CAMAGÜEY.- Although August begins to burn its last "ships", there are still days to enjoy the summer options in the province, and many choose to take advantage of the variables designed in the city, without having to go to the beach or camping .

The children at home, and the work holidays, common at this time of year, encourage the efforts of families to find some recreational space, and that can contribute to the necessary rest and healthy recreation.

The challenge? Very complex, because despite state efforts, economic offers are not always feasible, which increases the pressure on services, especially places where there is a swimming pool or various equipment for infants, not always available to an affordable cost.

OF VILLAS AND CASTLE

Its architectural structure resembles a castle, although not the type of movies, where there are boring kings, or gruesome horror characters. It is a comfortable unit belonging to the Santa Lucía Provincial Recreation and Tourism Company.

Beautiful facility, well maintained; inside, a group of workers strives to give the visitor a pleasant stay, which is why the El Castillito Base Business Unit (UEB), located on the Central Highway, corner of Agramonte, in the Jayamá neighborhood, becomes a permanent option between Camagüey’s citizens and foreigners.

Heyler Hernández Pacheco, young and dynamic director, highlights the daily effort to have attractive dishes on their menu, and that, in addition, they go on sale at affordable prices. In the cafeteria, it is not hard to find, for example, snacks with a maximum value of fifty pesos.

The pool is one of its "strong" sides, despite the fact that its dimensions are small. For its use, the adult pays 100 pesos, and 50 pesos the minors.

“We have day trips enabled with up to 60 people, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Reservations are made by phone or in person. Visitors can request lunch, with prices from 220 to 410 pesos, which includes beef, chicken and pork. If desired, the client can consume it in our restaurant. In addition, we have an offer of Cristal beer dispensed at the bar, attached to the pool”.

Photo: Alejandro Rodríguez Leiva/ AdelantePhoto: Alejandro Rodríguez Leiva/ Adelante

 

The Villa Azucarera is a very visited site. Its pool, location and capacity for accommodation, pay additional values. Julio Toledo, its current director, points out some of the characteristics of the center, which belongs to the Provincial Accommodation Company (ALGREC).

“We have 56 capacities, with the modality of three days and three nights, and reservations can be requested at the Bureau of the institution, located in the Fairgrounds. The rooms have a television, air conditioning and refrigerator, among other facilities, although the accommodation plan is already closed for this month”.

They also assume up to 60 people from Tuesday to Sunday, and have among their priorities the attention to sectors such as Health, Education, INDER and Communal. Its economic line allows you to purchase lunch for an amount of 250 pesos, and includes fried sea fish, rice, salad and vegetables. Visitors have access to the bar, with a wide line of cocktails, barbecue and cafeteria with light food such as snacks and soft drinks.

Other new modalities are added to "sweeten" the taste of their attending guests. Among these are the Camagüey’s Night, presentations for children on Sundays, and to satisfy lovers of the so-called prodigious decade on Wednesdays.

"We have added the extra box, to extract cash in an amount of up to 5,000 pesos, as an additional facility for users."

PARKS ON THE MENU

Among the most welcoming of its kind in the country, the Camilo Cienfuegos amusement park continues to be a must-see for adults and children, despite its 47 years.

Humberto Rodríguez Castillo, or Moreno, as he is usually called, is an exquisite conversationalist. After the greeting, there was no need to ask: “Shall we sit down, or I will answer you by walking”. A nearby seat, in the middle of the green forest that accompanies us, is an oasis in these days of intense heat...

“Now in the summer, we work from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and with almost all the high equipment, except La Taza, which is already suffering from the many years of exploitation, and it is necessary to resort to inventiveness to revive it.

"In the pool work has been done, and we hope that this weekend the children will be able to take a dip."

After concluding some steps typical of his functions, Ariel Cabrera López, the director, joins the exchange.

“Along with our own activities, there are presentations with Artistic talents on Saturdays and Sundays, with a profile designed for children. They start on those days around 11:00 a.m.”

"We have tried that most of what is sold is state-owned, although we have also given space to other forms of management of the economy, since in summer between 1,000 and 1,500 people come to our facility, an appreciable number , which demands good logistics.

"With the support of the management of the province we have managed to form modules of jams for children, with acceptable prices, and a variety of products."

Despite its remoteness, and the lack of transportation for its enjoyment, in the Botanical Garden a small pool provides services for adults and children, a good variant to enjoy the tranquility of the area.

Yainier Sardiña, the administrator, affirms that they have achieved systematic attendance and there is no shortage of those who prefer it to spend a day with family or friends.

Next to the La Cueva restaurant, which provides lunches, the clerk, Ramón Sardiñas, explained that those interested can book in person or by phone. With capacity for 30 people, the value of the total rent is 1,500 pesos. “In addition to pizzas, we have soft drinks, malts and bottled beer…”.

THE ZOO AND THE ROUNDABOUT... ALSO IN SUMMER

In the middle of Casino Campestre is the Camagüey’s Zoo, a very popular address that, whether it is the summer season or not, usually attracts a large public, not only infants, because adults of all ages use it as a reference for recreation.

It is one of the 22 existing in the country. Although it is not among the largest, it is one of the most visited, acknowledged Eddy Rojas Garay, director of the UEB Zoological Park, belonging to the OSDE Flora and Fauna.

“During the summer we are open all week, we start at 9:00 am. and we close at 4:45 p.m. We have 767 specimens and 74 species, and to serve the public we have two cafeterias (one for passers-by), a restaurant, a barbecue, a guarapera (sugarcane juice store), a point for selling pizzas, toy stores, and an aquarium”.

So far, between 10,000 and 12,000 people have passed through the facility in the period of July and August. The price of access is 10 pesos for adults, and 5 for minors. The artistic performances on Saturdays and Sundays constitute an additional gift, "which has been well received," said the manager.

For Jorge Luis García, a barely 9 years old boy, it is his first visit to a Zoo. He is not from Camagüey. “We came to see some relatives, and my parents brought me. I loved it".

Nearby is the UEB La Glorieta, of the Municipal Company of Restaurants and Recreation Centers, in the well-known El Emperador unit, which has a small recreational center for children and adults inside.

The initial impact has been positive, according to the criteria of its director, Nadia Valdespino. Admission is by reservation (phone 32-722223), at a price of 6,500 pesos, for a maximum of 15 people.

With an almost imminent remodeling in all its areas, the unit has not closed. It maintains vitality, said Yaumara Copelán Velazco, Gastronomy technician, the offers have increased by adding pizzas and spaghetti with various assortments; a kiosk sells takeaway food and lunches can be purchased in the picnic area.

"Now we are improving the exterior visuality, but we will make many changes to improve our center, and thus provide a superior service, as the people deserve," Valdespino said smiling.

These are just some of the most viable "summer recipes" in the city, and a modest guide to overcome the rigors of a hot August that in a matter of days... will be history.

Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez