ON THE ROAD TO PORT JURACO 29 AUGUST 2015
It's 4 a.m.; Billy & I are first to the lobby (naturally) to wait for the rest of the group and get on the bus that will take a six-hour ride through the countryside to Jucaro, the port where the Avalon II is docked. This is the route from Habana to Jucaro, and then five more hours crossing to the Gardens, (Jardines De La Reina) aboard the Avalon II Billy taking one last look around the lobby of the Hotel Nacional at 4 a.m. We were provided with a very good (almost new) Chinese-made excursion bus, but was so dark at 4 a.m., I took no photos of loading. Our group was first on the bus, then it traveled around to a few other hotels to pick up other passengers (fishermen and divers). l-r, front: Dan, one of the two men from California; one of the crew (might be Eduardo) talks with Lauren, an ER nurse traveling on her own, having come in through Mexico; behind Lauren: Cheryl; behind Cheryl: Bob; to Bob's right: Billy; behind Billy I believe that Carla's head is just visible. Don't know who's farther back. Katie attempting to get some much-needed rest. The bus was an "Air Ride", but due to the roads, you'd never know it. After bouncing for four hours, I HAD to go back to use the toilet . . . what an adventure. Then, less than 30 minutes later, we made our first pit stop! We were about half way there. Still at the first rest stop (where the map photo was taken), a local restaurant where I got to use some of my VERY LIMITED Spanish, and where Katie helped us all out quite a bit. Café American con Leche, and a Sandwich Cubano (sandwich de jamon y queso) with a bottle of water (el agua).
Not only is toilet paper lacking in Cuba, so are toilet seats and running water.
A short movie showing foot and horse travel on the highway can be seen HERE Our next stop for a break was at this ranch that had clean restrooms . . . . . . and a bar open to serve "the best pina colada in Cuba". They were VERY GOOD, and only $3.
	Gaucho statue at the stop

FINALLY, WE ARRIVE AT JUCARO HERE