Cuban Blog Day #23 Spend All Your Money

I was taking a taxi to the airport at noon, so I woke early and enjoyed my last few hours in Havana.  I needed to find a post office to mail the rest of my postcards. I wanted them to be postmarked from Cubaand not Mexico. Finding a place to mail them was surprisingly harder than I expected. I asked a man with a family where one was, and they ended up running around Havana with me, going in and out of various buildings looking for a place that would mail out my postcards.

We never found one and I thanked them for their help and continued on. I finally found a post office on a corner. I was a bit worried that they wouldn’t actually make it home because the guy there was a little shady and took my cards rather secret like. I paid him for the stamps which I watched him put on and hoped they’d make it back.

I went to the plaza and people watched for a bit. I had been noticing all sorts of street dogs with collars on them, though appearing to have no owner about. I inquired about the dogs in one of the museums, and the lady there told me that they take care of them. Various businesses take it upon themselves to care for the many stray dogs all about. They put collars on them so they are marked and feed them. She told me the museum had five dogs. They were all sunning themselves just outside the museum doors. I though it was such a great and kind thing to do.

I went to the Chocolate Café one last time, roamed about different businesses trying to get more Che coins to take back as souvenirs and gifts. I got a lot of strange looks doing this, but I didn’t care. I ended up with 8 coins. I bought a small bought of three year Havana Club to see if I could get it back with me.

I headed back to the casa, packed up and waited for the taxi.  It is always bittersweet to leave a place. I enjoyed my time in Cubaimmensely, yet at the same time I was ready to be done traveling and be home in my own bed with my cats.

At the airport, I had my bags Saran wrapped. It was advice I’d gotten before I left. A friend told me, especially coming back from Cubainto Mexico, to have it done so that items do not get stolen out of it. It was $8 CUC, which I thought was excessive, but I had several CUC leftover which I wasn’t sure I’d be able to exchange in Mexico anyway, so I decided to be safe.

I waited in a super long line to check in, and then another to pay airport tax, $25 CUC, and then another to go through some sort of customs. I wasn’t quite sure what it was as I’ve never had to do that when leaving a country, only when entering.  They took my visa, which I was quite sad about because I had hoped I’d have that to keep in lieu of an actual passport stamp.  The lady nearly stamped my passport, but I noticed in time to tell her not to, and instead she stamped my boarding pass, now, the only proof I had that I had been. I then had to pay tax on my art, $3 CUC for each piece. If I had known this, I would have tried to fit it all into my suitcase.

I was glad to have arrived three hours early to the airport. After waiting in all the lines, I barely had time to take a book out to read before the announcement to board. It was a short flight back to Cancun, and I slept most of the way.

In Cancun, I tried to exchange my remaining CUC. I had thought that surely they would take the CUC, but not the peso national. They wouldn't take either, so I was stuck with about $30 US worth of CUC. (Anybody headed to Cubasoon?)

I waited for a bus to take me into town and ended up staying in the same hostel I did when I first arrived. They even remembered me.  I stayed in my room and enjoyed having the internet for the first time in nearly a month.

Traveling Tip #26 Spend all your money-  It is always difficult to know exactly how much money to exchange when traveling.  You do not want to exchange too much and then have to exchange back, thus losing lots in the back and forth.  I ended up sticking at or under my budget the whole way, exchanging about $500 US per week.  What through me off, was knowing about the $25 CUC tax I would have to pay at the airport and not having anything less than $100 Canadian bill to exchange. I’d used up all my $50s in an effort to lighten my money belt some.  I also really thought there’d be no problem exchanging CUC for Mexican pesos once I was there. After all, what do Cubans do when they come to Mexico? So, if you’re coming to Cuba, unless you’re planning to return, spend all your CUC in Cuba.  

Cuban Blog Day #23 Spend All Your Money

I was taking a taxi to the airport at noon, so I woke early and enjoyed my last few hours in Havana.  I needed to find a post office to mail the rest of my postcards. I wanted them to be postmarked from Cuba and not Mexico. Finding a place to mail them was surprisingly harder than I expected. I asked a man with a family where one was, and they ended up running around Havana with me, going in and out of various buildings looking for a place that would mail out my postcards.

We never found one and I thanked them for their help and continued on. I finally found a post office on a corner. I was a bit worried that they wouldn’t actually make it home because the guy there was a little shady and took my cards rather secret like. I paid him for the stamps which I watched him put on and hoped they’d make it back.

I went to the plaza and people watched for a bit. I had been noticing all sorts of street dogs with collars on them, though appearing to have no owner about. I inquired about the dogs in one of the museums, and the lady there told me that they take care of them. Various businesses take it upon themselves to care for the many stray dogs all about. They put collars on them so they are marked and feed them. She told me the museum had five dogs. They were all sunning themselves just outside the museum doors. I though it was such a great and kind thing to do.

I went to the Chocolate Café one last time, roamed about different businesses trying to get more Che coins to take back as souvenirs and gifts. I got a lot of strange looks doing this, but I didn’t care. I ended up with 8 coins. I bought a small bought of three year Havana Club to see if I could get it back with me.

I headed back to the casa, packed up and waited for the taxi.  It is always bittersweet to leave a place. I enjoyed my time in Cuba immensely, yet at the same time I was ready to be done traveling and be home in my own bed with my cats.

At the airport, I had my bags Saran wrapped. It was advice I’d gotten before I left. A friend told me, especially coming back from Cuba into Mexico, to have it done so that items do not get stolen out of it. It was $8 CUC, which I thought was excessive, but I had several CUC leftover which I wasn’t sure I’d be able to exchange in Mexico anyway, so I decided to be safe.

I waited in a super long line to check in, and then another to pay airport tax, $25 CUC, and then another to go through some sort of customs. I wasn’t quite sure what it was as I’ve never had to do that when leaving a country, only when entering.  They took my visa, which I was quite sad about because I had hoped I’d have that to keep in lieu of an actual passport stamp.  The lady nearly stamped my passport, but I noticed in time to tell her not to, and instead she stamped my boarding pass, now, the only proof I had that I had been. I then had to pay tax on my art, $3 CUC for each piece. If I had known this, I would have tried to fit it all into my suitcase.

I was glad to have arrived three hours early to the airport. After waiting in all the lines, I barely had time to take a book out to read before the announcement to board. It was a short flight back to Cancun, and I slept most of the way.

In Cancun, I tried to exchange my remaining CUC. I had thought that surely they would take the CUC, but not the peso national. They wouldn't take either, so I was stuck with about $30 US worth of CUC. (Anybody headed to Cuba soon?)

I waited for a bus to take me into town and ended up staying in the same hostel I did when I first arrived. They even remembered me.  I stayed in my room and enjoyed having the internet for the first time in nearly a month.

Traveling Tip #26 Spend all your money-  It is always difficult to know exactly how much money to exchange when traveling.  You do not want to exchange too much and then have to exchange back, thus losing lots in the back and forth.  I ended up sticking at or under my budget the whole way, exchanging about $500 US per week.  What through me off, was knowing about the $25 CUC tax I would have to pay at the airport and not having anything less than $100 Canadian bill to exchange. I’d used up all my $50s in an effort to lighten my money belt some.  I also really thought there’d be no problem exchanging CUC for Mexican pesos once I was there. After all, what do Cubans do when they come to Mexico? So, if you’re coming to Cuba, unless you’re planning to return, spend all your CUC in Cuba.  

Cuban Blog Day #22 Oh Hemingway

 I woke early to enjoy my last full day in Cuba.  I walked down Obispo Street, famous in HavanaVieja for its shops and cafes. I was a bit early for all the shops to be open, but it was good people watching.

I walked to the main square and rode up an elevator to the top floor of the eclectic 20^th century Gómez Vilabuilding. This building has a periscope called Camera Obscura that gives a live view of the entire city.  It is one of only 74 in the world and the only one in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was really quite impressive. I had no idea such a thing existed.  It was a big circle display and could be zoomed into and out of so that you could see clothes on a line blowing in the wind or the flapping of a bird’s wings. It was a great way to get a full view of the city.

I stayed up top and took lots of pictures. I also wrote a bit, enjoying the peacefulness and calm being above the crowd brought.

Once down, I roamed the square, walked through the tiny, free playing card museum and a few churches and historical buildings. I had no set plan for my last day, and it was nice to just go where the sidewalk took me.

I stopped for lunch at a café on Obisbo Street and people watched.  I read a bit more of my Ernest Hemingway short stories.  I had brought with me to Cuba The Sun Also Rises and a collections of short stories by the great writer. I was using this trip and Hemingway as inspiration for my own writing. 

After lunch, I walked to Ambos Mundos, the hotel made famous by Hemingway who wrote two of his novels there, including his Pulitzer Prize winning, The Old Man and The Sea.  I paid the $2 CUC to take a private tour of room 511 where Hemingway stayed when he visited. Several of his fishing rods were displayed around the room, along with a few photos of Hemingway and Castro after a fishing tournament.  Most people believe that Hemingway and Castro had a strong friendship. This is made evident by all the photos of the two. But, upon closer inspection one will notice that both men are in the same attire in every picture. The two, in fact only met briefly during the fishing contest, which Castro is noted as winning.  

His typewriter was in the center of the small room, encased in glass.  I got particular joy out of seeing this and imagining him typing away on it.  A copy of his Pulitzer Prize award was framed on the wall along with several articles announcing his win.  Special attention was paid to the fact that the novel was written in Cuba.

It was a corner room with views of both HavanaVieja plaza, as well as the harbor where he’d often fish.  It was a typical hotel room which just happened to host a great and tormented writer every so often.

On the same floor as his room there is a rooftop bar and restaurant which offered more great views of the city. I stayed above and took more pictures. I made my way down and towards the artisanal market I had been to the day before. This time I was armed with money and ready to haggle. I ran into the Germans there and we walked around for a bit together, but I had business to take care of.  I bought art, and magnets, and postcards, and a Havana Club Guayabera shirt and so much more to take home as gifts and memorabilia. It was so much fun shopping and bargaining in the giant market.

I went back to the casaand drank a few Cuba Libres on my balcony.  Music was playing loudly from somewhere on the street below. I noticed people above and across from me looking out of their windows or out from their balconies. They were looking down to the street below where a man was dancing to the music. He was in the middle of the street, not minding the cars that wanted to pass him every so often, doing a mix between break dancing and I don’t know what.  More and more people came to their windows to watch the man below.  The guys across and one storey up from me invited me to come over and share a drink with them.  I cheers’ed them from across the way. We all watched, enjoying the free entertainment.  Soon a woman approached and instead of simply passing by the man, she joined him.  It was so quintessential Cuba-The loud salsa music, the crazy man dancing on the narrow street below, the neighbors all out viewing the spectacle. 

I enjoyed dinner with the Germans one last time. They were leaving very early the next morning and so headed back for an early night of packing.  I stayed out, with one more place I needed to go to call my travels in Cubacomplete. La Floridita. The bar made famous by Hemingway. He’d walk to this bar in the evenings from Ambos Mundos after a long day of writing and wet his whistle with a daiquiri or five.

My plan was simply to have one daiquiri and call it a night. I had heard that the place was more of a tourist trap than anything, with over priced drinks and very little atmosphere, but I couldn’t not go to one of the great’s old stomping grounds. There is just something about being in the same place, seeing the same things, drinking the same cocktail, perhaps even sitting in the same barstool as someone you admire that spurs inspiration.

Sure enough, as I walked in I could see the place was full of mostly tourists. I sat at the bar and next to me was another Americahere on a legal, expensive tour, somehow having gotten away from his group. Tsk, Tsk. I ordered my daiquiri in Spanish and chatted with the man for a bit, till he left, probably worried about curfew.

Once he left, the three men next to him scooted over. They asked if I was Cuban, wondering why I ordered my drink in Spanish. I’m certain they were just looking for a way to slide over and talk to me.  I was in Cuba, didn’t everybody order their drinks in Spanish? The three men were from the Canary Islands, and they doted on me the rest of the evening. I more than made up for the drinks I had to buy the hustlers the day before.  I had a photo shot with the Hemingway statue at the end of the bar, I tried every kind of daiquiri they made there, I danced salsa with each of them. Even the bartenders seemed in on it, letting me behind the bar to make a few drinks myself.

It was absolutely the perfect last day in Havana-from the periscope, to the Hemingway hotel, to the dancing in the street, to the daiquiris, I saw it all.

Traveling tip # 25 Let them buy you drinks- There are few benefits of being a solo traveler as great as this. It keeps your budget down and lets you meet great people.

Cuban Blog Day #22 Oh Hemingway

 I woke early to enjoy my last full day in Cuba.  I walked down Obispo Street, famous in Havana Vieja for its shops and cafes. I was a bit early for all the shops to be open, but it was good people watching.

I walked to the main square and rode up an elevator to the top floor of the eclectic 20^th century Gómez Vila building. This building has a periscope called Camera Obscura that gives a live view of the entire city.  It is one of only 74 in the world and the only one in Latin America and the Caribbean. It was really quite impressive. I had no idea such a thing existed.  It was a big circle display and could be zoomed into and out of so that you could see clothes on a line blowing in the wind or the flapping of a bird’s wings. It was a great way to get a full view of the city.

I stayed up top and took lots of pictures. I also wrote a bit, enjoying the peacefulness and calm being above the crowd brought.

Once down, I roamed the square, walked through the tiny, free playing card museum and a few churches and historical buildings. I had no set plan for my last day, and it was nice to just go where the sidewalk took me.

I stopped for lunch at a café on Obisbo Street and people watched.  I read a bit more of my Ernest Hemingway short stories.  I had brought with me to Cuba The Sun Also Rises and a collections of short stories by the great writer. I was using this trip and Hemingway as inspiration for my own writing. 

After lunch, I walked to Ambos Mundos, the hotel made famous by Hemingway who wrote two of his novels there, including his Pulitzer Prize winning, The Old Man and The Sea.  I paid the $2 CUC to take a private tour of room 511 where Hemingway stayed when he visited. Several of his fishing rods were displayed around the room, along with a few photos of Hemingway and Castro after a fishing tournament.  Most people believe that Hemingway and Castro had a strong friendship. This is made evident by all the photos of the two. But, upon closer inspection one will notice that both men are in the same attire in every picture. The two, in fact only met briefly during the fishing contest, which Castro is noted as winning.  

His typewriter was in the center of the small room, encased in glass.  I got particular joy out of seeing this and imagining him typing away on it.  A copy of his Pulitzer Prize award was framed on the wall along with several articles announcing his win.  Special attention was paid to the fact that the novel was written in Cuba.

It was a corner room with views of both Havana Vieja plaza, as well as the harbor where he’d often fish.  It was a typical hotel room which just happened to host a great and tormented writer every so often.

On the same floor as his room there is a rooftop bar and restaurant which offered more great views of the city. I stayed above and took more pictures. I made my way down and towards the artisanal market I had been to the day before. This time I was armed with money and ready to haggle. I ran into the Germans there and we walked around for a bit together, but I had business to take care of.  I bought art, and magnets, and postcards, and a Havana Club Guayabera shirt and so much more to take home as gifts and memorabilia. It was so much fun shopping and bargaining in the giant market.

I went back to the casa and drank a few Cuba Libres on my balcony.  Music was playing loudly from somewhere on the street below. I noticed people above and across from me looking out of their windows or out from their balconies. They were looking down to the street below where a man was dancing to the music. He was in the middle of the street, not minding the cars that wanted to pass him every so often, doing a mix between break dancing and I don’t know what.  More and more people came to their windows to watch the man below.  The guys across and one storey up from me invited me to come over and share a drink with them.  I cheers’ed them from across the way. We all watched, enjoying the free entertainment.  Soon a woman approached and instead of simply passing by the man, she joined him.  It was so quintessential Cuba- The loud salsa music, the crazy man dancing on the narrow street below, the neighbors all out viewing the spectacle. 

I enjoyed dinner with the Germans one last time. They were leaving very early the next morning and so headed back for an early night of packing.  I stayed out, with one more place I needed to go to call my travels in Cuba complete. La Floridita. The bar made famous by Hemingway. He’d walk to this bar in the evenings from Ambos Mundos after a long day of writing and wet his whistle with a daiquiri or five.

My plan was simply to have one daiquiri and call it a night. I had heard that the place was more of a tourist trap than anything, with over priced drinks and very little atmosphere, but I couldn’t not go to one of the great’s old stomping grounds. There is just something about being in the same place, seeing the same things, drinking the same cocktail, perhaps even sitting in the same barstool as someone you admire that spurs inspiration.

Sure enough, as I walked in I could see the place was full of mostly tourists. I sat at the bar and next to me was another America here on a legal, expensive tour, somehow having gotten away from his group. Tsk, Tsk. I ordered my daiquiri in Spanish and chatted with the man for a bit, till he left, probably worried about curfew.

Once he left, the three men next to him scooted over. They asked if I was Cuban, wondering why I ordered my drink in Spanish. I’m certain they were just looking for a way to slide over and talk to me.  I was in Cuba, didn’t everybody order their drinks in Spanish? The three men were from the Canary Islands, and they doted on me the rest of the evening. I more than made up for the drinks I had to buy the hustlers the day before.  I had a photo shot with the Hemingway statue at the end of the bar, I tried every kind of daiquiri they made there, I danced salsa with each of them. Even the bartenders seemed in on it, letting me behind the bar to make a few drinks myself.

It was absolutely the perfect last day in Havana- from the periscope, to the Hemingway hotel, to the dancing in the street, to the daiquiris, I saw it all.

Traveling tip # 25 Let them buy you drinks- There are few benefits of being a solo traveler as great as this. It keeps your budget down and lets you meet great people.

Cuban Blog Day #21 It's Nobody's Birthday

My alarm didn’t go off today, so I was lucky the Germans were their usual late. We ate breakfast quickly and piled into Dimitri’s car to drive the 1 ½ to 2 hour drive to Havana.  I was grateful to be in a car and not a bus and therefore get there much quicker. I slept most of the way there.

Dimitri took us to his cousin’s casa which was in the heart of HavanaVieja (Old Havana). The Germans had been to Havana in the beginning of their trip, and they were very excited about our location, as was I.  We were also quite happy with the price, which though it was the most expensive casa of my whole trip at $25 CUC with breakfast, was still quite cheap for the big city.

I said a sad goodbye to Dimitri and got a few pictures with him. I thanked him for his kind hospitality and all of his help. I told him I would tell the world about him and his casa. He called me sister and bid me farewell.

Inside, after settling in, Dimitri’s cousin welcomed us with a shot of rum elixir. None of us knew what it was exactly. We also were a little apprehensive about taking a shot at 10 in the morning, but we were in Havanaand it would have been rude to say no, right? I was not too fond of it. It was quite strong and not at all like rum.

I made plans to meet up later with the Germans for dinner and took off toward Parque Centralwhich was just around the corner from the casa.  From there I hopped on a hop-on hop-off bus. I am usually not a fan of these, but given my limited time in HavanaI thought this would be the best way to see as much of the city as I could. I took a seat on the top of the open air double decker bus and was off.

We drove by the malecón (the boardwalk) which was much longer than I expected and seemed to go the length of the city. It was crowded with people playing music, walking, or simply sitting and people or wave watching. The ocean crashed against the wall of the malecón spraying passersby.  We passed by the famous Che building and took pictures. It was crazy to see all of the different buildings, some of them in a state of disrepair having been left to crumble, scaffolding still in its place from when the embargo took effect, trees growing up and around the building and its scaffolding. Time stopped.  Other buildings were grand and impressive. Each were scattered among one another. This is why you go to Cuba.

I came back to the park and stopped for lunch.  On my way to a restaurant, I was stopped by a curious couple and their baby.  They chatted with me and informed me that The Buena Vista Social Club was having a huge festival for their 15^th anniversary. I was super excited and wanted to know where it was.  They said they were going that way anyway and told me they would take me there. I thought I’d go find out where it was and then come back after lunch.  We walked and talked, and they convinced me to stop into a bar which they claimed had been one of Hemmingway’s old haunts.  We drank Cuba Libres and I was told it was the wife’s birthday. We celebrated; until the bill came.  It was $20 CUC for three drinks. I didn’t even know how that was possible. I knew Havanawas more expensive than the rest of the country, but this was outrageous. I wouldn’t pay that much for drinks in the states.  To add to it all, the Cubans expected me to pay the entire thing!

I paid and got out of there as quickly as I could. I tried to wrap my head around such an elaborate hustle and just couldn’t see going to such lengths just to get a drink and bring folks to a particular bar.  When I told the Germans about this, their mouths hung open. They finished the story for me; the child, the birthday, The Buena Vista Social Club, every last detail was the same. It had happened to them the first time they were here.  Unbelievable!

After lunch, I got back on the bus and went to the place I had been dreaming about since planning my trip- The Havana Club Factory. I took a tour and learned all about the rum I’d coveted for years.  At the end we had shots of 7 year rum. I sat in the bar and had a Cuba Libre while listening to live salsa music. I hopped back on the bus, and we stopped at a giant craft market that I would return to the next day when I had more money.

I met the Germans back at the casa, and we drank Cuba Libres on our balcony until we walked to dinner. We ate a really nice meal in a fancy restaurant, but it was still very cheap. The Germans had been there before. After, we walked around Havana Vieja and took in the night scene.

Traveling Tip # 24 It’s nobody’s birthday- I generally pride myself on being especially keen at spotting the hustle. This one blew me away in its attention to detail and the fact that it had worked on at least two different unsuspecting travelers. So, if you are ever in Cuba and someone tells you 1) it’s their birthday and lets get shots at this great bar Hemmingway used to hang out in, and/or 2) The Buena Vista Social Club is in town, don’t buy it. 

Cuban Blog Day #21 It's Nobody's Birthday

My alarm didn’t go off today, so I was lucky the Germans were their usual late. We ate breakfast quickly and piled into Dimitri’s car to drive the 1 ½ to 2 hour drive to Havana.  I was grateful to be in a car and not a bus and therefore get there much quicker. I slept most of the way there.

Dimitri took us to his cousin’s casa which was in the heart of Havana Vieja (Old Havana). The Germans had been to Havana in the beginning of their trip, and they were very excited about our location, as was I.  We were also quite happy with the price, which though it was the most expensive casa of my whole trip at $25 CUC with breakfast, was still quite cheap for the big city.

I said a sad goodbye to Dimitri and got a few pictures with him. I thanked him for his kind hospitality and all of his help. I told him I would tell the world about him and his casa. He called me sister and bid me farewell.

Inside, after settling in, Dimitri’s cousin welcomed us with a shot of rum elixir. None of us knew what it was exactly. We also were a little apprehensive about taking a shot at 10 in the morning, but we were in Havana and it would have been rude to say no, right? I was not too fond of it. It was quite strong and not at all like rum.

I made plans to meet up later with the Germans for dinner and took off toward Parque Central which was just around the corner from the casa.  From there I hopped on a hop-on hop-off bus. I am usually not a fan of these, but given my limited time in Havana I thought this would be the best way to see as much of the city as I could. I took a seat on the top of the open air double decker bus and was off.

We drove by the malecón (the boardwalk) which was much longer than I expected and seemed to go the length of the city. It was crowded with people playing music, walking, or simply sitting and people or wave watching. The ocean crashed against the wall of the malecón spraying passersby.  We passed by the famous Che building and took pictures. It was crazy to see all of the different buildings, some of them in a state of disrepair having been left to crumble, scaffolding still in its place from when the embargo took effect, trees growing up and around the building and its scaffolding. Time stopped.  Other buildings were grand and impressive. Each were scattered among one another. This is why you go to Cuba.

I came back to the park and stopped for lunch.  On my way to a restaurant, I was stopped by a curious couple and their baby.  They chatted with me and informed me that The Buena Vista Social Club was having a huge festival for their 15^th anniversary. I was super excited and wanted to know where it was.  They said they were going that way anyway and told me they would take me there. I thought I’d go find out where it was and then come back after lunch.  We walked and talked, and they convinced me to stop into a bar which they claimed had been one of Hemmingway’s old haunts.  We drank Cuba Libres and I was told it was the wife’s birthday. We celebrated; until the bill came.  It was $20 CUC for three drinks. I didn’t even know how that was possible. I knew Havana was more expensive than the rest of the country, but this was outrageous. I wouldn’t pay that much for drinks in the states.  To add to it all, the Cubans expected me to pay the entire thing!

I paid and got out of there as quickly as I could. I tried to wrap my head around such an elaborate hustle and just couldn’t see going to such lengths just to get a drink and bring folks to a particular bar.  When I told the Germans about this, their mouths hung open. They finished the story for me; the child, the birthday, The Buena Vista Social Club, every last detail was the same. It had happened to them the first time they were here.  Unbelievable!

After lunch, I got back on the bus and went to the place I had been dreaming about since planning my trip- The Havana Club Factory. I took a tour and learned all about the rum I’d coveted for years.  At the end we had shots of 7 year rum. I sat in the bar and had a Cuba Libre while listening to live salsa music. I hopped back on the bus, and we stopped at a giant craft market that I would return to the next day when I had more money.

I met the Germans back at the casa, and we drank Cuba Libres on our balcony until we walked to dinner. We ate a really nice meal in a fancy restaurant, but it was still very cheap. The Germans had been there before. After, we walked around Havana Vieja and took in the night scene.

Traveling Tip # 24 It’s nobody’s birthday- I generally pride myself on being especially keen at spotting the hustle. This one blew me away in its attention to detail and the fact that it had worked on at least two different unsuspecting travelers. So, if you are ever in Cuba and someone tells you 1) it’s their birthday and lets get shots at this great bar Hemmingway used to hang out in, and/or 2) The Buena Vista Social Club is in town, don’t buy it. 

Cuban Blog Day #20 Pretend You're One of Them

I spent one last day in Playa Giron.  Eva wanted to do the cenote dive, and I wanted one more day on a beach before we made our way to the big city. I went back to the all inclusive in a $5 CUC taxi and paid the $15 CUC for all I could drink and eat for the entire day. It was a beautiful day, and I lay in the beach chairs, read magazines and jumped into the turquoise water every now and again.  The perfect hangover cure.

The chef became friendly with me and before I knew it, I was getting chair side service with Cuba Libres delivered to me every five minutes or so.  He informed me that there would be a bus soon for the hotel guests to go back to Playa Giron. I decided to try my luck and see if I could take it back.

When it arrived I got on like all the other guests. When we passed by my casa, I asked if he could drop me off there.  It was no problem.  I sat out in the Adirondackchairs in the front of the casa and wrote and watched the world pass by.  Soon I joined Dimitri’s daughter-in-law in their back patio and had a wine and coke concoction she made.  I chatted with the whole family and played with the little boy, Jonathan.

For our last dinner in Playa Giron the Germans came over and Dimitri served us fresh barracuda caught that day by him and his son. I’d only had it once before at a restaurant in Utila, Hondurasand loved it.  Dimitri told me it was actually illegal. I thought he was joking until he explained to me that it is poisonous.  Barracuda will apparently eat anything and because of this they sometimes eat poisonous things and then become poisonous themselves.  He told me not to worry though, because before they ever serve it, they first give it to a chicken and wait an hour. If the chicken doesn’t kick the bucket, they serve it up. Lucky me! I enjoyed it very much and had more than my fair share as the Germans are not fond of seafood. Pity.

We chatted around the kitchen table and arranged plans for Dimitri to take us to Havana the next day. It was cheaper than a bus because we were splitting it, and we could go when we wanted to.  We wanted to get there early so as to have a full day there when we arrived.  Due to an oversight on my departure day- I had thought I was flying out on a Tuesday rather than a Monday, thus giving me only two days in Havana, instead of the 3-4 I was hoping for. I was not too disappointed by this fact as I am never too fond of big cities and prefer quiet beach towns like the one we were about to leave.  It was also nearing the end of my trip and as much as I hate that it happens, it always does, I start winding down, losing my zest to go go go and it often alters my plans anyhow. Does this happen to anyone else on long trips?

Traveling Tip # 23  Pretend you’re one of them-  as a solo traveler it is often much easier to blend in with the flocks of other tourists.  This comes in handy when hotel busses come to get guests and you need a ride back to town.

Cuban Blog Day #20 Pretend You're One of Them

I spent one last day in Playa Giron.  Eva wanted to do the cenote dive, and I wanted one more day on a beach before we made our way to the big city. I went back to the all inclusive in a $5 CUC taxi and paid the $15 CUC for all I could drink and eat for the entire day. It was a beautiful day, and I lay in the beach chairs, read magazines and jumped into the turquoise water every now and again.  The perfect hangover cure.

The chef became friendly with me and before I knew it, I was getting chair side service with Cuba Libres delivered to me every five minutes or so.  He informed me that there would be a bus soon for the hotel guests to go back to Playa Giron. I decided to try my luck and see if I could take it back.

When it arrived I got on like all the other guests. When we passed by my casa, I asked if he could drop me off there.  It was no problem.  I sat out in the Adirondack chairs in the front of the casa and wrote and watched the world pass by.  Soon I joined Dimitri’s daughter-in-law in their back patio and had a wine and coke concoction she made.  I chatted with the whole family and played with the little boy, Jonathan.

For our last dinner in Playa Giron the Germans came over and Dimitri served us fresh barracuda caught that day by him and his son. I’d only had it once before at a restaurant in Utila, Honduras and loved it.  Dimitri told me it was actually illegal. I thought he was joking until he explained to me that it is poisonous.  Barracuda will apparently eat anything and because of this they sometimes eat poisonous things and then become poisonous themselves.  He told me not to worry though, because before they ever serve it, they first give it to a chicken and wait an hour. If the chicken doesn’t kick the bucket, they serve it up. Lucky me! I enjoyed it very much and had more than my fair share as the Germans are not fond of seafood. Pity.

We chatted around the kitchen table and arranged plans for Dimitri to take us to Havana the next day. It was cheaper than a bus because we were splitting it, and we could go when we wanted to.  We wanted to get there early so as to have a full day there when we arrived.  Due to an oversight on my departure day- I had thought I was flying out on a Tuesday rather than a Monday, thus giving me only two days in Havana, instead of the 3-4 I was hoping for. I was not too disappointed by this fact as I am never too fond of big cities and prefer quiet beach towns like the one we were about to leave.  It was also nearing the end of my trip and as much as I hate that it happens, it always does, I start winding down, losing my zest to go go go and it often alters my plans anyhow. Does this happen to anyone else on long trips?

Traveling Tip # 23  Pretend you’re one of them-  as a solo traveler it is often much easier to blend in with the flocks of other tourists.  This comes in handy when hotel busses come to get guests and you need a ride back to town.