Lunch back at Villa Santo Domingo was something different than another ham and cheese item .... a spaghetti meal option is what most of us chose. In wandered in the local piglet and dogs. Only here could this happen. Plus last night's horse wandered up to the door.

Eventually the two 4x4's returned so we piled back in for the return 19 km drive back down to Bartolome Maso and the coach. Passing coffee beans laid out to dry on the road, bullocks bringing back firewood plus clothes out drying on the line. Life seems so simple and uncluttered.

We eventually left Bartolome Maso at 2.30 pm (14:30) for Santiago de Cuba. A short 20 min break at Bayamo with many of the locals enjoying the hotel pool before the final 130 km push through to our evening destination.

As the orange sun dipped low below the horizon a bit earlier here in eastern Cuba, around 5.30 pm (17:30), we drove into Santiago de Cuba, our home for the next 2 nights.

Hotel San Juan is located next to the zoo and my room 16 overlooks the refreshing cool looking and large pool. Wonder if this is where I will end up tomorrow?

Dinner for 5 of us at the Zunzun Restaurante sitting out on the porch of the beautiful mansion turned restaurant. CUC$15 / US$15 / NZ$ 36.90 for the fish plus a bottle of Cristal beer. Chocolate ice cream with M&M's was a welcome and different desert. Great professional service as Lonely Planet said!

Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some 870 km (540 mi) south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana.

Historically Santiago de Cuba has long been the second most important city on the island after Havana, and still remains the second largest. It is on a bay connected to the Caribbean Sea and is an important sea port. In 2004 the city of Santiago de Cuba had a population of about 509,143 people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_Cuba