My Santiago

Our first stop, the Chocolate Farm,

Where we are greeted by Lisbeth,

(not the Dragoon tattooed one),

But just as enigmatic, beautiful, charming,

With wide - eyed smile,

And her way with the tubular chocolate pod,

“Invigorating, aphrodisiac”,

we depart, laden with Cacao nibs, tubular music rods

and Coco Butter,

Leaving the change with Lisbeth,

With a desire to help her family

stave off Raul’s taxes.

Through tropical rain,

We drive till we stop at the river,

Where we board boats

with names like Guantanamo and Taxi Boat,

And glide to the small island with its

Hummingbird, nestled by the river’s bank,

Oblivious to our cameras.

Intrepid, we swim in the icy water

surrounded by towering cliffs,

With Kites soaring overhead,

Massaging soles of feet on black river sand;

And then rain soaked,

We trudge to our beast ,

And head back to our Casas,

Thanking Oscar for the experience of a day in Baracoa.