Its the day after my 25th birthday! We've had a good last few days. On Thursday me and Nikki went to the beach, we got totally harrassed and didnt even dare take of our clothes to reveal our bikinis. The cab journey was also a bit strange, in yet another classic car, we got stopped twice by the bloody police who searched the boot, and on the way back our driver stopped somewhere to talk to his friends and gave us some nasty beer to drink. Then delivered some to the police. Not sure what that was all about. Hmmm... So, Thursday was the last day of the carnival, me and Nikki decided to try it alone this time, had a good time; danced alot, drank alot, had yet more horrible food (as usual). Bumped into Sandy and went back to Raul's with him and chatted (in Spanglish) to their family, I ended up passing out on their sofa then waking up and throwing up infront of his whole family, ugh - cringe, cringe, cringe! He was very sweet about it all though and really looked after me. I ended up staying the night there and in the morning he took me for breakfast at a really nice hotel over-looking Parque Cespedes (the Central Plaza). That afternoon me and Nikki went to visit the Barcardi Museum, turned out to be nothing to do with the rum of the same name but very interesting all the same. Lots of artefacts from pre-hispanic times that the aboriginies of Cuba used, nasty torture instruments the Spanish used on the slaves, belongings of past and present rulers etc. There was also lots of random stuff from around the world including an Egyptian mummy, spooky mother and child mummies frozen in time - their faces in anguish (v.disturbing), and most amazingly a REAL shrunken human head from Peru! Oh my god - v.strange thing! Somehow they take out the bones and shrink it, had hair and everything! They used to do it to their enemies, really bizzare. Upstairs they also had a collection of international and Cuban art. Decided it was probably best to give the fiesta's a rest for that evening (after last nights sickness) and stayed in. Raul knocked for me and we all went for a little something to eat then me and him went and sat in Parque Cespedes where in the evenings its full; of couples, old and young, of bands playing music and of course some jinternero's (hustlers). It was nice we just sat there and chatted, and people watched, for a while. The next day was my 25th birthday! Nikki got me a card and an ankle bracelet (which means I am now an official traveller you know!), we went for brekkie and I bought myself some pressies; some pretty flip-flop shoes, and another bikini (hmmm!). Then we went and met Raul and Sandy who sang me 'happy birthday'in the street and gave me a nice ring and bracelet. We all got a Cuban taxi (i.e. not for tourists) and it stunk of petrol inside, disgusting, anyway we got that to the waterfall, a pleasant journey (apart from fumes) through the lucious green mountains, then it was a little walk and climb up some rocks to a lovely waterfall and rockpool, which was full of locals jumping in (v.bravely) from the top, and as always someone playing a guitar and singing, and lots of rum-drinking. We sat in the water and drank with them and swam in the waterfall - it was a really nice day. When we were leaving, to everyone's amusement, I did a magnificant skid acrross the rocks and landed on my arse, v.embarrassing. Of course on the way back we were stopped again by the police, who also questioned the guys for ages, getting really tired of it but must be so much more frustrating for them- who have to carry ID everywhere and are constantly harrassed. In the evening the guys took us to a disco, which was pretty awful, but managed to have a good time in the end. And I even attempted to Salsa again. Got another awful, crumbling to bits, stinking of gas, heap of a taxi back, the fumes were so bad I had a small asthma attack and had to get out. Stayed the night at Raul's place. Was our last night here. Was quite sad. We talked alot again about the life here in Cuba, my opinion has changed alot about the country and the system here, which although there are some good points (i.e housing, healthcare and education), it simply doesnt work at all. He talked and showed me how awful life is here for most people. The difference between the way tourists and Cubans are treated is so unjust, for example the constant harrassment by police, the horrible taxi's, the food (which is pretty bad everywhere) but all the half-decent stuff is given to tourists or exported; what the Cubans have to eat is revolting - we've eaten plenty from the same stalls and the thought of having to live on it is terrifying, also the two currency thing (one for Cubans, one for tourists) is bizzarre, the money they earn is worthless and the amount is appalling (about $20 a month for a medic, and about $8 a month for waitresses), and it doesnt matter how hard you work you get the same (which explains the service in most places!), with that they have to pay for food, water, electric, any repairs on their homes, and basic living, but worst of all is that there is no freedom of speech - they cannot speak out against the government, cannot vote or demonstrate, nothing. Alot of the young people here are really restless and so frustrated. They feel helpless, they feel that they are just surviving, not living, and then they are told to be proud of their country and to make sacrifices for it. Most are just waiting for Fidel to die and hoping something will change for the better. And it appears whether it will or not we'll soon see...