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So Ive had some weird border crossings in my time. Places like Bolivia where they almost didn’t let me in just because my passport says “America” on it, Paraguay and Colombia where I accidentally walked past the guard booth and had to ask someone where to get my passport stamped, and Rwanda where there were I walked right on through and no one checked my anything and I got an exit and entrance stamp at the same little office, oh, plus I got my temperature taken to see if I had Ebola or something…WEIRD. But. Cuba takes the cake! I walked to the passport control booth in the airport and dude looked at my passport, looked at the tourist card (visa), and asked me if this was my only passport. I said yes and he said ok and gave me back my passport boom shakalaka! No stamp, no questions like where are you staying, how long, etc. Nothing! So I grabbed my bag, exchanged some money, and caught a ride from a friendly taxi guy to my casa de particular (home where the family rents an extra room) oooooor hostel as it was toted ooooooooor this guy’s apartment as it really
is J it was pretty early in the am and I had been traveling constantly for a while so all I wanted to do was take a shower and catch some zzzs in a real bed. But the owner, Enzo, wanted me to have some coffee, talk about stuff, and figure out what I was going to do all before he went to work at 8. I said no. no… no. I showered and crashed hard for a few hours before getting up and figuring out my day! There were a few other people in the hostel including some New Yorkers…that blew my mind too! But a German couple was there ready to head out for the day on the same mission as me. Go see something! We went to Habana Vieja to see what was there. Lots was the answer! So many old colorful buildings, pristine classic cars, people EVERYWHERE, and lots of fun and interesting shops all around. If anyone has been to Old San Juan in Puerto Rico it is really like that but a million times bigger. We stopped by a cigar shop, I had the best old rum they had that was an “expensive” $4.50,
and then the German girl got heat stroke or something or she was just lazy but she would walk suuuuper slow and then sit down on every corner. I didn’t really understand as they had been in Panama the prior week. Should have been acclimatized by now. Oh well. I left them in a park and continued my 18 km adventure for the day. I felt like I was a proper traveler again. Hustling from here to there trying to see everything before my legs give out and enjoying all kinds of sights and smells and tastes with the knowledge of the language of the land but slight variations make it new and exciting. No real plans but wanting to do it all. I LOVE TRAVELLING!!!!! Also throughout the day we stumbled upon a movie set. Well…they closed the main road for way too many blocks to film a stupid movie bout a dead guy and cars…Fast and Furious 8. Lololol…Never really saw a scene being shot, just setting up all the time. Also found the flag patches that keep me motivate to get out and do something in every country! I missed finding Turkey and Tunisia in their respective
countries but I did find them in a shop in Amsterdam. And found a handmade flag of Cuba that looks terrible but I think its funny and now I got em all! Like pokemon or something!!! Hahaha….me gusta mucho. I finished the day by finding two tattoo shops non-existent anymore and had myself another shower and did some laundry. Right after I trimmed my beard and fingernails I had a pleasant conversation with Enzo and his girlfriend on the topic of what I am really here to do. Figure out the Cuban viewpoint of the embargo, how they feel about the relaxing of it, and how they feel about a possible influx of American tourists in the near future. The New Yorkers and Germans came back towards the end and we all had good knowledge exchanges and a nice backpacker time. Yes yes, me gusto mucho J
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