Post-Cuba

Its over. I had 30 days, first in the cities of La Habana and Santiago de Cuba, before starting my cycling trip from Baracoa in the very south east, following the south coast all the way to the very south west in Granma Province, before continuing north.

I passed through some great mountainous and coastal scenery, either staying with local families in the countryside in their wooden huts, camping on the beach, staying in the very down to earth holiday huts for holidaying Cubans, and in the official bed and breakfasts run by Cuban families in their own homes.

It was a trip of mixed experiences, often at times it felt the bad ones were out numbering the good ones, but overall I would have to say not out weighing them. And that's all I'm going to write about it here; any more and it would get a bit too opinionated, potentially offensive, a little controversial and just not really appropriate to publish on the web. You'll just have to buy me a beer one day, and I'll tell you all about it.

You can view the photos from my trip, with a few captions added here and there:

La Habana, Cuba

Guantanamo Province, Cuba

Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

West Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba

Granma Province, Cuba

Sancti Spiritu Province, Cuba

I am currently hiding out in the depths of Belize City, hanging out with the tramps and Creole speaking Taiwanese and Indians. There are even rumours that I'm thinking of heading back home soon.

A little more from Cuba

All I want to buy is a simple pen, nothing fancy, just a simple pen. But I´ll be damned if I can find anywhere that sells a pen. I ask around, people point me to 'over there', 'down that street on the right'. Bollocks. I started to ask around on the 'black market'; the guys standing on the street in the plaza, who know people who know people who know people, who can get hold of things that no one else can get hold of, who sell you what you would consider the most basic things, for extortionate prices. They know you want it, and you can't get it anywhere else. But can they find me a pen (and can I find the 'question mark' key on this stupid key board - no!). A country that prides itself on bringing literacy to the masses, but it can't provide them with the means to write. Just one of the many contradictions in this country.

Cuba is frustrating. I'd put up some more photos but this damn computer won't let me. And now I only have 4 minutes left of my 3 pounds sterling an hour Internet time.

The biking is still going great, the weather still hot, and the experiences flowing.

later.