The Glorified Gypsy

The Glorified Gypsy

The travel writings of a vagabundo

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Free Solo Viñales

August 25, 2019 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

With no plan other than a desire to climb something, we decided over a breakfast of huevos revueltos y fruits that we’d just drive until we saw a mountain we liked. From the veranda of Casa Anita - our casa particular located two-kilometres south-west of Viñales town centre - we had sweeping views of the valley. We were adamant, however, that we’d steer clear of the area around the Mural de la Prehistoria known as los Dos Hermanas, for while it is undoubtably beautiful we had no desire to scale a mountain only to glimpse the mural in the distance. This meant we had to drive several kilometres north of Viñales town centre, out into the rolling farmlands, surrounded by the impressive mogotes which typify the Viñales Valley rock formations.

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August 25, 2019 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Free Solo Viñales, Ari, Aurelio, Viñales, Pinar del Rio, Mogote, Valle de Viñales, Viñales Valley, Santanillas, fire ants, Ciego Montero, Mural de la Prehistoria, Lafonda, Geely, Complete Cultural Assimilation (CCA), Free Solo, turkey vultures, Cuba
Cuba
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The Best Piña Colada in Cuba

May 21, 2019 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

For the umpteenth time on our Cuban cocktail quest, Chad Jnr. is asking a barman for a pineapple and the withering look he receives in response is, understandably, deserved. While friendly and hospitable people, Cubans do not suffer idiots well.

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May 21, 2019 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Hay piña? - quest for the perfect piña colada, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Havana, Cayo Santa María, keys, Chad Jnr., Lafonda, Hotel Nacional, Autopista Nacional, Para Tí, hay piña?, piña, piña colada, Cuban rum, Havana Club, Havana Club Siete Años, Punta Gorda, Casa de la Musica, Geely, diarrhoea, Casa Amarilla, Paseo de Prado, Jose Luiz, Jose Luis, Villa Lagarto, Iberostar Gran Hotel Trinidad, Plaza Mayor, Calle Cristo y Calle Alameda, Sol Ananda, tourist apartheid, Melia Cayo Santa Maria, Hotel Starfish, Varadero, Matanzas, Restaurante Arrebato, daiquiri, mojito, Puente de Bacunayagua, Torreón de la Chorrera, Fabrica de Arte Cubano, Cuervas de Bellamar, Hitler, best cocktail in Cuba, best piña colada in Cuba
Cuba
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Slaying a Donkey

April 26, 2019 by Carlitos de Jeffers in Cuba

“Que paso, amigo?” I said in an effortlessly authentic Cuban accent, addressing the oldest of the group. I pointed at the carnage behind him and smiled. As if to say, even if you have just murdered a rival farmer I’m totally cool with it. When in Rome, etc.

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April 26, 2019 /Carlitos de Jeffers
Slaying a Donkey, Cuba, Parque Natural Topes de Collantes, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Geely, guajiros, farmers, machete, burro, el Nicho
Cuba
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Send your questions, travelling dilemmas, or requests for Carlitos to sign your backpack to: theglorifiedgypsy@gmail.com