was on the first floor of a 19th century house in the city centre and served excellent dinners. It also had a magnificent roof-top terrace for sun-downers. Street scenes in the centre:
The city is about as far from the sea as you can get in the island and is famed for its dance group and “orchestra”. We went to a show in the modernised 19th century theatre. The event started with the award of a long service and good conduct medal or equivalent to the oldest employee – an electrician. The orchestra turned out to be a wind band nearly fifty strong – a dozen clarinets and as many flutes, a long row of brass – including saxophones, a strong percussion section, and – inevitably – a double-bass! The conductor was also the artistic director of the dance group and responsible for the musical arrangements. He directed the whole with great gusto!
On Sunday we set out to find the Casa de la Trova for a musical lunch – and found ourselves in a party!
A charming gentleman celebrating his 70th birthday. He made us very much at home and chatted with us although he had about 20 guests to attend to. People kept arriving with more and more food and drink – as the Casa is a State “business”, no one minded. Before long we found ourselves dancing, and Magda’s lesson in Holguín paid dividends as we counted 1, 2, 3,… 5, 6, 7,…!
At 3 o’clock the Casa de la Trova closed and the whole party moved 100 m down the street to the Arts and Culture Association, where the live music (and the beer and rum) continued until 5.00 p.m. Then there was a break – which we used to have a shower and supper – before we stalwarts (down to a group of about 10) reassembled in a bar on the main street at 7.00 p.m. and danced till 9. At that point we bowed out, but the others were set to go back to the Casa de la Trova where the music was due to start again at 10.00!
The city is about as far from the sea as you can get in the island and is famed for its dance group and “orchestra”. We went to a show in the modernised 19th century theatre. The event started with the award of a long service and good conduct medal or equivalent to the oldest employee – an electrician. The orchestra turned out to be a wind band nearly fifty strong – a dozen clarinets and as many flutes, a long row of brass – including saxophones, a strong percussion section, and – inevitably – a double-bass! The conductor was also the artistic director of the dance group and responsible for the musical arrangements. He directed the whole with great gusto!
On Sunday we set out to find the Casa de la Trova for a musical lunch – and found ourselves in a party!
A charming gentleman celebrating his 70th birthday. He made us very much at home and chatted with us although he had about 20 guests to attend to. People kept arriving with more and more food and drink – as the Casa is a State “business”, no one minded. Before long we found ourselves dancing, and Magda’s lesson in Holguín paid dividends as we counted 1, 2, 3,… 5, 6, 7,…!
At 3 o’clock the Casa de la Trova closed and the whole party moved 100 m down the street to the Arts and Culture Association, where the live music (and the beer and rum) continued until 5.00 p.m. Then there was a break – which we used to have a shower and supper – before we stalwarts (down to a group of about 10) reassembled in a bar on the main street at 7.00 p.m. and danced till 9. At that point we bowed out, but the others were set to go back to the Casa de la Trova where the music was due to start again at 10.00!
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