Scuba Libre
Trip Start
Apr 23, 2008
1
3
9
Trip End
Oct 15, 2008
Trinidad, Trinidad, Cuba
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Apart from the excruciating Salsa lessons that doubled nicely as sauna sessions even after the sun had gone down, we were offered horse riding and scuba diving to top up the Hrinida experience. I say offered, but it was the most hap hazard of Costa Rican organisation so luckily in stepped our German management consultant, Lars - now if he could not get it all sorted out nobody could.
I got my towel on a very willing pony - well it had to be a good'n to cope with my weight - and with the others looking after Gill to make sure she was not swept from the saddle by a low hanging branch - my pony and I were allowed to canter off ahead and I had a ball. Even got into a real horse race with an Italian who was riding on his own, but he had a stick - all I could do was whip my reins backwards and forwards across the pony's neck like they do when the posse chases the goody in the westerns. Not the safest of terrain for this horse ride - Patrick's horse fell but luckily Patrick fell forwards out of harm's way and even one of the Gouchos' horses fell - he was trapped under the horse but then the horses were so under fed that no damage was done except to his pride. Anyway we all made it back safely, but after four hours in the saddle our legs were like jelly - I must have been gripping on for dear life, I ended up in a heap under the horses belly - not the most elegant of dismounts - not looking forward to Patrick's pictures.
Lars also managed to organise a Scuba dive with some very clear water and fairly colourful coral. All a bit shady because the guy with the equipment was doing a bit of freelance and we all had to pretend to be his friends if the police turned up. Giving tourists Scuba dives was of course meant to be controlled by the government rather like giving them beef to eat at the restaurants - a bit easier that one because the government own all the cows.
Anyway, great fun - no accidents and Gill only had to lie to the police once during the afternoon and we seemed to get away with it.
Hrinida was fairly touristy not least because of the vibrant Casa de la Musica at the top of those steps with a real night club behind. I say a real night club because it was only when the power failed that we realised there was no roof and we could see the stars - thank goodness because there is no such thing as a back up generator. Each town has a CdlM and a Casa de la Trova - I am not sure what the difference is meant to be - but we spent some good times in both.
