So our time in Cuba is coming to an end…

UPDATE: We're now in JAMAICA!!!

Well we’re back in Havana, and it’s the night before we fly to Jamaica, so I thought to have an image dump of our time in Cuba.

On Tuesday, Abra and I spent a few more hours walking around some of Trinidad’s poorer backstreets. We also found a baller peso-food stand on the outskirts of town. We each had a sandwich (mine with egg and cheese, hers with chorizo sausage), orange juice, and 5 scoops of ice cream (yeah, that’s right, I said each) for about $1 USD. We felt like fat Americans eating all that, but when it’s peso-food, it’s basically free! We then caught a 3pm bus to Santa Clara.

When we arrived in Santa Clara it was down pouring - really the first batch of bad weather we’ve had. It seemed Mother Nature was trying to make up for 10 days of relatively ‘pristine’ weather all at once, and so any venture outside would result in immediate drenching.

So we ventured outside… mostly for peso-food, but also to get a feel for the city to make the most of our half-day there. This was a great idea at 8pm, in a country that doesn’t believe in city lights. Anyway, we made it back safely.

On Wednesday, we visited the Che Guevera monument & museum, which is most of what the city has to offer. Ernesto (his real name), was, of course, a mainstay in the Cuban revolution. Though he didn’t stay long after, deciding instead to start a revolution in the Republic of Congo, and later in Bolivia, he had a tremendous effect on this country. Perhaps because of his untimely death, and the consequent elevation to martyrdom, he is more revered than Fidel himself. He was also the main proponent of socialism in Cuba, and while still in Cuba fielded a campaign to change the motivation of Cubans from money to morals.

And as unnatural as that may be, I think it had some affect. Maybe I’m reading too far into this, but I attribute the fact that Cubans are such warm and giving people to Che’s campaign. When Abra and I didn’t have small enough change for the bus, 6 different people offered to give us some coins. No small feat considering their networth vs. ours. When Abra and I stopped in front of someone’s front door to watch the Cuba-Argentina baseball game, we were invited inside to watch with the family. Needless to say, El Che is loved here, and especially in Santa Clara. So we gave his city a half a day, before hopping a 6pm illegal (private) taxi to Havana.

Back in Havana, we decided to spend our last full day in Cuba touring the further corners of Havana, especially the more touristy Habana Vieja, which we skipped the first time around. We also rode a ferry across the harbor to visit the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabana (a fort), and a giant statue of Christ.

Oh, and on the way there I got my haircut for 20 cents (and tipped him 100%!)! It actually turned out… pretty incredible.

Lastly, before we barrage you with photos, Abra and I thought we’d share with you our incomplete list of things Cubans would be shocked about if you were to drop them in the middle of Seattle:

1. That it never seems to get dark. Even at night, it’s bright.
2. That everyone is wearing a shirt, and its not rolled up to their chest
3. That people seem to have things to do, and don’t spend their afternoons in a rocking chair on the porch
4. That most people don’t even have porches, and those who do don’t use it as the neighborhood hang out.
5. That there are no disease-ridden dogs that are liable to infect you if you get within three feet
6. That most cars are not older than the their grandmother
7. That most people couldn’t diagnose an overheating engine, even if flames were coming out from under the hood
8. That there are temperatures between freezing and boiling when it comes to food, water and weather
9. That there are other fast foods besides hot dogs, white bread with ham sandwiches, and mostly cheeseless, soggy, sour pizza

And now…. Photos!! (Mostly these are from Trinidad and Havana)

Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cienfuegos, Cuba. Barbershop with house in back.

Riding in a bike taxi to Punto Gordo in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Punto Gordo in Cienfuegos, Cuba

A public local bus in Cienfuegos, Cuba

The view from the rooftop of our Casa in Cienfuegos, Cuba

Looking down on the neighbors house from the Casa we stayed at in Trinidad, Cuba

There are many many art galleries in Trinidad, Cbua. This is just one of them

Church by the Plaza Mayor in Trinidad, Cuba

Got some peso pizza (ugh!) after our long bike ride in Trinidad, Cuba

Heading up the hill to the poorer neighborhoods of Trinidad, Cuba

A cool old car with Che faces on the headlights in Trinidad, Cuba

The baller peso food stand we found on the outskirts of Trinidad, Cuba (the one mentioned in our post)

Hans getting his ice cream at the peso stand (same as above) in Trinidad, Cuba

Che wall art at the bus station in Santa Clara, Cuba

Abra at the Che Monument in Santa Clara, Cuba

The both of us walking around in the rain, Santa Clara, Cuba

Another good peso food "stand." Actually this guy's tiny house in Santa Clara, Cuba

Hans can't even fit through the door of our room in Havana, Cuba

Hans getting his hair cut for 20 cents! Havana, Cuba

Church at the Plaza Viejo in Havana, Cuba

We took a boat just like this to Casa Blanca to see the old fort in Havana, Cuba

Hans eating Havana, Cuba (was a poor attempt at fake yawning!)

From the fort in Casa Blanca, Cuba. (Havana on other side of water)

Goofing around on the ferry back to Havana, Cuba

The Capitolio with some amazing clouds in Havana, Cuba

Posted by Hans (but abra did all the photos!)