Roberto Gonzalez
Tourist Penance
I describe it as a penance, because it is. There are 465 steps leading up to a hill 275 meters above Holguin, a staircase built in 1950. But it became a must-visit spot in the city in 1790, at which time a cross was erected in hopes of ending the drought, and it's also a pilgrimage destination where annually on May 3rd a mass is held at its summit. Walking up takes about 20 minutes from the city centre, and I highly recommend buying water along the road, particularly in the small park with the plant remains of hurricane "Ike". A 1.5 litre bottle of water will disappear by the time you reach the top.
I similarly recommend going first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the heat is more bearable. But of course, there is another option, and you can go by car up the road that gradually comes to the summit, just like the architects responsible for overseeing the reorganization of the city did. But, of course, going by car just isn't the same.
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