Elsewhere in the central region

Cubans have named this town The Birthplace of the Constitution. In fact, it was here that was written and made official the first Cuban Constitucion which specifies « se declaró iguales ante la Ley a todos los habitantes de la república ». Demanding that "all be equal under the Law", the Ejército Libertador de Mambises completed in 1869 a document whose objective was the liberation of the Cuban people from the colony imposed by Spain. Thanks to the vision and idealism of Ignacio Agramonte, its main author, other such as Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Salvador Cisneros Betancourt and Manuel de Quesada were able to assume leadership which would eventually reach the Royal Court in Madrid. Adding her voice to the Cuban demands, Ana Betancourt insisted that womens' rights be the same as everybody else's. It was in Guaimaro's plaza pública on April 10 1869 that the announcement was made and this was the start of celebrations which lasted weeks here and elsewhere on the island. Geographically, the area is crossed bu three waterways : rios Guáimaro, Ciego Molina and Saramaguacán. Natural resources include zeolith, copper, kaolin, sand, baryt, gold, and other stone stuff we never heard of ; ) In the Monte Grande sector, most of the land is used for cattle grazing and crops. A large saddlery sellerie nearby and a stone quarry in Palo Seco are some of the important employers in this part of Camaguey province. Every year, locals, camagueyanos and other Cuban vaqueros join guajiros from neighbouring towns such as Cascorro, Martí, Palo Seco, Pueblo Nuevo, San Miguel and Camalote to meet and compete in the great annual fair, the Feria Agropecuaria. Guáimaro is the name of a local tree in the Taino aboriginal lnaguage. The local Taino population was wiped out by Spanish colonists in 1530. DISTANCES Amancio, 42 Cayo Romero, 65 Cayo Sabinal, 82 Camaguey, 80 Colombia, 12 Florida, 120 Gibara, 161 Guayabal, 60 Holguin, 128 Jobabo, 31 La Habana, 608 Las Tunas, 48 Marti, 15 Nuevitas, 52 Playa Santa Lucia, 90 Puerto Padre, 100 Santiago de Cuba, 250 Sibanicu, 30 MAPS & LINKS Regional Map — Guaimaro to Las Tunas Parque de la Constitucion, photo enlarged Weather (Wunderground) Viazul which goes by Guaimaro — Rutas 16 and 24 Daily exchange rates Two casas in nearby town of Amancio POPULATION 57,333 in regional municipality, of which 21,000 in Guaimaro, the town (2007) PLAYAS On the south coast, at some 60 km, the seaside town of Guayabal has a beach and a campismo. On the way there, stop in lovely Amancio — see below.

Asemblea Constituyante © Lizopedia flickr •|• Annual Farm Fair is called Feria Agropecuaria Guaimaro © Miriam Alvarez

Parque de la Constitucion © Eyanex, panoramio •|• Calle al lado del Parque © Eyanex

Iglesia © Eyanex

Calle tipica © Eyanex

Campismo on south coast beach at Guayabal © Sundero, panoramio

SEE.KNOW.DO
• The large central park, Parque de la Constitucion with its 46-foot high Obelisco was inaugurated in May 1944 to honor the libertadores
• In the same park, the Mausoleo a Ana Betancourt (1832-1901), journalist and teacher, one of the first women in the world to demand womens' equal rights. Her remains were transported back from Madrid to rest in Havana's Cementerio Colon in 1968 as suggested by another great Cuban woman, Celia Sanchez Manduley (Fidel Castro's companion until her death in 1980)
• In 1982, the local mausoleum was inaugurated and declared Monumento Nacional as well as the Museo General Municipal de Guáimaro
• Busto de Calixto García is a work — located on Avenida de la Libertad— of one of the 20th century's most important sculptors, Teodoro Ramos Blanco
• Now located in what was first a school in 1925, the Museo Municipal General de la Constitucion relating the story of the ratification of the island's first constitution.

FROM CULTURE TO AGRICULTURE ; )
every April since 1978 is held here the Semana de la Cultura en Guáimaro a week of cultural events to which take part some of these institutions : Sociedad del Teatro de Guáimaro, Galería de Artes de Guaimaro, Brigada de Instructores de Arte José Martí, Brigada artística Martha Machado, Museo Salvador Cisneros de Guáimaro, Casa de Cultura, Librería Municipal Ignacio Agramonte and the great cultural site of the town, built in 1918 and modernized in 1958 : the Cine Guáimaro. • In May, it's time for Taller de tradiciones Cuiqui Sum which highlights regional literary talents of poetry, tale-telling, riddles, proverbs and epigrams • Early June, in the spirit of feminist Ana Betancourt takes place the Encuentro de poetisas Décima al filo, a meet of Cuban women (and men) poets with music, dance and plastic arts • In July, since 2008, the Festival del Audiovisual at Cine Guáimaro. • During the first week of October the unavoidable Feria Agropecuaria Guaimaro with horse races, rodeos, bull riding, lasso contests and everything to please the guajira and her cowboy (vaquero) • In November is the annual Salón de Mural, Artesanía y Cerámica Artística (murals, arts & crafts and ceramics) in the Guaimaro art gallery.

EVENINGS
Casa de Cultura Luz Palomares García — Theater, dance lessons, arts & crafts, music and an art gallery • Cine Guáimaro — movies, theater, shows and video room, théâtre.

SUGGESTED CASAS
V = suggested by travelers or owners but not verified by the webmaestro. • Try to reserve at least one week ahead; you must reconfirm by phone 24 hours before arrival. Otherwise, your reservation may be cancelled. • Children 16 and under may share parents' bedroom at no charge only if there is an additional bed available. Mention the age of your children when making the reservation. Usual Guaimaro rates are 15-20cuc per bedroom per night (2 adults max.) unless otherwise mentioned. Comments and suggestions webmaster @cubacasas.net

Click to visit © Claude Boisjoly & sogestour

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© Magalys Ramos & sogestour

Calle © Eyanex, panoramio