Casa Iraida Havana

... around 34 degrees plus.

Therefore decided not to stay here the 7 days we had originally planned.

We visited the next day the Heredia monument, opposite the main bus station and Parque Cespuedes. Also wanted to go visit the best local beach which was shockingly bad, very polluted grey sand,, and even a few jellyfish floating about. The local boom box was being played by locals with quite a few good Spanish hits luckily and there was a nice local family vibe with ...

... on Mondays. I only thought that happened in Euroville !!!

Back on the road, we ended up in Cathedral square. We climbed a tower and shot a load of locals who were trying to scam the touros. Once down, we headed back towards the Capitolo. Behind it was a tobacco factory, so we paid up and did a cigar tour. You were not allowed to take photos, and being a non-smoker, you could taste the tobacco !!! It was impressive seeing these Cuban ...

Jovana, the eight-year old, had begun raising money at the beginning of the trip to donate to Cuba. She decorated name tags for $.50 in McAllen and received other donations throughout the trip. Before we left for our activities for the day, she donated $50.00 to the local chapter of the Pioneers, a youth group in Cuba. We began our last full ...

... cards work even Mastercard but of course not Amex, at certain Cadecas in Habana. So what about Habana.? Gill and I had three days on our own before joining the GAP Cuban Colonial tour with 13 others to explore parts that other beers cannot reach. Cars and cigars. Ancient cars. we had heard about them, thinking they would be some sort of touristy gimmick - but, not at all - they were all over the place so it is a bit ...

... picking up all the bags, and running out to get a cab, before most of the slowpokes on the plane had realised that we had landed, and it wasnt until we had settled ourselves in the taxi that we realised that NONE of us had the address of the shop.... ahhh, details , details. unfortunatly the driver of the cab was more concerned with the details than we were, so after a bit of ingenious problem solving by three girls in the backseat, (most of which involved Beth (who had had the ...

... money I traveled with each day), I offered up a $5 CUC. He shook his head and gave me a perplexed look that said "Why would I have change for a $5? Turning immediately to the belt vendor, I ask him for change. Another "look"...Oh no, think fast...wait...yes...the guarapo vendor, I saw lots of CUC's in his cigar box. "Un momento por favor" I say to the conductor and run over to the guarapo man. Again, I get the "look" when asking for change. "OK, OK, muy ...

... financial imbalances in the USA and in the world economy. I completely agree with him that capitalism and its associated ever rising consumption needs can't support a future for human kind...especially given the shortages of natural resources and energy, not to mention the environment effects of our activities. We spoke about how socialism can only work if it spreads globally...which in fact was the kind of socialism proposed by Marx and Engels. To my delight, he is ...

... just make my body say " you better not put that into me". I opted for a fried rice, which is the other largely available option. It comes with soja, bits of chicken grease and a little meat, and I took it away, in a carton box. A carton spatula could be detached from the box lid... I saw cubans manoeuvering it, so I could start my meal ok... but well before being halfway through, the carton spoon was soaked with grease and totally useless. In addition to old cars, old books ...

... my first walk around Havana. The famous Malecon, the long sea wall where thousands of people hang out every evening, was easily reached on foot from my Casa, so I strolled down there first. It goes on for miles, and its amazingly busy, people just hanging out, getting beers and rum from little stands here and there, and in certain spots impromptu street parties. Strolling along the Malecon is one of those 'must-do' things in any Havana guidebook, and I agree ...

... other local speciality 'Pina Colades'. I say other, as on most occasions Mojitos were the drink of choice. The sea life is pretty similar to other parts of the Caribbean and I happily snapped away with my digital camera in its new water housing. My holiday ended by spending two days in Havana. I explored the craft markets, took classic guidebook photos and soaked up the entire atmosphere with one last mojito in my hand!