February 29 - March 14, 2024 - Travelled to Cuba for our fourth visit to this amazing country. The weather was perfect, sunny, warm afternoons, cooler morning and evening. The ocean was crystal clear with shades of different colors of blue. Arrived in Havana and stayed at our previous Casa Particular with Daniel and Fina. Wonderful friends now and she makes a delicous breakfast for us each morning. Lots of fresh fruits, juice, toast and cheese omelets. Went to the different Plazas to see all the architecture, very stunning from the 1800's, early 1900's. Rode the Red Bus around Havana to all the different areas, which included seeing the new, huge, all-inclusive hotels on the west side, along the ocean side. After a few days, took a collectivo taxi, south to Vinales, which is a town that is surrounded by the National Park of Vinales, sits in a lush valley. Visited the Park to see the Prehistoric Wall, the gigantic cave, where we took a boat ride through part of it. Last stop was to a high area to see an overview. The next day, walked thru trails, saw some other visitors, some were on horseback. There are a tobacco farms and other Cubans living in the this area, very quiet and tranquil. We stay in a Casa Particular in the town with Isabel and Mario and their daugher who lived in Havana, but came to help her parents, while we were there. The breakfast was fresh eggs from their chickens, bananas from their trees, along with juice and omelets. Coffee is strong and good, always asking for cafe leche. The electricity goes out from 2 - 4 hours each day in all parts of Cuba, except Havana, where the government is and Varadero, where most of the all-inclusive hotels are for the tourists. The restaurants all have generators, so people can have light, if eating during the time of no electricity. Our stay in Casa Elenas was acorss the street from the pristine beach of Varadero. Elena and her daughter owned the Casa and was built 50 years ago, by her husband. We had a full apartment for our stay. This visit to Varadero, had less people than when we were there in 2019, before Covid and still is recovering from it. Markets were empty, bakery still closed, but the restaurants were opened and had plenty of food. Tourists eat in them, but most Cubans do not, since to expensive for them. All is very inexpensive in Cuba for tourists who visit, mostly Canadians and lots from Europen countries. Still, today Americans do not know that they can travel to Cuba, freely. The Cuban people love Americans and do not see many. When asked where we were from, said Americanos, they were happy and pleased that we were visiting. We shall return! Viva Cuba!