Blogs from Oeste, Cuba, Central America Caribbean - page 16

There are two biggest challenges that really make me get out of my comfort zone: buying and riding. It involves taking to local strangers to get places and to eat. On my second day of living in Havana, I took a public transportation and bought a loaf of bread in a National Cuban Bakery! ATACA!!!! PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION It’s the most challenging system in Central and Latin America. There are rarely schedules or exact routes. YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK. In Cuba, the buses are overloaded with crowds and you have to ask where they go. The best way is to take one of those old Chevrolets for 10 pesos. I just love it! When I climb one of those I feel like back in the days when we had old cars. I am not sure how ... read more

Hello, Sorry for the delay and this being brief ... Cuba was a very interesting country to visit. I was with a fantastic group of people and made friends from Oz and NZ who I hope to keep in touch with. We started in Havana, and headed East as far as Baracoa. The history was evident everywhere and we were able to visit many historical sites from the revolution. It was interesting to be in a communist country. There was no advertising other than government propaganda. No McDonalds and no Starbucks! The supermarket shelves were fairly empty and there was not much available to purchase. Internet was scarce and slow and it was actually quite expensive to be there as a tourist. They have two currencies and the Peso that the locals use allows their minute ... read more

Seems my photo uploads are re-directed to another server and re-directs are not permitted. I'll try another way, maybe Picassa or Flickr and provide a link. Hopefully I'll be able to share photos that way.... read more

My second time in this Caribbean island! What can I say, sometimes I love it here and sometimes I feel so frustrated that I can’t wait to leave. But I keep coming back – can’t explain. Since my last visit here (last year March), things seem to have changed or maybe I just didn’t pay attention before. Seem that that are (1) more new car models on the streets; (2) more begging; (3) folks are more vocal about their dissatisfaction with the government; (4) Cuban men are way too sexual and direct. Don’t get me wrong, there are still lots of veryyyy old car model around, but more new car model as well especially Kia and Volkswagen are on the road. More begging in that once they know you are a tourist, they ask if you ... read more

12.10. Istun Air Europan B767-300 takarivin keskipaikalla matkalla Madridista Havannaan. Mukava yllätys oli, että mitään henkilökohtaisia leffaruutuja ei ole. Korvakuulokkeita kaupitellaan 2e hintaan ja niillä saisi sitten katsoa katonrajan särisevästä ruudusta Jim Carreyta dubattuna. No gracias....Koneen inflight-lehden etusivulla on vihaisen näköinen nainen(toimari), joka kehuu tämän yhtiön palvelua huipuksi. Sanottakoon nyt tässä, että kyseinen henkilö selvästi valehtelee. Ja on väärin johtaa kuluttajia harhaan! Muuntamatonta totuutta kertoessa hän voisi sanoa, että boardauksen sekoilun jälkeen sinut istutetaan täysin bulkkituotteeseen ja erittäin vanhaan koneeseen, jonka penkit haisevat todella vahvasti hieltä. Voi että... Valonhetki koitti kabiinin kuulutettua boarding completed ja edessä oli tyhjä paikka. Saisin siis istua ilman etummaisen sylimuffausta. No se ilo kesti noin 2m... read more