Blogs from Cuba, Central America Caribbean - page 73

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Nastává poslední ráno v Trinidadu. Balíme a scházíme dolů k autu. Na chodníku na nás čeká trumpetista, kterej nám hrál kazdej den k snídani ze svojí zahrady a nabízí nám svoje CD. Béda ho kupuje, rozloučíme se a jedeme pryč. Za rohem jsme objevili okýnko na ulici, kde se prodávají rozpečené housky se šunkou a šťáva ze třtiny rozlejvaná do uřezanejch spodků od skleněnejch lahví. Snídaně je daleko lepší nez na našem posledním ubytku a stojí míň nez desetinu, jelikoz se platí v cupech. Cestou na západ, směrem na Cienfuegos míjíme cyklistickej závod, nikam se nijak zvlášť nezenou, asi to bude tím vedrem tady. Cienfuegos je město pojmenované po stejnojmenném pirátovi a zároveň po dalším revolucionářovi Camilu Cienfuegovi. Ten posledně jmenovanej tu buď zil nebo působil či co, pomalu nám začali všichni ty komouši splývat. Město ... read more
Suseni obili
Strom
Suseni obili

Central America Caribbean » Cuba November 12th 2008

Cuba - a small Island nation, with a little population, but one that punches far above its weight in both history and influence. A little similar to a small South Pacific homeland? Well, no. We think it is a completely differerent animal to anything we have ever met. Revolution. Che Guevara. Fidel Castro. Communism. Cold war. Cuban Missile crisis. Salsa. Rum. Cigars. Spanish base staging conquistador expeditions to tackle most of South America. Gold and silver fleets massed in Havana´s safe waters before embarking on the risky journey back to Spain. Riches everywhere + Spains´draconian and exclusive trade restrictions = the ´Pirates of the Caribbean´ flourishing. But Cuba's focus is the recent history (1959), when a bumbling rabble of 70 or so idealogues spilled off a yacht from Mexico onto Cuba´s shore. The ensuing rout left ... read more
Beauty
Revolutionary Spoon
Museo de la Revolucion

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Este » Baracoa November 12th 2008

The day we left Santiago De Cuba it had started to rain. We were all very happy to leave as none of us liked the place. I can't tell you exactly why. Nothing bad happened. It was more about the feel of the place. It was just very dodgy. The drive to Baracoa, which is on the east coast, was quite a long one. We stopped in the town of Guantanamo for a break. (the town, not the detention centre). The road outside of Guantanamo is very secure - there was no stopping to take photos. I tried to capture 1 or 2 of one of the entrances to the detention centre as we drove by, but I don't think I got much. Apparently there have been other tour busses that have stopped to take photos ... read more
Merryn dancing with Jubal, our tour leader, at one of the bars in Baracoa.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the beach - lobster and fish freshly cooked and hand delivered.
Just one of the interesting characters we shared the beach with.

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Centro » Trinidad November 10th 2008

Ráno balíme a chystáme se vyrazit na Trinidad. Jindřichovi chybí kalhoty, spolu s našima ostatníma věcma se mu sušily na šňůře, ale teď mezi prádlem je teď nemá. Chlápek, co jsme s ním večer předtím pili tvrdí, ze je nemá a ať si všichni prohledáme bágly. Hádáme se s ním, az nakonec odejde k sobě a řekne, ze mu omylem zapadly za postel a omlouvá se. To určitě. Tak a rychle odsud. Před odjezdem z města si ještě prohlídneme muzeum rumu. Muzeum rumu o sobě z dálky dává slyšet alarmem, kterej řve na celou ulici. Obsluha ztratila pin a nemůzou to vypnout. V muzeu bylo k vidění pár flašek starejch kolem padesáti let a taky jedna lahev tuzemáku, kterou tam onehdá zanechal jakejsi českej turista. Proč ten nebozák vez tuzemák na Kubu je mi tedy záhadou. ... read more
Prodejci u silnice
Prodejci u silnice
Cukrova trtina

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana November 10th 2008

Lonely Planet said that the mirador at the top of the Jose Marti monument in Plaza de la Revolution opened at 0930 but we headed out about 0800 and walked to ensure we were the first ones up the tower. The walk was about 2km but it wasn’t too hot and we made short work of it arriving there in plenty of time to take photographs and see a wreath laying by a delegation of African politicians, complete with all the pomp and ceremony deserving of such an occasion. I was surprised at how close we were allowed to be to the event, I was able to snap plenty of photos and at one point one of the guards said “Boca Juniors” in reference to my shirt. We found that the ticket office opened at 0900 ... read more
Memorial Jose Marti
Guards
LaBodeguita del Medio

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » Pinar del Rio November 9th 2008

We did a day trip with some students to the remote area vinales, a amazing valley with caves, landscapes, and beautifull waterfalls....These waterfalls where good for swimming...some rum and cigars...life can be sooo nice..:)...and the first time i really showered under a waterfall....one of 20 mt........ read more
road and landscape
swimming...but also
rum, cigars and a tropical paradise...

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Centro » Santa Clara November 9th 2008

Hurricane Paloma hit central and western Cuba overnight although not with the force that was expected. We woke to almost clear skies and a hot morning. Anneris prepared another top notch breakfast and we packed our bags before walking back to Parque Vidal to try and find internet access. Both of us were feeling a little under the weather as a result of our big night so a quiet morning was in order. We spent an hour answering emails - one from mum enquiring as to our mortality on the assumption that the hurricane had caught us. We also caught up on the result of the New Zealand election and were pleased to see that sanity had been restored after so long under a Labour government. One of the things I was really struggling with in ... read more

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana November 9th 2008

For the studio Border Conditions at the university of Delft, The Netherlands, i did a three weeks research trip to the capitol of Cuba...HAVANA. We stayed with 25 architecture students to do mainly research, but also to enjoy this wonderfull city....... read more
me and che
jump!
malecon

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Centro » Camagüey November 8th 2008

Someone dug a whole in the ground and called it Camaguey. Well, not quiet that bad, but the place is a bit of a dump. Apparently I wouldn't feel that way if I could spend more time there - so I've been told. But on the 2 hours or so that I got to spend in the town, I have to say I wasn't that impressed with it. The city itself has some nice buildings that have been beautifully restored. It is also the place where many of Cuba´s artists reside. We visited a photographer´s studio, a sculptor´s place and also the home of two painters. None of the items struck any chords with me, so there were no purchases. We got hassled on the streets and in a bar for money, which is probably what ... read more
Participating in one of the local art displays.
An interesting bar we visited.

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Este » Santiago de Cuba November 8th 2008

This is the 2nd biggest city in Cuba. We had a long travel day to get here - about 8 hours. But 6 of us being on a private bus with 30 seats, it wasn´t too bad a ride. Well, apart from the roads... lots of shakin´going on. It´s also a lot hotter here. The city is surrounded by mountains so the weather basically gets trapped here. Very humid. Once we all settled into our guest houses and had dinner we met up for a walk into the city centre. Our guide told us that this place had seen some people robbed - walking alone at 3.00am, but it should be relatively safe. That theory got put to the test when some guy we had passed just sitting quietly on a footstep (which they all do ... read more
Musos hanging around the city square
Salsa dancing on the night of the so-called hurricane.
I got to practice my steps too!




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