Panorama Havana

... door while we ate. It was very strange, we weren´t sure what to think of him. We weren´t getting any dodgy vibes off him, it seemed like he´d just appointed himself our guide for the evening. We were correct in that assumption, but f course it didn´t come for free. After our meal we wanted to head home, but it had started thundering and absolutely bucketing down outside. Our guide found us a taxi and then asked if we could give him some money ...

... just discarding their rubbish where they walk, even though there are bins around. They have to queue for their food at the local bakers, butchers etc. a very interesting sight to see. You also have to tip the toilet attendant for using the usually very dirty loos! I think now that the Cuban's are dealing with the Americans now, they certainly are in terms of exporting cigars, albeit in cash only. Though there is an "American" feel in the kind of clothing and food stuffs ...

... with his sentiments. MIGUEL (VIÑALES) - FARMER In the countryside surrounding the sleepy village of Viñales, the 'guajiros' (name of the local farmers) were hard at work tending to their tobacco plantations, ploughing the fields using oxen and hand pulling out weeds that contaminate the soil. I greeted a passing guajiro and his grandson on horseback and within minutes I was invited into their farmhouse. Miguel had been a farmer his whole life, and his weather ...

... and began exploring the city. The first thing that slaps you in the face is the cars. Its was as if I had stepped back through time. Almost every car is from the 50s, great hunks of metal that are built like a Sherman tank. The second slap in the face was the courtesy exhibited by the drivers which must also have come from the 50s (i.e they happily stop for a pedestrian). I think this comes from the Communist influence. Waiting in line for things is an everyday reality for these ...

... d'anecdotes. Une semaine la bas c'est un peu (mais en bien plus intense encore) comme une semaine en Israel: faudrait un roman pour expliquer. Tiens en vla qques unes: Livres: Les librairies a la Havane c'est sur que tu peux jamais te chopper un arret cardiaque. Elles sont previsibles: un tires des bouquins sont de Fidel lui meme. Les autres ont au moins 30 ans d'age. Presse: Ah, nan mais si vous avez du temps a perdre, je vous en supplie, un petit ...

... another mystery meat sandwich. I pull some foreign object out the meat, can't identify it, but the mangy dog looking sadly up at me enjoyed it. I pour the rest of my agua out for the dog. 30 seconds of bliss for dog. Lo siento... The bus pulls out of the station and I drift to sleep. When I awake, the landscape has changed from barred windows on tired concrete buildings to mostly neat and orderly farms with mountains for a backdrop. I see boys riding ...

... to the 'Plaza de la Catedral'. The plaza was blocked off and there was just one entrance where joined the queue. As we entered the square we were greeted by an impressive sight of the whole plaza being covered in fully covered and decorated tables and chairs. The evening was being organised by Habaguanex and I whimsically hoped that we managed to achieve more than their tours. As we were escorted to or own table, maybe It would have been better to have shared, we were presented ...

... 2-3 convertibles for a meal.. hey, it smelled good, go for it! I knew exactly what the trick was, and once I had ordered this beautiful pork leg, they came three times to propose me, ask me, tell me to have a drink. The meal was gorgeous, the best and cheapest I have had so far... when I went to pay, the guy was not pleased at all that I ate at such a ridiculous price (I am sure that Cubans would rush at it too) without buying him even a mojito, bloody ...

... but at least it was better than having nothing. Exhausted from runing around to different ATMs, calculating exchange rates, we finally checked our baggage in. At 4pm, our flight left to Panama. We reached there an hour later but had to wait another 3 hours before getting on the flight to Havana. Finally at midnight, we arrived in Havana tired & weary. We were suprised at the heavy security. It was worse than going to the US. As soon as we ...

... assorted guys sitting on the sea-wall playing trumpets and trombones with exaggerated technique to attract our attention. There is a definite glamour or showiness to Havana that completely sets it apart from the rest of the country.<br> <br>As the fiery orange the sun sank steadily into the sea, we had made it to yet another statue of José Martí.<br> <br>Immediately beside that was a recently constructed memorial of over a hundred black flags ...