Bahia de Cochinos, Cuba

Getting from Trinidad to Vinales was our big road trip day in Cuba.

(For our tips on driving in Cuba see our travel blog, Exploring the World.)

We were both very keen to get there via The Bay of Pigs and Australia.

The trip to Playa Giron and Bahia de Cochinos gave us lots of experience on the local roads.

We were puzzled, then fascinated by the rice drying process we passed on the local roads. 

The line of rice stretched on for hundreds of metres with various people raking it (and guarding it) along the way.

Obviously we avoided driving on it, but there were times when this was impossible. But no-one seemed to mind. 

I love road trips.

I love the road signs, verges, corners and bridges.

Driving through the local areas makes the transition from one town or area to the next feel more fluid and natural. I like to note the changes in vegetation, architecture, weather and all the socio-economic factors like type of work, housing, infrastructure etc.

First stop was Playa Giron and the Museo Giron on the south-eastern end of Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs). 

A large sign on the beach announces that 'Here North American imperialism suffered its first major defeat.'

The small museum was a captivating mix of photographs, film, documents and weapons documenting the anti-Castro invasion. Having grown up with the American version of events, it was fascinating to finally hear and see the other side. Propaganda and revisionism played a part in both accounts.

Our next stop was right at the northern tip of the peninsula at Playa Larga.

Along the entire way from Playa Giron to Playa Larga, monuments and memorials honouring the Cuban defenders lined the road. Many had fresh flowers.

It was a beautiful (though blustery) day and the Caribbean was looking gorgeous. 

Snorkelling, diving, fishing and bird watching are popular activities around here (according to our Lonely Planet), but we didn't actually see anybody engaged in any of these things.

Ours was the only car in the car park and we were the only people on the beach.

Two Aussies travelling through Cuba couldn't not go through the little town of Australia!

According to wikipedia, Australia is named after the sugar factory (now closed), the Central Australia, which like other mills in the area, were named after continents.

During the 1961 invasion, Australia became famous when Castro used it as his base of operations.

However, there's not a lot to see there now.

Next week - Vinales!

This post is part of Saturday Snapshot.