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Shona & Nikki's big trip!
Wow! In Cuba now. Its amazing! Arrived on Saturday evening. Never seen anything like it in my life and know I probably never will again. Its sooo bizzare!
On arriving at the airport we hooked up with an ozzie guy we met in Mexico and we went to find accomodation, we found a casa particular (which is a room in a family home) and the 3 of us have been sharing a pretty tight room with an en-suite bathroom - but no door - yuck! Its in the residential area of Centro Habana, which is really interesting as you see how the people of Havana really live. It is busy but there are practically no tourists and the old 19th-century crumbling buildings and traffic-free streets really feel like another world. We're also right round the corner from Sarah (English girl we met in Isla) who's also sharing with 2 others, so we've been hanging out at there place as well as it has a really nice front-room.
Havana is really AMAZING. Its true what everyone says about it being 'undescribable'. Its just so different here. Its like every minute your amazed by something new and every corner you turn is another fantastic photo-opertunity! The buildings everywhere are beautiful, most of them are totally worn-out and decaying but it only makes it all the more beautiful for some reason. It feels as though your on an old movie set; there are big classic American cars everywhere you look. The people are obviously v.poor and the atmosphere is quite odd. We've found when we were in a big group people were more hostile towards us and we attracted more hustlers, but when its just the 2 of us people are genuinly more friendly, although we are constantly harrassed by annoying men (and even young boys!) making annoying kissing and hissing noises, which can be very tiresom.
The 1st night here was a bit bewildering, arriving in the dark is never a great idea. But the 6 of us all went out for something to eat at a not-all-that-nice Chinese restaurant in China Town, strange because I didnt expect to come to Cuba and find loads of Chinese restaurants that sell mainly Italian food served by Cubans! (there are absolutely no Chinese people). Then we went to a bar along Malecon, which is a long strip along the sea front. Was there till about 4am being serenaded by a Cuban musician, who was pretty good - played us a few Buena Vista tunes.
The next day we watched the World Cup finals, cannot beleive I have watched both my countries lose by penalties! So frustrating! Afterwards we wandered the streets of Habana Vieja, the old city. Which cheered me up no end. We walked for hours, there is just so much to see! After the frustration of the game I was craving chocolate badly, and what did we stumble across? A chocolate museum! Couldnt beleive my luck, so naturally we all had chocolate drinks and a peice of delicious chocolate - yum yum yum!!! Was on a total choc-high after!
In the evening me and Nikki found a street vendor to eat from, its actually just somebody's house where you buy dirt-cheap food from through a hole in th wall, then we went round to the others guys' house with a bottle of rum (of course), we all drank alot and attempted to play cards, then it got too hot so we decided to do as the locals do and hang-out in the street, sitting on the doorstep/curb. It ended up being a great idea and lots of fun! We drank with the neighbours. I attempted having conversations in my awful Spanglish! And sometimes we even understood each other! We all went to the Malecon (waterfront) with the neighbours. Then they got questioned by the police, apparently they dont like locals hanging out with tourists, although I suspect they also dont like black people. Anyway they eventually let them go and we chilled out on the wall.
Woke up with head-banging hangover, ugh. Went to find brakfast, and as always was amaxed by everything and everyone; women walking round in their hair-rollers, or sitting smoking cigars, kids playing football in the streets, men drinking rum and playing dominoes everywhere. Found a little market where they squeezed juice from sugar-cane, which was bit weird tasting.
Since then we have done so much but I will have to write about it next time as my time is up Im afraid. Adios amigos!
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