Cuba

Hello everyone,

Finally I do have internet again.

I was looking forward to my stay in Cuba. I always wanted to go there and even though I know that it is already way different than 15 years ago, I still think it is smart to go as quick as possible as Cuba is changing. 

I have heard many different opinions about Cuba, bad and good. I therefore have been very interested, how it was going to be for me. 

First of all, I can understand every opinion as I have been going through 3 phases myself. At the beginning I have been very disappointed by Cuba as I needed to find out, that Cuba is not yet a country for Backpackers. Besides in Havana there are no Hostels and transport is very expensive once you leave the city. Therefore traveling with a low budget gets difficult and especially if you are traveling on your own it can be lonely as well. It is very difficult to connect to the Cuban people, as most of them only try to sell you something way overpriced. Once they figure out you will not buy anything, they loose the interest in you. Some of them also get mad at you but this is only a minority. They furthermore all assume, that the tourists have lots of money. My first night out with the son of the family I stayed with ended for example in me paying everything. I did not have a problem inviting him but the way they force you (in this case he just left without money meaning he wouldn’t even have come in the house of music if I didn’t pay the entrance) is in my opinion unfriendly.

Once I came to Trinidad I figured that trying to look for cheap stuff all the time will be exhausting so I decided this will be a 2 week vacation of my travel and therefore I may spend a bit more as well. Furthermore I started to connect with other tourists and found quickly 5 English people I spend the next days with. It have been a great time and I started enjoying Cuba a bit with the bitter taste that everyone is just screwing you all the time but I tried to eliminate this thought. By sharing a room with a Dutch girl it even got better as it has been cheaper and less lonely.

The best part yet has been thanks to a German girl, who studies in Cuba, and her friends from Peru and Cuba. We met her in Viñales and once we came back to Havana, she and her friends showed us the town and where the Cubans spend their time. Therefore I have been lucky again and got to see bits of the Cuban life. 

Summarizing, Cuba is a great place to do a 2 week vacation with someone but during this time you will not get out of the tourist ghetto. For getting to know the Cuban life, you need to spend their more time but this might not be an easy journey. Best is if you are as lucky as I have been. 

So finally pictures:

Phrases of Che and Fidel are everywhere 

Sometimes even feels as dictatorship for example:

“Socialism or die” which does not allow other opinions 

Surprising as well that you can find many US flags or apple stickers 

The capitol 

To see everywhere, people playing dominos or chess. Children mostly play baseball or football

Acun beach in Trinidad

Tabaco and Coffee tour - cowboy like

Viñales - beautiful nature 

Cayo Jusitcia close to Viñales

Found sea stars (no worries we obviously only took them out of the water for seconds)

Of course there needs to be a picture of one of the Cuban cars

Cuban Christo

And most important - my travel mates and tour guides

Again a big thank you to you guys!!! 

Hear you soon

Hannes