Mind how you go

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If you are blind, use a wheelchair, or are unsteady on your feet and heading to Havana, TURN BACK NOW!

Havana 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", "Careful there", "God that´s dangerous", "Hole!", "Careful", "Dog poo", "Watch Out", "Good god", "Hole", "Poo"...and I could go on. Some holes even had rusty bars sticking out, ready to rupture someone´s leg. Or maybe there were cunning traps for mojito-drunk tourists at night?!

In Vedado, because all the streets are lined with old trees, the strong roots have now lifted the paths as if an earthquake has struck. When you see an old person line up for an approach of a challenging section, it seems the only decent thing would be to lift them in your arms and walk them over it. In reality, many just walk in the road. On one of our last days we were amazed to see a blind man with a stick negotiating the footpaths (that´s if he was blind, but Jess says I´m being cynical). Wheelchair users tend to use the road too, cars are less dangerous than the pavement!

Now I know there is a need for money in Cuba, but surely it can´t cost too much to cover up the holes. However there is definitely a business opportunity for 4x4 wheelchairs.

From James

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Comments

[Joy]

footpaths
James ,your comments made me smile. Now I know I must wear walking shoes not flipflops if I ever visit Havana. Keep the blogs coming !!!