Palacio O'Farrill Boutique Havana

... people all the time that want to sell you
something. I met a guy who I talked to over drinks and said I should
change all my money into the new currency Cuba and Venezuela are
introducing. Since it will be a salsa festival for a week everything
will be closed so I have to change all the money I need for a week
today, but he has to do it because foreigners would get a 1:1 rate to
the cuban convertible while he gets 1:1.25. At that time my scam-alarm
Havana, Cuba mighty_ted

... same color as as a Cuban now so the sun is no longer a concern for me. I cannot help but laugh at the Cubans who approached me last night from a little corner protected from the breeze. When I rejected their offerings they quickly ducked backed into their protective hideaways exclaiming how "frio" it was. There were two girls sitting in the shadows of a doorway that came out of their hiding on my way home along a cobble stoned street. The street was dark but lit ...

... pay which really amounts to pittance... CUC1 for 45kg of leaves!! In my mind that's not worth the effort. How can you live off that?

After our factory visit we walked down to the harbour in the hope of visiting the craft market. However, we were highly disappointed when we found out that the market was closed on both Sundays and Mondays. Other than the factory, the market was the other reason we wanted the extra day in Havana.

We sauntered back into ...

... the US) could learn from only consuming what is necessary, rather than encouraging constant excess: always overloading things like food and throwing away most of it. It is a tricky balance though. In years to come, Cuba will surely open up and get exploited like everywhere else- So it is good to have seen it in its state of frozen 50´s animation. Next up, Costa Rica.... Adios Amigos, Hasta Luego! Nick and Charlotte

... lack of freedom that most of these people have. My overall impressions cant all be written here but I saw how Communism can be a wonderful thing in the relative equality seen throughout Cuban society and its implications however the control which is often associated with communism was also evident and I heard it in the many local accounts. Overall it was a great experience and although expensive is one I recommend to everyone. You simply cant take my word for it. Stay tuned for the photos.

... into Footscray hospital and having an adrenaline shot. This isn't as bad, and I feel a bit better, so I'm trying to rest in bed and we'll see what happens. But I also have a mad case of the runs as well. Damn Cuba. Milli says: Yes. A fantastically long and frustrating day, spotted with minutes of freaked outness and sleepiness. We got up so early and left Zipolite, taking the winding road to the airport. It was a nice drive, if a little too many zips and corners, but the air was warm ...

... simple" things. Never in my life have I had to decide as I shopped "Do I buy soap or food"? That said; let's visit the customs of Cuba in regard to el bano. First, you do not flush (if it's even available) toilet paper. You discard used paper in the wastebasket that is ever present next to the toilet. Cuba, on the whole, other than the coastal resort hotels, does not have sanitary sewer systems comparable to ours and cannot handle paper waste. Public ...

... on 'Happy' before going down to reception and checking out 15 minutes before 12. The security doormen, eager not to miss a trick, assured us that they would look for the taxi. At 12 we carried our bags to the door and stood waiting. This prompted one doorman to (we assume) ask his mate if he has seen a taxi yet. The reply was that the taxi had been given to a guest who had just walked out of the hotel and asked for one! Words were exchanged and a hasty rush to reception ...

... the balconies, or rather some mums calling me to come see their daughter. And more quietly, a few daring looks. I am a tourist again, with the good and the bad associated to it. Actually more bad than good, as touts and prostitutes will spot me from far away, but normal Cubans won´t be sure of where I am from. And they always make me repeat three times that I am French, really French, totally French. When I recognize that I am not purely European ...

... nos levaram a uma catedral e à um local de Santeria (bruxaria, macumba) da religião afro-cubana. Passamos por uma escola e fomos à casa de um professor de história deles, que também trabalha na fábrica de charutos e vende COHIBAS ESPLENDIDOS por muito mais barato. Com certeza é contrabandeado. Após alguns minutos de negociação conseguimos um belo desconto e compramos nossa primeira caixa de charutos... Simplesmente os ...