Jun 17, 2009 - Cuba

Havana is an incredible place. ... After Havana, we rented a car and drove around the country. ... Outside of Havana and Santiago horse and carriage seem to outnumber cars. ...

Jun 9, 2009 - Cuba - Fidel's island

Havana (Teneale) Our first stop in Cuba was Havana. ... Not settling for anything but the best, we smoked Cohiba cigars and caught up with Team London and the latest victims to get “crunched” in London! Some of my favourite memories of Havana are the walks we did in Vieja Havana (Old Havana). ... Haggling (bordering on accosting) is also not uncommon in Havana and easy targets were: - Cooksie, who saw his life flash before him when he was taken to a druglord’s apartment in the search of a good cigar; - Patters, who was distracted by a haggler while the rest of the team fell prey to the haggler’s henchmen; and - Puddles, who is incapable of being rude to anyone and would dutifully listen to each haggler’s offer. ... Havana was also our first introduction to “casa particulars”, which is economical accommodation in which local families offer a room in their house to travellers. ... So we ordered beers in groups of 12 shot glasses and we chose our buffet food carefully! Things definitely improved as we settled into our surroundings and soon enough we were having a cracker of a time! Nights consisted of us joining in the Hotel game of Bingo!! Yes bingo! What a crazy vibe! Locals were left cursing as Patters managed to sneak a victory and take away the bottle of Havana Rum. ...

Jun 9, 2009 - Cuba

Havana: After much drama with cancelled flights between Mexico and Cuba and the need to buy new tickets via Panama, it was an uneventful flight to Havana right up until the immigration check where Pete found that the difference between his passport photo and his now hairy face was starting to raise concerns from the officials! Eventually we all collected our bags and caught a taxi to downtown Havana where we arrived at our Casa Particulares around midnight. ... More squeals of excitement from the girls (now two Benoni cronies in Ol’ Havana!) and the joy of travelling struck me again – a few emails and a flight and you can meet some of your oldest friends in the most unlikely places on earth. ... For the rest of that day we strolled through the once beautiful streets of Havana. ... It was a sad goodbye in Havana on Saturday as Lisa, Steve, Jawbone and Chris made their way to the airport in an old pink Cadillac convertible and began their trip back to the UK, how could a week have gone so quickly? Vinales Valley: The Lakes, Holleys and Goldies woke early to catch our bus to the incredibly beautiful Vinales Valley to the west of Havana. ...

May 6, 2009 - Cayo Largo, Cuba

Even thought I knew it was coming, I didn’t appreciate the early wake up call at 4:00 am. After they loaded up all my luggage, and theirs, we started out along Obispo St in Old Town Havana. ... We should have been at Juan’s casa in Old Havana around 8:00 but arrived at midnight. ... Juan kept some of our stuff for us while we went to Cayo Largo, so we had time for a quick repacking, and a quick sleep, as we were heading out a 7:00 to catch the bus to Trinidad Cuba.Even thought I knew it was coming, I didn’t appreciate the early wake up call at 4:00 am. After they loaded up all my luggage, and theirs, we started out along Obispo St in Old Town Havana. ... We should have been at Juan’s casa in Old Havana around 8:00 but arrived at midnight. ... Juan kept some of our stuff for us while we went to Cayo Largo, so we had time for a quick repacking, and a quick sleep, as we were heading out a 7:00 to catch the bus to Trinidad Cuba....

May 4, 2009 - CUBA LIBRE

Poco is very tired from two plane flights from Guatemala, so he is letting Elaine and Cory write this entry. We arrived at our Casa Particular ' basically a homestay around midnight, and today have wandered around old Havana. ... Havana is fantastic, the buildings are amazing. ... Walked along the Malencon today.Poco is very tired from two plane flights from Guatemala, so he is letting Elaine and Cory write this entry. We arrived at our Casa Particular ' basically a homestay around midnight, and today have wandered around old Havana. ... Havana is fantastic, the buildings are amazing. ... Walked along the Malencon today....

May 3, 2009 - Arrival in Havana

We flew to Panama City and changed flights to connect to Havana, Cuba. ... Once Cory had exchanged some money and we had enough to catch a taxi to Old Havana, we headed off. ... Now, Elaine might not admit it but there was a brief moment when they were following Juan through the streets of Old Havana, which she wondered, if everything was OK. ... After dinner it was time to return to the casa, catch some sleep, as the plan for tomorrow was to take the Havana bus tour. ...

Apr 11, 2009 - Meeting the tour

Today I was meeting my tour so got up early to pack and then head out and see a bit more of Havana. ... We were going to go to the revolution museum but because it was such a nice day we decided to walk to the castle instead.Today I was meeting my tour so got up early to pack and then head out and see a bit more of Havana. ... We were going to go to the revolution museum but because it was such a nice day we decided to walk to the castle instead....

Apr 10, 2009 - Havana

Today me and Robbyn had the whole day in Havana to explore so we got up early and walked into the centre and caught a tour bus. ... Then took around old Havana at night - love ...

Mar 20, 2009 - Happy Birthday Meg & Jac

Just a quick message to Meghan (for 17th) and Jac (for 18th) for your birthdays this week.Just a quick message to Meghan (for 17th) and Jac (for 18th) for your birthdays this week....

Mar 6, 2009 - Cuba- Land of Salsa, Beaches, and Fidel- Part II

We did find the time to tour Old Havana again, admiring the dilapidated structures everywhere we looked, and the little shops and vintage wheels. ... We wandered around for a couple hours and hoped to be able to rent a car to head to the beach for the next few days, but $80 a day plus gas and park fees was a bit out of our range given the big splurge in Havana. ...

That second night I decided to make some headway on the remainder of the bottle of rum I had brought from Havana, although I didn’t quite realize how much it can sneak up on you. ...

I was able to enjoy one last night in Havana with Said and company before getting a ride to the airport. ...

Feb 27, 2009 - Cuba- Land of Salsa, Beaches, and Fidel- Part I

Hello Again,

Sorry it's been a bit since my last entry, but Internet access has been tough to come by down here, and I've been on the go pretty much non-stop for the past 3 weeks. They escorted us out and gave us a tour of La Habana (Havana), showing us the Morro, a famous castle from hundreds of years ago where they still re-enact the changing of the guards every night, complete with Cubans dressed up with colonial garb and white wigs. ... We enjoyed the Old Havana quite a bit, sampling the famous Mojitos at La Bodegita del Medio and gaping at the splendor of the plaza and church adjacent. ... There are small houses lining cobblestone streets there, and plenty of stores hawking their wares.Hello Again,

Sorry it's been a bit since my last entry, but Internet access has been tough to come by down here, and I've been on the go pretty much non-stop for the past 3 weeks. They escorted us out and gave us a tour of La Habana (Havana), showing us the Morro, a famous castle from hundreds of years ago where they still re-enact the changing of the guards every night, complete with Cubans dressed up with colonial garb and white wigs. ... We enjoyed the Old Havana quite a bit, sampling the famous Mojitos at La Bodegita del Medio and gaping at the splendor of the plaza and church adjacent. ... There are small houses lining cobblestone streets there, and plenty of stores hawking their wares....

Jan 14, 2009 - October 25, Havana

Our first full day in Havana started with a visit to our hotel by Jorge (jorgeguide@yahoo. ... On arrival we were met by the door man who showed us where to go: up the winding marbled stairs of a dilapidated Havana building, past people's washing hung up to dry on make-shift clotheslines hung across the building's very public spaces, up another flight of stairs and then into the paladar itself. ... I had arranged for Derek and I to have the one table on the balcony, which was even better than I had imagined as we caught a little of the breeze on a humid night.Our first full day in Havana started with a visit to our hotel by Jorge (jorgeguide@yahoo. ... On arrival we were met by the door man who showed us where to go: up the winding marbled stairs of a dilapidated Havana building, past people's washing hung up to dry on make-shift clotheslines hung across the building's very public spaces, up another flight of stairs and then into the paladar itself. ... I had arranged for Derek and I to have the one table on the balcony, which was even better than I had imagined as we caught a little of the breeze on a humid night....