lo que sea...

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lo que sea.-...

that is what the cubans say....whatever...

yesterday we had our first taste of REAL cuban life. well, kindof...

we awoke in beautiful vinales and headed out on our bikes on a gorgeous ride down to the nearest city...pinar del rio...

the ride was short and did not take much time... we were preparing to make our first real adventure...hitchhiking with our bikes back to havana...with hopes that we would return quickly and get ourselves across the country with our bikes to that we can cycle the granma and santiago de cuba provinces before returning.

well, first stop the bus stop...
we ask, any trucks heading out to havana today...possibly we could jump on back with our bikes?

nope!

so....we ride out to the autopista..(don´t picture route 80 here)...we´re talking more like a road with two lanes, sometimes...not clearly marked...and cubans standing on the side of the road, just like us....waiting for a ride.

The demand for people needing rides is not met by the supply of cars....to say the least...


so...we wait, just like the cubans, for a ride...and wait...and wait.....it does not matter that we are not cuban....there is just no room....and we have two big bikes.

we meet some friends and hang out with them...dine over cheese sandwiches on the autopista....tinkle in the bushes...and wait...

after almost 3 hours....a bus stops and it is empty. the drive had just dropped off a load in pinar and is returning to havana...it is our lucky day....about 40 cubans, 2 americans and their bicycles are psyched!

as well as the bus drive who charges 10 pesos per person (which is less than a dollar)

so...we make it to havana in one day! we are now off tonight on an all night bus ride wiht our bikes to santiago where another long adventure begins....we are thinking we will be travelking around the carribean coast and into the sierras for about 10 days...we are not sure how much access to internet we will have but we will do our best to keep in contact....

hope all is well...drew is trying to post some photos!

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Comments

[Mom]

Thanks for the update
Just be safe...when I saw "hitchhiking" I nearly passed out...Drew...don't let Kristi out of your sight, please !

[sally james]

dear kristin and drew, bobbie passed along your blog and we love reading about your many adventures...much more daring and exciting than our b and r trips with norm and bobbie. have fun and stay safe.

[lorry]

g'd day mates
Que tal mis amigos! Love your blog....keep the stories coming (sure glad it's not conveyed in Drew's handwriting!). Mid-way through the first BA kiwi trip and it's all good. Been here 3 weeks already and love summer in January. It seems to be working out fine with just the bus and one trailer. I love the cycling everyday! It's been a mix of light rain and sun but warm. 30 degrees when we left Christchurch. 25 in Franz. Guests are easy, Nathan is hilarious to hang out with and it's pretty full on keeping this party going with just the two of us. Flat whites everyday! Of course, we're trying to scam getting people on as many side trips as possible to score some commissions. I've even been reduced to drinking a pint of dark beer with dinner each night as they're complementary. Sandra's coming 2 Feb and will be here through March....she'll come along on the last two trips then we'll have to do the requisite goofing off for a few weeks here before heading back to Tucson. Isn't life grand...everyday? Cycle safely. Savor the adventure...and each other. Any good Cuban shits Kristin? Perfected peeing on the bike Drew? Con carino y abrazos....Lorenzo