vikinglyth

After the rest and relaxation of Viñales, we returned to the livelier and more chaotic buzz of Havana. Returning by taxi with an Italian/Israeli couple was pleasant and we were delivered right to a decent, and cheap casa particular on the Malecon, Havana´s seawall. However, after one night in this only slightly dirty place, Laurence decided that it would be best if we searched for other accomadations. After a lengthy morning of visiting one casa after another we finally ended up taxiing to the first place where we had stayed in Havana upon our arrival nearly a month before. Unfortunately due to a miscommunication, our reservation was cancelled and filled by someone else leaving us high and dry. Nevertheless, by mid-afternoon we had found a nice casa in Havana vieja which was to everyone´s liking... ... read more

hhhhhmmmmmmm, now this is the Cuba we have been looking for. After taking a taxi from Trinidad to Piñar del Rio with a British couple, we spent the night in this small provincial capital waiting to transfer to Maria la Gorda the next morning. This town, Piñar del Rio seemed to be as close to reality in Cuba as we could get. Buildings were in varrying states of disrepair while 1950 chevy´s plied the streets alongside throngs of bicycles. People carried live chickens from coop to dinner table and lines formed for all sorts of regular civic activities. Hearing about the wonderful ice cream available at the state run ice cream parlour, Coppelia we decided to join the line of people and wait our turn for 10 cents a scoop ice cream. Waiting nearly an ... read more

Arriving in Veredero was a lot like being transported to a sunny Quebec town. The streets were filled with Quebecers covering there burned red winter bodies after spending their first days under the strong cuban sun. Arriving at our resort, Villa Tortuga was like entering another mini-world within Cuba where beer flowed from everywhere, the food was over abundant and mojitos were easier to find than water,not to mention the thousands of European and Canadian tourists soaking up the sun. Bizarre to say the least but needed after 7 weeks spent in the Andean highlands in wool toques and fleece. Our skin milk skin quickly perked up with the added sun and cold mojitos. The food was nothing to write home about but the sun and booze and excellent room all made for a great ... read more

After a terrible, windy and delayed 21 hour overnight bus from Cuzco, oh why didn´t I pay the 25 bucks more for a 40 minute flight, we arrived in the city of Lima and its beautiful summer weather. Yes after nearly 6 weeks of travelling throughout the Altiplano, from northern Argentina, through Bolivia and into Peru we have finally returned to sea level. The thick ocean air is a sweet treat after weeks of wheezing and waking up breathless at night in the thin high mountain air. Definetly great to see the pacific ocean again too! Lima is great, with warm days and cool nights. In addition to the weather, the food has been great. Splurged yesterday on all you can eat sushi, the first we´ve had since last August. While it was slightly different than ... read more