Wow...it has been a while since I have had the chance to write. Many reasons...mostly just too busy and internet is only available in the state sponsored (everything here is state sponsored) Communications office in the larger, more touristy towns. I spent some of last week in towns with no tourists...so there was no internet. I have had so many amazing experiences in the last week...impossible to remember or acceptably/accurately recount them all. But I will try. :) The smaller and more isolated town of Baracoa on the far South/East side of the island has been my favorite place so far. [View Full Entry]

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So I just spent 2 days in Santiago de Cuba...didn't like it from the moment I arrived at 6:30 in the morning after a freezing 15 hour bus ride with the craziest soundtrack ever (courtesy of the very flirtacious bus driver). At least the music he played provided some comic relief...think BeeGees, Michael Jackson, weird electronic reggae, very sad boleros, and of course plenty of salsa. The upside of Santiago was the family i stayed with. They were wonderful and their casa was just beautiful. I ended up spending most of my time with them in their home...practicing my spanish and [View Full Entry]

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Ok...I am back. I found a much better computer at yet another of Habana's finest hotels. So yesterday I wandered my way through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of Habana Vieja. This is an amazing city with so mucy history and personality. It is hot and humid, but always with that cool ocean breeze. It can be very pleasant actually while sitting in one of the city's many plazas under the huge, very old shade trees. The plazas are full of children playing, old people lounging, lovers smooching, workers resting, musicians playing their instruments for the tourists, vendors selling ice cream, f [View Full Entry]

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I arrived in Habana yesterday! I am now sitting in one of the nicest and oldest/restored hotels in the city...Hotel Sevilla. Behind me is the grand lobby. Next to that is the outdoor patio full of palms , mojito cocktails, and a live son band...very tranquilizing. I think I will join them on the patio once I am done with my internet session. I took a wanderer's tour through Habana Vieja today...so much to record about my observations! I am most fascinated with the Habaneros themselves (residents of Habana)...especially the children and elderly. The best words to use for Habaneros are: [View Full Entry]

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The word "excited" just doesn't seem to fully capture these last few days before I leave. Lets add to that word: nervous, anxious, butterflies, longing, anticipating, disbelief, all right already and lets go, happy, determined, focused, imagining, planning, etc, etc. I am exhausted because I have gotten a collective 15 hours of sleep in the last 4 days and didn't get many more than that the preceding 4 days. Its hard work wrapping up one's professional, domestic, and personal life. Not to mention trying to pack for 7 months of travel in 10 countries and many more types of climates...while lim [View Full Entry]

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