Havana, Cuba

(Water from the ocean splashing on the Malecon)


Day 14 in Cuba

The gang all did the best we could to sleep in. We decided today would be a relaxing day. It was TAD’s last night and we let him decide what we were going to do. TAD was a great guy to hook up with. We spent over two weeks in Cuba together and he was a good traveling companion. It felt good to know I made a new friend. I would probably have never gone to Trinidad if he didn’t suggest we go. Stu was skeptical when I emailed him telling him I met a cool guy but Stu got along with him really well too.

We walked around Havana Viejo and then decided to walk the Malecon for some sunset pictures. I got so many great photographs this trip of the city. I really started falling in love with Havana. It’s a totally different destination that really takes some time to get to know but once you do it will get under your skin. I really will miss this place and don’t want to leave in a few days. Stu’s girl from the day before called him and she was interested in a seeing him. She said she was with her friend. We happened to be in the area where she lived so I gave her our location and she said she would meet us.

Shortly thereafter she arrives with her friend. Her friend was nothing to write home about. I ended up leaving with another girl I had met earlier in the trip. We spent the afternoon together then I hooked up with the fellas and we went to dinner at this awesome restaurant next to La Chorrera. You can’t miss it. It’s at the end of the Malecon before you hit the tunnel to Miramar. It’s not a cheap place and fancy but the food is good. TAD was nice enough to pick up the tab for dinner, a bottle of wine and drinks. He said he appreciated all that Stu and I had done. Stu and I weren't on a budget so we picked up several tabs and expenses.

I was sorry to see him go. It would end up being our last night together since Stu decided to drive to Trinidad alone the following morning. I should mention that Stu saw the BSG (blue shirt girl) as usual in her predictable spot. We grew to kind of feel sorry for her. She always had on the same blue shirt every single day that we were in Havana. Stu saw her and wanted to give her a New Year’s present. He stopped and gave her $10 at the side of road near the entrance to La Chorrera. As he gave her the money some dude whistled to signal that the cops were behind in a car. She scurried away scared. We were right at the restaurant parking lot and parked. TAD was driving. He didn’t have his driver’s license on him. The cops were looking for another bribe for not having a license. We all had had enough. We said we weren’t paying but the cops wouldn’t leave. My Spanish is totally decent and I didn’t have problems communicating with the police. They asked for $30 and I told them that was ridiculous.

Finally I confidently told them I was a lawyer that did business in Havana. I told them I had many co-worker friends that were lawyers here. I said that TAD would be happy to pay the fine but that I needed a receipt with both of their names on it. As soon as I said that they both got scared and said they would never demand money and that we didn’t understand them correctly. Bastards! We laughed about it afterwards. If you rent a car and stay in Miramar and are in Havana for any significant time you WILL get pulled over by the cops. Just don’t show fear. That was the 6th skirmish with the police. I was getting good at avoiding shakedowns. Stu also got pulled over once. He also was motioned to pull over by police on foot. We just ignored the police if they didn’t have a motorcycle or a car. There isn’t really anything they can do. Sure they could radio ahead but they are just looking for a bribe. Do NOT pay these as it will only encourage them to keep doing it. I’m sure many guys pay it as they can’t speak Spanish or are scared. Make sure in Miramar you don’t make a turn anywhere you aren’t supposed to. For some stupid reason you can not make a turn on many of the streets. You have to wait for a major intersection or just go around the block and find a street with a light.

After dinner we went behind the restaurant to Los Jardines for a “fashion show” that was going on. It was horrible. Some of the girls were hot but the clothes were hideous. We had one drink and left to go next door to La Chorrera. In the parking lot TAD saw the girl that we saw almost every night. Most nights she was just drinking and hanging out. I never saw her leave with anyone. Even last night when we were there around 4 AM. We had to convince him to go with her but he finally did and we bid him farewell. Stu and I entered La Chorrera. There are many girls that ask you to pay for their way in. Do not pay for them to get in. We always told them if they have their own money they could come in with us but the majority was looking to find some guy to pay their $5 entrance. I’m not entirely sure the girls couldn’t enter on their own. Some places they couldn’t enter without a male escort but I don’t think this was one of them. If you want to be a nice guy and pay their cover that’s your prerogative. The times I did the girls didn't even say thank you so I stopped doing it.

Stu and I walked around a bit. It was about 12:30 am and I was getting tired from a lack of sleep so I wanted to meet some girls. I was talking to this cute girl and we decided to go back to my place. She had a cute sister that I wanted Stu to hook up with but he was off chasing some other girl he said he saw on the Malecon one day. I wished him good luck on his trip and we said goodbye. It was another great trip with Stu. This was our fifth international trip together in only one year. We had so many good laughs and good times this trip as usual. I took a taxi particular home with my girl.


Day 15


I tried sleeping in but woke up at a reasonable time. Stu and TAD were both gone. I had various calls from other Americans that wanted to meet up throughout the trip. I never did meet up with anyone else. I’m content traveling with the good friends I’ve already made. I tried getting a taxi on Calle 5 in Miramar to no avail. Believe it or not it isn’t too easy to get a taxi unless you are in front of a big hotel or in a touristy area. Even when you call the Panataxi # of 555-555 it is usually busy or not available. If you’re staying in Miramar it is essential that you have a rental car. It was a beautiful day so I decided to walk as far as I could down to the Melia Cohibe hotel. I assumed I’d be able to flag down a taxi but there simply were none that didn’t already have people in it. It was a little hike but manageable. I wanted to see what stores were in the Galleria Mall next to the hotel. There was nothing there that any tourist would need.

I decided to walk around Havana Viejo some more. I wanted to take some more pictures in the Plaza de San Francisco which I really liked. It was the most uncluttered area that I noticed. There is a good outdoor café with good food. I had lunch there and walked around the area for a few hours. Something that I noticed is that instead of a bag or backpack I carried around my camera and stuff in a plain plastic bag that the convenient stores give out when you buy something. I didn’t even have one tout approach me for anything. Maybe it was a coincidence. I took a Panataxi from the Ingleterra Hotel all the way to Calle 28 in Miramar and it was $6.14 so don’t ever negotiate to pay more than this. Always round up and give them the change. Shortly thereafter one of the girls I hooked up from La Chorrera called me and I had her come over to my apartment. It was very convenient since she lived in Miramar. I spent a nice afternoon with her.

I really like my apartment here in Miramar but I miss having the car here. Stu took it to Trinidad. I tried renting a rental car today but they are all still sold out. After my girl left I went and checked email at an internet café at the corner of 28th and 3rd in Miramar. I had to wait a little bit since they only have one working computer. It didn’t work that well. I only was on 20 minutes when I got tied of waiting for pages to load (it was a dial up connection). There was a girl waiting and I gave her the rest of my card which had 40 minutes left. She was very happy. The cost of 1 hour access card is $5. This is the minimum time you can buy. I walked down to this ocean front bar that the fellas and I frequented near our casas.

I had a few Mojitos then decided to come home and made a few phone calls. I was trying to reach one of the girls and I accidentally called Stu’s girl that he hooked up with a few times. Be careful storing numbers in your phone. 90% of the girls we met had names starting with Y. It was kind of comical. Even girls with names like Jessie were spelled Yeissy. Anyway, since she answered I thought I might as well see if she was doing anything. Stu wasn't serious with her so I didn't see it as a problem. She wasn’t exactly my type but she had a great personality and was really funny and fun to spend time with. She came over in a little more than an hour and stayed for several hours.

I ended up resting a little and listening to music and reading a book. I went out to the clubs that we frequented and I partied a little and met a friend and spent a good last night in Cuba.

I’m in Cancun now. My room isn’t ready so I’m typing this in the lobby of the hotel. Final Thoughts No trip report or no guide book could have prepared me for what Cuba was going to be like. There were certain things I really loved about Cuba but other things that really bothered me. I didn't like the fact that you couldn't go to a club or meet a normal girl without the girl worrying what people would think about her. I am not shy and have traveled around the world. I've met girls all over the world but I've never felt how I felt in Cuba. No single guy that is doing nothing wrong should have to feel guilty about spending time with a girl just talking or having dinner or in a taxi with her.

One thing I was very surprised at is that there is virtually no people begging for money or giving you the line that they have no food. It seems like no one is starving here. For those that travel to Latin or South America you’ll notice many people begging for money for food. The entire trip I maybe had one person begging for money. The whole idea of socialism in theory is good but it just doesn’t work. The Cuban people as a whole seem to be a very happy and proud group of people. Music defines their society. There is music everywhere. It is in the streets, restaurants, cafes, and the beach. For example, in Playa del Este on a 50 meter stretch there were maybe 3 separate groups all playing music.

It was kind of interesting to see that the men aren’t the only ones that come to Cuba to meet girls. I saw several middle aged and older women with young Cuban guys. Hopefully these ladies aren’t deluding themselves into thinking these men really care for them. I saw many older men with young girls. It was interesting when I brought up this topic of conversation with several of the girls. Many told me that they had many chances to marry middle aged or older Italian or American men and they would rather live in Cuba then be in a relationship where they had no attraction or love for the other person. Almost all of the girls I saw had no interest in dating Cuban guys. They are looking for an opportunity at a better life. All of them loved their country but what future does a girl have when the most she can make even in a professional job is $30 US a month. I’m sure finding love in Cuba is very possible but in the end you have to stay realistic. One day TAD and I were having coffee at the café next to the Ingleterra. An older guy that spoke almost no Spanish was sitting with a girl. The girl didn’t speak English. I didn’t find her attractive but she seemed nice. She was holding hands with the guy and they were sitting with a tour guide. She told me that the guy was her fiancée and that she was going to be married in a few months. I guess the guy was supporting her. I’m not sure if he knew it or not but we saw the girl "working" and spending time with senior citizens almost every day the rest of our trip. I guess love is blind huh? I will miss Cuba and everything I experienced. I could have done Cuba alone but it was so much fun with Stu and Tad. I made another great friend in Tad and I’m sure I’ll see him somewhere in the world on another adventure.

Life is good.