http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Cuba , Oeste en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:19:22 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:19:22 UTC Pr m283sc367 uplynulo zastesklo se mi po scaronpan283lsky mluvcch zemch takze kdyz Tonda p345iscaronel s npadem na Kubu tak mi to p345iscaronlo jako vbornej npad. Slovo dalo slovo postupn283 se vykristalizovala sestava Tonda Mascaronu Bed345ich Hel a j. Rno jsme se sescaronli na letiscaronti a vyrazili sm283r Pa345z. Hned na Ruzyni jsme si http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-348425.html Went for a drive to take my new friends to Varadero and to see Cuba outside of Havana. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-347384.html Fate stepped in and allowed me to photograph this amazing place but not without a hitch. I was mugged and robbed within 3 hours of arriving and lost my tool that allowed me to fulfill my dream of capturing all that is Cuba. To my luck I met an amazing friend who helped me looked after me and lent me his camera. Thank you with all my heart xoxoxo http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-347373.html Saturday Nov 8. The flights out of Chicago to Seattle then to Vancouver went without a hitch though I was sure I'd go through some level of interrogation by customs regarding my visa status. You see I'm only allowed to be out of a job for a maximum of 10 days before I have to leave the country and since I was let go in early October I was already overstaying my welcome. I arrived at Vancouver http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Varadero/blog-346439.html Back in HavanaThis time we got to visit El Moro a fortress built to protect the city from pirates. Also we walked around the old city La Haban Vieja visiting various plazas and getting a good feel of the place.Havana is definately more wealthy than the rest of Cuba. You can see it in the way people dress the state of the buildings etc. The rural areas have little exposure to tourism so http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-346407.html If you are blind use a wheelchair or are unsteady on your feet and heading to Havana TURN BACK NOWHavana may be one of the most beautiful cities in the world but its footpaths are like an army assualt course and a very dangerous one at that. A mine field would be no hassle to us anymore.The first few days in Havana were spent looking at our feet and warning each other...Mind that hole Car http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-346342.html Vi startet vrt opphold i Havana med en guidet tur. Livet for den vanlige cubaner mannen i gata ikke sigaren er nok ikke alltid lett og selv om kommunismen har sikret jobb til alle er ikke lnnen god. S leger og annet hyt utdannet personnel tar seg gjerne jobber i turistbransjen for tjene betydelig mer. Vr guide var opprinnelig universitetslaerer i tysk men greide ikke tjene til livets http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-345947.html 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..... http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Pinar-del-Rio/blog-343231.html 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.... http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-343230.html Hi all. We are alive and well. It took a few days to get to a place with internet. My mobile phone also doesnt work here so Irene or Nick or Eugene if you can let my mum know Im alive and having fun that would be much appreciated.I cant say much about Havana. We got there late in the afternoon had dinner went for drinks then bed then got up in the morning the next day and left town. http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-341675.html During the three weeks we spent in Havana James and I walked virtually the length and breadth of the city somedays exploring on foot for over five hours all the football matches are really paying off and my knee has been holding up nicely. Apart from the fact that it costs nothing walking is the ONLY way to truly get to know a place to scratch under the surface and glimpse at snippets of da http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-341383.html It is very true that this is the land of the very very good looking...especially the men. We stopped in a cheap hotel on the Malecon south end for the first night to get aquainted with the city.The view from the balcony was amazing i couldnt believe what i was seeing. There is an unusual beauty in a city in a constant state of repair. It was mesmirising as was the ocean.Our surly reception a http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-336702.html After Baracoa we went back to Santiago for a night. Colin wanted to visit a place called El Cobre so we found ourselves another illegal taxi and headed off. This time round our car was a battered 1957 Dodge Plymouth. We took the back roads out for one or more of the following reasons a to avoid police checkpoints remember he isnt meant to pick up tourists b to show us how bad the roads http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/Vi-ales/blog-330266.html Ah...Cuba at last...weve been wanting to come here for ages. And as soon as we do we get stuck in the city unable to escape unable to anything really. Well serves us right really we knew it was the end of the hurricane season and this year has been a bad one.The first afternoon and the following morning were fine. Very hot and sticky though. We found ourselves a nice casa particular and http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-323216.html You might be wondering about the distinct lack of photographs in this blog. Well our camera was swiped. And on our first day too James and I are fairly seasoned travellers having backpacked previously in places like Venezuela Peru Argentina Tanzania and Rwanda. never before have we had anything stolen abroad. So you could say we were due.Kick number one I put my bag on the arm of a chair in http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-322009.html Cinemas are pretty popular in Havana and there are a good number dotted around the place.The Charlie Chaplin cinema is in Vedado on Calle 23 between 10 and 12 and just around the corner from where we are staying. It has an arty feel a few stunning black and white photographs of classic Cuban cinematography graced minimal white walls in the foyer and the boho crowd wouldn't have looked out of pl http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-322005.html Those of you who know my father will know that he is a selfmade professor of history. On learning that Jess and I were headed to Cuba he produces an old letter from a haphazard filing system in the back room where all the old photos letters poems songs and all sorts of other things are kept. The letter was dated 7th January 1949 with an address in Havana and was written by Ellen McGrath De G http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-321991.html It is impossible to close your ears to the vibrant sounds of the city. Habana Vieja Old Havana dances to a rhythmic beat. Starting early it continues until well after dark. Every street every plaza every cafe is filled with lively music and singing. The citys signature soundtrack is hypnotic without realising I have found myself walking along in time. Stop for even a moment and spontaneous http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-319068.html A hurricane is something we all want to experience. The power of nature. Mr. Fay was in the house but Jessica and I just missed him by a few day unfortunately. I really did want to meet my namesakeAlas when we were in Cuba another came knocking Gustav. Only thing is Gustav was much bigger stronger and left a right mess as we were about to find out.Jess and I awoke had a snooze and awoke agai http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-319059.html 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 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 We did not really have a set itinerary today. We started walking up Paseo del Prado in the opposite direction that we had done the day prior. This would take us in the direction of the Malecon. We walked along the Malecon and in the distance we could see the Hotel Nacional our first stop of the day. It was very hot and humid and we were lucky to be able to walk shielded from the blaring sun http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Cuba/Oeste/La-Habana/blog-310461.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 the night before that we were unable to do so upon first entering our room. Directly in front we could see the tip of the Capitolio although the view was obstructed by an apartment building. This was a typical Cuban apartment building which seem always a little d 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 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