http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Cuba en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:03:53 BST Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:03:53 BST Ah the Malecon the broad boulevard that runs around the waterfront. Many cities have a Malecon but my favourite is in La Habana. A favourite evening stroll the stream of bicycles bicitaxis ladybird 3 wheeler cabs roaring dinosaural old Chevies Fords even Caddies omnipresent little white Ladas with oversize blue domelights of the Policia and amongst them all occasional sleek new Benze http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-314608.html After relaxing on the beach in Varadero we got a Lada taxi back to Havana which thankfully made it without any bits dropping off itIn Havana we stayed in a Casa Particulares which is basically a room in someones house. We weren't sure what to expect but the house summed up Havana itself in some ways a crumbling shell from the outside but inside a beautiful 1930s house with antique furniture and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-314335.html Update on adventures...Six months in Cuba and Brazil cant be easily summed up in 1 diary entry... Briefly then... I was in La Habana until the beginning of June. In that time my rents and Firas came to visit not at the same time that wouldve been way too crazy which was great got properly spoilt went on a road trip with the folks and Jenny my awesome Canadian friend... with Firas went divin http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-314230.html The Truth about Cars in Cuba If you ever wanted to know why there are so many old cars in Cuba it goes like this1. After the Revolution the Castro regime legislated that any car bought before then could continue to be owned sold or passed down the family.2. Any car bought after that could not be disposed of in any way other than giving back to the stateSo 1950's cars are worth taking car http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/blog-311711.html Epilogue There has to be some explanation as to why it took me a full year to get around to editing my journal notes of this trip. And frankly the only reason I can really give is that I was not that enamoured with the place and could never work out even remotely what makes it and its people tick.Itrsquos quite a long way to travel for scenery that is even at its best not particularly in http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/blog-311266.html Pinar del RioWe left Trinidad skirting around the Sierra Escambray to Manicaragua before heading north to Santa Clara one of the largest cities in Cuba with a population around a quarter of a million. Our mission however was not to visit the city itself but the shrine to Ernesto lsquoChersquo Guevara on its outskirts. Opened in 1988 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the date http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Pinar-del-Rio/blog-311248.html Trinidad a Gem of Colonial Style Leaving Cienfuegos we travelled across some fairly uninteresting rolling hills for about an hour to Trinidad where the restaurant supposedly booked for lunch was full to the rafters. We drove out instead to the Valle de los Ingenios part of the Trinidad World Heritage Site. The landscapes here are big and quite attractive but there is not a whole lot to see http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Centro/Trinidad/blog-311212.html The first thing Anik and I did when we first woke up was to open those large windows and soak in the view. We had arrived quite late yesterday that we were unable to do that upon first entering our room. On one side we could see the tip of the Capitolio although the view was obstructed by apartment buildings. On the other side we could see the dome from the Museo de la Revolucion. Directly i http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-310306.html Let's just start by saying that this trip was somewhat of a spontaneous decision. Anik and I were having a quiet Canada Day barbeque at her mother's place where Anik was housesitting. I happened to mention that I had seen something on the internet about a oneweek stay in Havana including airfare hotel with buffet breakfast for a very reasonable 1000. What I did not know was that Anik was http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-310281.html Hi everyoneWell after flying to Havana via Paris we arrived in Varadero northern Cuba having been introduced to the efficiency of the Cuban bus system reservation what reservation. We gave up on the bus and eventually arrived in a taxi 2 hour journey cost us about 30 quid bargain Weve since been relaxing in the sun in Varadero and were going back to Havana to explore properly tomorrow http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-309934.html Friday morning jet lag awoke us atrociously early but at least it afforded us a leisurely breakfast in the lobby before we left to drive the length of the northern coastline of Havana Vieja and Centro. The 8km Malecn seawall built in 1901 by the then American administration takes you past several interesting landmarks of Cubarsquos wideranging history from the Spanish era grandiose t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-309650.html Cienfuegos We left Havana about 8.30am driving southeast on Cubarsquos main arterial road the Autopista Nacional. This flat straight sixlane highway was built in the dying days of Soviet aid and much of it is as unfinished today as it was when the Soviets pulled the plug in the late 1980rsquos. There is hardly a town or even village to be seen and for the first hundred kilometers hardly http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Centro/Cienfuegos/blog-306101.html In February 2008 after 49 years at the helm of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro stood down as president in favour of younger blood in this case his 76 yearold brother Ral. Optimistically George Bush welcomed the news by saying that Fidelrsquos departure ldquoshould be the beginning of a democratic transition in Cuba that should lead to free electionsrdquo. Equally fancifully http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-306012.html Well finally an update about Cuba. Its been a couple of weeks as the internet access we were able to get over there was very slow and expensive and we heard from a few people that all internet use is monitored so I thought Id wait until we were back in Mexico.Where to start... Cuba was an incredible experience and one that I highly highly recommend if you ever have the opportunity. A very brie http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-304793.html Coming Home Infinity and Beyond Near Death on the Road Monotony Boredom and the End of the Magic ManThurs 1206 PresentFinal DaysThe coach moves over the bridge and into Varadero's main drag. Back once again with the ill behaviour back to the beaches and the easy living lifestyle. I'm optimistic that the troubles are over. I've paid for everything up front and my hotel is allinclusive. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-304523.html Down and Out in Havana Staggering Towards the EndThur 0606 120608I take a coach back to Havana arriving at 10pm and checking into the Park View Hotel situated just off the famous Paseo del Prado and opposite the Museum de la Revolution. After the relative cheapness of casa's and hostels I've decided to splash out on threestar luxury for three nights giving me time to situate myself http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-303713.html My friend Jacob found this on YouTube. It's a pretty funny promo video for the hotel we called home for three months in Cuba. If you'd like to see where we ate slept and drank too much tooexpensive coffee you can click here Hotel Palco How funnyThanks Jacobo. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-302544.html You Can Leave Your Hat On The Bus Tragedy in Trinidad CubaSun 0106 050608I leave the hotel Paradisus just before 1pm and arrive at the main coach terminal. I'm headed for Trinidad a small town South East of Varadero. The terminal is crowded and noisy and I attract unwanted attention from a pair of fat badmanned guys who find me interesting because I'm English and alone. I can't http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Centro/Trinidad/blog-301489.html Elisa Sergio and I enjoyed a very beautiful 4 days of family time together in Cienfuegos and Trinidad. We walked Cienfuegos...a very well kept not crowded colonial city that had a lot more wealthy neighborhoods than I had previously seen...at least wealthy by the standards of a soicalist country in the developing world. We stayed in the most adorable house with the nicest family who cooked deli http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-300661.html Wow...it has been a while since I have had the chance to write. Many reasons...mostly just too busy and internet is only available in the state sponsored everything here is state sponsored Communications office in the larger more touristy towns. I spent some of last week in towns with no tourists...so there was no internet. I have had so many amazing experiences in the last week...impossible to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Centro/Cienfuegos/blog-299340.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in Varadero The Emotional FinaleFri 3005 010608Friday 4pm. The wedding is over and Barney and Leanne are married. We all move to the wedding villa to begin the celebrations. Sadly the fathers of both bride and groom are taken ill and have to withdraw from proceedings. I wander in amongst the party mind hazy from champagne feeling slightly out of place http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-298097.html Ultra Inclusive and Infinite in Varadero Part 3 Nice Day for a White WeddingMorning. I get out of bed and walk to the bathroom. There are mirrors all around. I stand in front of them transfixed. I can see myself from every angle every tight knotted muscle every sinew every patch of bright red sun burn. I turn like a chiselled chicken in an oven. I stretch. I flex a little. My re http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-296570.html