Remedios, Villa Clara. Father Francisco de Quiñones, Remedios parrish priest, never could have imagined that his idea of organizing parrandas (local street festivals) – in order to attract more parishioners to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, would over time, become an attraction for hundreds of visitors, who arrive to the city every day, enthralled by this almost 200 year tradition.
At that time, Francisco resolved the problem with the help of young men, who would wake up neighbors with horns, whistles and bangles, calling them to attend the mass.
That’s how the celebrations which began in Remedios in 1820, and over time, eventually became one of the most long-standing and popular festivals in the country, later spreading to another 17 cities and towns across the island.
The December 24 celebrations see two neighborhoods compete every year: San Salvador and El Carmen, which as soon as the bells of the Iglesia Parroquial Mayor sound at 9pm, unveil their creative works adorning plazas and floats.
Displays are kept a secret throughout the year until the moment of the unveiling, at which point they are accompanied by a torrent of fireworks, sparklers, flares and traditional music by each group, all of which combine to create a spectacle attended by thousands of fans of these celebrations, who travel to Remedios from around Cuba and the world, attracted not only by the parrandas but also by the history and traditions of a city which last year celebrated its 500th anniversary.
There are only three hotels - the Mascotte, Barceló, and Camino del Príncipe offering a total of 60 rooms – for tourists visiting the eighth villa founded by the Spanish in Cuba; an insufficient number to accommodate international and national visitors who arrive to the colonial city, according to Regla Dayamí Armenteros, Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) representative in Villa Clara.
For the Ministry, the solution to this problem has been to collaborate with the city’s network of 101 privately-run bed and breakfasts, 60 of which have strong links with the state, noted Armenteros.
Both parties are committed to meeting clients’ needs, which is why we collaborate, rather than compete, a relationship which has enabled us to meet growing accommodation and restaurant demand, among others, noted the Mintur representative, speaking to Granma International.
She also explained that state hotels call B&B owners in order to accommodate tourists, which doesn’t mean to say that visitors themselves can’t approach these establishments, where they will also enjoy an exquisite stay.
A DATE WITH A FAMILY FROM REMEDIOS
The Buen Viaje B&B, located on Andrés del Río No 20, between Enrique Malaret and Máximo Gómez streets, stands out among the over 100 establishments of this kind which exist in Remedios. The house is situated close to the town’s historic center, a picturesque location which receives hundreds of visitors every year.
The owners, Léster and Naty, two charming individuals, enjoy talking to tourists - be they Cuban or foreign - clearing up their doubts, recommending places to visit, and even teaching them a bit about the local history.
On the travel website TripAdvisor, which features the opinions of millions of tourists from all over the world, there appear some related to the Buen Viaje B&B, including one by Sergio Manuel M, from Bayamo, Granma province, who wrote: “I recently had the privilege of staying at the Buen viaje B&B, in the charming town of Remedios.
”It’s easy to write a few lines about the place, although one fears not being able to adequately express such enjoyment.
“The house has a fantastic patio-terrace, a natural atmosphere with beautiful plants which invite rest and meditation.
“The rooms are comfortable and are equipped with everything necessary for a perfect stay.
”The breakfasts, lunches and dinners are large and delicious, a treat for the taste buds…”
And if you look on the site you will also find thousands of positive comments about other B&Bs in Remedios.
Two such owners, Cuca and Molina, spoke to this reporter about their satisfaction with the work done and harmonious relationship established with state institutions.
“Tourism has given us the possibility to insert ourselves into this sphere and provided training with very informative courses, some of which we have to pay for, such as the Sommelier or Professional Chef classes, while other more basic kinds are free,” noted Eulalia Domínguez Salazar, known to all as Cuca.
Meanwhile, Alberto Molina, highlighted that the participation of self-employed workers has had a positive impact on Remedios’ development, providing employment for hundreds of people from the municipality and contributing to local development projects being carried out there, among other benefits.
Links such as these are what have turned Villa Clara into the third most popular tourist destination in the country, according to Regla Dayamí Armenteros, who noted that the sector grew 25.8% in the province as compared to 2014, and also saw an increase in the number of tourists, in excesses of three million.
