We arrived in Havana by 5pm and we drove into the truly old part of Havana that we had not seen before. We also found rooms in two different houses but on the same street in this area. Tobias and I got the worst house and rooms, but it was only for one night so we made the best of it. We got showered and headed into the old town to have a look around this beautiful but touristy area of Havana. We wondered the cobble stone streets, looking at the buildings from a past time, that leave you with your [View Full Entry]

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The Drive to Remedios was gorgeous, we had the mountains on one side, and the fields on the other that showed off all the plants, and how fertile Cuba’s soil is. Everywhere I looked there were the lovely wooden buildings with dried palm leaves as a roof, housing the drying tobacco leaves. There were animals everywhere tied up by the road as usual, and lots of big trucks with people on the back catching a ride. We drove through many small villages showing us the poverty that many Cubans have to endure. Many houses look like wooden shacks. Many of them [View Full Entry]

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As we drove thought the country yet again we prayed that the weather would clear before we got to the little island, and luckily enough the sky kept bluer as we closed in on our final destination for the day. On route we got pulled over by the police, and we just assumed it was the usual control points of tourists where we had to show passports and driver’s licence, but unfortunately Tobias had not stopped for the train tracks, so the police wanted to give us a fine of 30 CUC. I begged and pleaded with them until they let [View Full Entry]

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We headed out of Holguin early the next morning, and as we asked for the way out of town towards Banes I took a photo of a painted picture of Che Guevara on a wall, and this man told me of and told me I was being disrespectful..... The drive to Banes was beautiful countryside with a beautiful building style of countryside houses, and little courtyards. The houses all had these roofs made of dried palm leaves, and the house was almost rounded. It was a drive where we all sat looking out of the window just enjoying the sights. We [View Full Entry]

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On the Monday morning we packed up and set off towards Holguin to get a little closer to the beach of Cuernavaca that we had heard so much about. We pretty much spent the whole day in the car, watching life go by in the Cuban countryside. We found that there were more men on bicycles transporting pigs on the back than cars. We also saw too many horse and carts to be able to count, transporting people, and let me not get started on the amount of big trucks with masses of people holding on for their lives as they [View Full Entry]

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Ancon beach was beautiful but unfortunately crowded by all the all inclusive tourists staying at the local resorts. We found a more secluded spot far away from the noise, and the carrot oil. Instead we had a quiet day enjoying watching the locals playing near by. After some hours of sun and fun at the beach, and another ham and cheese sandwich we headed into town to find accommodation. We had already been given a card of where to stay, so we headed down and around until we had figured out all the one way street system, until we found the [View Full Entry]

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After finding out my makeup was nowhere to be found, we went for breakfast and then decided to get some money out; enough for the rest of the trip, as ATM’s is a almost non existent thing on the island. We headed for the closest bank, and after the regular queuing, we were allowed in all 4 at ones. We got asked to sit, and I stayed standing as my back was hurting. The security guard came over to me, and told me to sit again; I told him I did not feel like it as my back hurt. He looked [View Full Entry]

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Earlyish the next morning I headed out of my Casa Particular, and up to the Hotel England to meet the boys by the car to head off to Viñales. He loaded up the car, and thank god it was a big one so we could fit in all four backpacks! The car ride there was full of conversation and laughs, and even though we were just getting to know each other, it felt like we had known each other for ages. The atmosphere was easy going and laid back as we made our way through part of the Cuban countryside. As [View Full Entry]

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It was time to get to know my new travel mates for the next few weeks better, so I set off to meet them on the stairs of the Capitolio. It was smiles all around, besides from poor Sebastian having the hangover from hell. He was like me without food; moody and slightly aggressive. The Rum here is dangerous! The Capitolio was an amazing sight walking up to it. Standing tall at the top of the old town, it leaves you with the image of the grandeur this city was once a witness too. It’s long and wide majestically staircase, with [View Full Entry]

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I was so excited flying over Cuba and looking at its wonderful landscape. All those little islands (Cayos) surrounding it, with white sad and turquoise waters. Even though I have been told plenty about this Island I truly did not know what to expect! I was a little worried flying into Havana as I still had not been given a confirmation for a Casa Particular (Private home where you rent a room. Most common type of accommodation in Cuba). I had heard somewhere that I could check my e-mail when I got to the airport, but unfortunately that was not [View Full Entry]

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