10 February Over crowded ferry to Castillo de Jagua

While we were on anchor at the marina we watched the numerous trips of the local ferry going from Cienfuegos back and forth to Castillo de Jagua at the entrance to the bay. It was time to hop the ferry and have an afternoon outing.

Castillo de  Jagua

Having checked the ferry timetable we cycled into town to catch the scheduled 1 o'clock boat. We arrived half an hour early and locked up the bikes and discovered the ferry, a barge like, flat bottom vessel was already full. We paid our $1 each and squeezed on to the open forward section. Others were crawling along the outside to reach the stern. I'm a seasoned London tube traveller and this boat was more crowded than any rush hour train in a bomb scare I've ever been on. When another twenty people had crammed on the boat was deemed full and we left the dock ten minutes early.

As we eased out into the bay it occurred to me that if one thing upset the balance it would be a disaster. Out of habit I located the life vests. It was a hot afternoon, but I had sniggled myself into a shady spot where I had in one ear a young man shouting to his friends three people away and on the other the flicking pony tail of a lady suffering in the heat. She would have collapsed except for her daughter pushing her past me to an inch of seat between two rotund passengers. For the rest of the journey she looked ill.

Meanwhile David had found a new friend, a chatty Immigration officer on his way home for the day. We talked about his job, his life and his passion for learning languages, reading history and travel books. He knew all about Hadrian's Wall. Yet another example of the open friendliness of our hosts.

visitors

small resident

After an hour we disembarked, said adios to our new best friend and walked up the hill to the castle. Castillo de Jagua was built by the Spanish in the 17^th century to defend the seaward entrance into Cienfuegos bay. As we sailed in it towered over us in the perfect defense position. Today it is tourist attraction with a small museum collection to browse. Wandering around even at a most leisurely pace with stops to chat to the other visitors doesn't take more than an hour. We were back at the ferry dock forty five minutes before the advertised 3.30pm return which was good because it left at 3.00pm. This time it was empty and we had the luxury of a seat for our trip back.