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A Backpack... a few Beers and a few Buddies...
Our second stint in Havana was only a short few days before heading home. What was nice was as soon as we arrived back in our neighbourhood it felt nicely familiar. Also as it was the weekend the streets were buzzing. What is nice about Cuba, unlike most of Latin America, is that people predominantly work a normal Monday - Friday week so weekends are busy and also children are never really seen working and are always out playing like at home. It maybe a poor country but they try to improve social wellbeing in the right areas.
We spent the first day on a 7 hour mission around the city. The main purpose was to book our bus to the airport as the terminal was on the other side of town but it was good catching the sights along the way. Revolutionary square, Vadado (tourist/ hotel area), the theatre district, Malecon water front and everywhere in between and back to ours. We stopped for local food and drink along the way and that night headed to one of the lively jazz/ Cuban salsa type bars in town.
Great night listening to the local bands and met a funny Irish couple we chatted and had a few cocktails late into the evening with!
The following and final full day we did plan to go to the beach but never actually made it, the day certainly had its ups and downs....
Final day in Havana...!
Win: Find nice meat rolls for 50cent each Lose: Realise I lost $20 whilst buying them Win: Funny little domino's game with local old men on the street and won Lose: Step on something really squidgy wearing flip flops, only to realise it was a massive pile of dog poo Win: Find a bar with a good meal deal for dinner (a saving grace when remaining money has been calculated to the $ as no idea how the dodgy cash machines work or charge you) Lose: Go bar for what we thought was $1 cocktails, only to find (6 later) they were $3 Lose: Were befriended by an absolutely hammered, local old woman on route home (outside our flat main door) who wouldn't leave me alone, follows us into hallway and then propositions me to come upstairs with her... Win: We run inside and lock weird woman outside, big fat guy who lives opposite knocks on our apartment (we're thinking something negative) only to drop off a big slice of chocolate cake (lunch for next day as budget slashed and turned out to be great!)
Interesting day....
Bit of a mission journey back to London (2 days in total travelling!) but on the plus side we did get the chance to ride in our second really cool 1950's car! Both were in the final weekend in Havana so it made up for a few of the mishaps!
What an amazing country, so much to offer both in the city and the countryside. Fascinating history that I'll definitely be doing some reading into when I'm back home! We will be back, probably to more of the beach type areas but I would recommend Havana and Vinales to anyone. Of all the places we'd seen throughout Latin America it was definitely up there with the best and most interesting!
A fitting end to an amazing 9 months, heading back to London for Craig's wedding, then onto India! Loved Latin America both South and Central but can't wait to head back to Asia, this time Central Asia which neither of us have traveled before! Onward bound.....
We spent the first day on a 7 hour mission around the city. The main purpose was to book our bus to the airport as the terminal was on the other side of town but it was good catching the sights along the way. Revolutionary square, Vadado (tourist/ hotel area), the theatre district, Malecon water front and everywhere in between and back to ours. We stopped for local food and drink along the way and that night headed to one of the lively jazz/ Cuban salsa type bars in town.
Great night listening to the local bands and met a funny Irish couple we chatted and had a few cocktails late into the evening with!
The following and final full day we did plan to go to the beach but never actually made it, the day certainly had its ups and downs....
Final day in Havana...!
Win: Find nice meat rolls for 50cent each Lose: Realise I lost $20 whilst buying them Win: Funny little domino's game with local old men on the street and won Lose: Step on something really squidgy wearing flip flops, only to realise it was a massive pile of dog poo Win: Find a bar with a good meal deal for dinner (a saving grace when remaining money has been calculated to the $ as no idea how the dodgy cash machines work or charge you) Lose: Go bar for what we thought was $1 cocktails, only to find (6 later) they were $3 Lose: Were befriended by an absolutely hammered, local old woman on route home (outside our flat main door) who wouldn't leave me alone, follows us into hallway and then propositions me to come upstairs with her... Win: We run inside and lock weird woman outside, big fat guy who lives opposite knocks on our apartment (we're thinking something negative) only to drop off a big slice of chocolate cake (lunch for next day as budget slashed and turned out to be great!)
Interesting day....
Bit of a mission journey back to London (2 days in total travelling!) but on the plus side we did get the chance to ride in our second really cool 1950's car! Both were in the final weekend in Havana so it made up for a few of the mishaps!
What an amazing country, so much to offer both in the city and the countryside. Fascinating history that I'll definitely be doing some reading into when I'm back home! We will be back, probably to more of the beach type areas but I would recommend Havana and Vinales to anyone. Of all the places we'd seen throughout Latin America it was definitely up there with the best and most interesting!
A fitting end to an amazing 9 months, heading back to London for Craig's wedding, then onto India! Loved Latin America both South and Central but can't wait to head back to Asia, this time Central Asia which neither of us have traveled before! Onward bound.....
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