Friday 8 July 2011

the cuban hussle crisis

Costa Rica is a beautiful country but we couldn't see ourselves spending the whole 4 weeks there before my bike arrived. On the 28th Charlie suggested we head to Cuba, we arrived the next day. This type of freedom could become addictive.

After spending the past week exploring Cuba, I can confidently say that I have never been to a more fascinating, beautiful, frustrating and confusing country. Politically, culturally, economically, architectually and even mechanically, Cuba has amazed and baffled me on every level. I think it's pretty safe to say that the more you learn about Cuba, the more you learn how little you know. We only scratched the surface of a deep and complicated country and it doesn't taken long to start changing your opinion of this place between breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day. 

Ok so it's a cliche but arriving in Cuba is like stepping back in time. Support from the former great Soviet Union disappeared overnight and the on-going embargo from the US has left Cuba in what feels like a permanent state of retro.  



Havana Matacon at Sunset


The city is full of classics like this


Old Havana 


Best taxi I've been in




we got through a few cigars in Cuba


sign hanging from La Bodeguita Del Merido where Hemmingway enjoyed his Mojito's


first Mojito and cigar in Cuba


3 songs and their gone. Just long enough to get a tip and find the next lot of tourists


lovely lady at la Bodeguita Del Merido


La Floridita










some guy spent 18 years making this mess


a few streets back and the city was in decay







Che memorial in Santa Clara




Che derailed this armoured car and killed all the ment Batista sent to kill him in 1959. Revolution!





best dude we met in Cuba 



our cigar rolling guru at the tobacco farm


Junior Phillipe shows us his Government issue ration card




our Cuban fixer "Chicky"






Caving in Santa Tomas












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