You've arrived at your Casa (home stay, essentially similar to a B&B) or hotel (more than likely, if you are on a tour, the Hotel Nacional Cuba).
A Casa is privately owned and there are different "grades": A Guest House through to a Premium Guest House - I am sure you can work out what that means. Here is a link for you to take a look: Cubans Casa's
If you choose a tour they will book your Casa forevery part of your trip. If you choose to travel solo that link will also guide you. Trip Advisor is also a great place to visit to review Cuban Casa's.
I arrived at my Casa just after 1am, I will admit I was freaked out. My Spanish is, well about as good as my Mandarin, so I played charades with my host. She showed me to my room and left me. I wandered out to the terrace and again, I am not ashamed to admit it, I cried because I was so over whelmed by jetlag, the heat and being in someone's home. My feedback is if you can and there is availability, book a hotel - it will be a lot less daunting and your adventure will start off a bit happier than mine.
The next morning my host knocked on the door at 10.30am (when I was finally convinced I was not about to be murdered in my bed, which can I point out is the thoughts of a mad woman overcome by jetlag and exhaustion, as it is such a safe country) I fell asleep for many hours.. I think I was supposed to be out by 10am, but hey ho, I was on Cuba time. My breakfast consisted of very thick mango juice (an acquired taste), cheese, ham, an egg and fresh bread and honey. And coffee. Oh the coffee in Cuba - it is awesome!
A taxi was called and I was on my way to the Hotel Nacional to get ready to join my tour later that night. It reminded me of Raffles in Singapore. I had a beer (local beers are Cristal - a lighter beer and Bucanero - meaning strong beer, they are the most popular AND very good!) and went exploring the grounds. A beautiful old hotel with beautiful grounds. It buzzes day and night.
I took a shower - again a tip, be prepared for minimal water flow in Cuba, it is more a trickle and hot water, even in hotels, is hit and miss, again all a part of the adventure. Forget trying to wash shampoo and conditioner out of your hair in a hurry - I didn't wash my hair for 5 days once I left the hotel... Dry shampoo is your friend - take some with you!!
I will pause now to tell you what you should take with you to Cuba, as most things are not easy to purchase. Sun block (rumour has it the sun block for sale in Cuba is not good, so if you are fair skinned like me, take your own), insect repellant (all roads lead to Bushmans, it is the recommended one as it is the strongest, apparently) - believe me mosquitos are out in full force (and Cuba has the Zika warning at present), some sort of pain relief (I took Heron, I didn't use it but other members of the tour did), small packets of tissues (toilet paper, once you are out of the hotel, is hard to come by), hand sanitizer (I didn't use this but lots of my tour companions did), a good hat with a peak, and lots of cotton clothes - the heat is intense (and I was there in winter) and the humidity is high. Your host at your home stay will offer to do your washing if required, everything came back squeaky clean and in good shape! Oh and take some form or stomach relief (get my drift? Something like Immodium and Buscopan).
I met my tour group at 7pm. An interesting group of varying ages from 31 to 65 - 7 of us in total (a great sized group!)- 4 Australians, 2 English and 1 Swiss. Our tour guide was Tatiana from Peregrine - a fabulous human being! We headed out for our welcome dinner. The meal was good (I will review on Trip Advisor soon, and post links for you to follow). An early night as we headed off early the next morning to Vinales.
More on that tomorrow - a beautiful region of Cuba. Best home stay I had the whole trip!!
Till tomorrow.
Friday, 28 October 2016
Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Welcome to Cuba!
While I was away and in the 24 hours since I have been back I have received a lot of messages asking me about Cuba - so I decided to put it all in one spot. Right here. I will have to blog it over a few days as there is a lot to tell you - just means you have to visit a few times to get the low down.
Getting to Cuba:
My brother and sister in law have a saying: "Friends do not let friends fly United". I now have a saying: "Friends do not let friends fly Air Canada".
This could be difficult for a while, until the embargo with the US is completely gone, at which time you can fly to Cuba from the US (my understanding, and this could be incorrect, but it was what I was told) is that until the end of November unless you are an American citizen you can't fly to Cuba from the US. Check it out again in December. So at this stage you have the option to fly to Canada and then onto Cuba. At this point remember the above advice: "Friends do not let friends fly United" and "Friends do not let friends fly Air Canada".
It is a long haul. I went from Sydney to Vancouver (14 hours) and then onto Montreal for a wedding and then after a week in Montreal I travelled on. You can go directly to Havana from Vancouver (or if you want to stay and look around Canada, which I recommend you do to break up the trip) you can go from Montreal or Toronto also. This is more expensive than the option I took (Montreal to Havana via Mexico - I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS - this is a 20 hour haul for a trip that can take as little as 5 hours direct from Canada - via Mexico is a cheaper way but it makes it a hard slog for a few days due to the continued jetlag, even though you are on the same time zone as Montreal - note; Vancouver is 3 hours behind Montreal and Toronto).
I went on a tour - I recommend this if you are not a regular traveller - it is a challenging country to navigate on your own, although if you are a seasoned traveller you will be fine without a tour. Tours are: Peregrine, Intredpid and Gecko. All owned and operated by Peregrine. They are just different levels of tour in terms of what you get. Peregrine is the most expensive through to Gecko which is cheapest. I do not know the difference between them other than $'s but I can say I rate Peregrine highly. If you can get a tour with Tatiana as the guide you will have the best time!!
A tour will provide you with a transfer - a relief as I landed at 10.40pm at night. It was about 28 degrees with humidity in the high 90's. I was jet lagged and tired, an air conditioned transfer was a saviour.
Now you are in Cuba:
Just to confuse you, Cuba has 2 sets of currency. The CUP (Cuban Peso) used strictly by locals. And the CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) used by "foreigners". The next challenge is that Cuban currency is only available in Cuba - and you can really only change Canadian Dollars and Euro. You can take American dollars but an additional 10% charge is put onto the transaction (this may change eventually once the Americans and Cubans become friendlier). DO NOT TAKE AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS - they have no idea what to do with them. The exchange rate as at today, 26 October of Canadian dollars is 1 CUC to 0.74 CAD. Use this link to work through it: Currency Converter
Once you exit via customs (on arrival, be warned it can take hours to clear customs and get your bags - I landed at 10.40pm and got out of the airport at 1am, you are now on "Cuban time"). There are two currency exchanges outside near the taxi rank/pick up area. Again, be prepared for a very long wait - sometimes the line can go for a few hundred metres and you can be in that line for a few hours. No point in getting cranky, everything in Cuba takes a lot longer than the western world, get used to it, it is the way it is and there is nothing worse than a cranky, rude westerner who complains about everything - you have been warned!!).
Only use a certified bank or the hotel to change money. Do not get sucked in by street hawkers, they will sell you the CUP - essentially useless for foreigners (and quite often counterfeit notes). The CUP is used by Cubans for their rations (more on this in another blog) and day to day purchases. You will be charged in CUC everywhere you go. A bank is used by Cubans to pay bills etc, this is why it can take forever. I recommend changing money at hotels (all government owned, more about this later) - you will get a little less than a bank but save hours of time and not have to stand in the heat.
Okay, now you are finally out of the airport, you will head to a hotel or a casa (home stay, very popular and used all over Cuba). But that can wait till tomorrow as I know the above is a lot to take in.
In short: Remember, Cuba is not a western country. Take your patience, leave the attitude at home and prepare for an adventure.. It is a fabulous country - relax and enjoy it.
P.S. You will hear lots of things about what inoculations you should get to visit Cuba - I recommend you talk to your doctor.
Getting to Cuba:
My brother and sister in law have a saying: "Friends do not let friends fly United". I now have a saying: "Friends do not let friends fly Air Canada".
This could be difficult for a while, until the embargo with the US is completely gone, at which time you can fly to Cuba from the US (my understanding, and this could be incorrect, but it was what I was told) is that until the end of November unless you are an American citizen you can't fly to Cuba from the US. Check it out again in December. So at this stage you have the option to fly to Canada and then onto Cuba. At this point remember the above advice: "Friends do not let friends fly United" and "Friends do not let friends fly Air Canada".
It is a long haul. I went from Sydney to Vancouver (14 hours) and then onto Montreal for a wedding and then after a week in Montreal I travelled on. You can go directly to Havana from Vancouver (or if you want to stay and look around Canada, which I recommend you do to break up the trip) you can go from Montreal or Toronto also. This is more expensive than the option I took (Montreal to Havana via Mexico - I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS - this is a 20 hour haul for a trip that can take as little as 5 hours direct from Canada - via Mexico is a cheaper way but it makes it a hard slog for a few days due to the continued jetlag, even though you are on the same time zone as Montreal - note; Vancouver is 3 hours behind Montreal and Toronto).
I went on a tour - I recommend this if you are not a regular traveller - it is a challenging country to navigate on your own, although if you are a seasoned traveller you will be fine without a tour. Tours are: Peregrine, Intredpid and Gecko. All owned and operated by Peregrine. They are just different levels of tour in terms of what you get. Peregrine is the most expensive through to Gecko which is cheapest. I do not know the difference between them other than $'s but I can say I rate Peregrine highly. If you can get a tour with Tatiana as the guide you will have the best time!!
A tour will provide you with a transfer - a relief as I landed at 10.40pm at night. It was about 28 degrees with humidity in the high 90's. I was jet lagged and tired, an air conditioned transfer was a saviour.
Now you are in Cuba:
Just to confuse you, Cuba has 2 sets of currency. The CUP (Cuban Peso) used strictly by locals. And the CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) used by "foreigners". The next challenge is that Cuban currency is only available in Cuba - and you can really only change Canadian Dollars and Euro. You can take American dollars but an additional 10% charge is put onto the transaction (this may change eventually once the Americans and Cubans become friendlier). DO NOT TAKE AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS - they have no idea what to do with them. The exchange rate as at today, 26 October of Canadian dollars is 1 CUC to 0.74 CAD. Use this link to work through it: Currency Converter
Once you exit via customs (on arrival, be warned it can take hours to clear customs and get your bags - I landed at 10.40pm and got out of the airport at 1am, you are now on "Cuban time"). There are two currency exchanges outside near the taxi rank/pick up area. Again, be prepared for a very long wait - sometimes the line can go for a few hundred metres and you can be in that line for a few hours. No point in getting cranky, everything in Cuba takes a lot longer than the western world, get used to it, it is the way it is and there is nothing worse than a cranky, rude westerner who complains about everything - you have been warned!!).
Only use a certified bank or the hotel to change money. Do not get sucked in by street hawkers, they will sell you the CUP - essentially useless for foreigners (and quite often counterfeit notes). The CUP is used by Cubans for their rations (more on this in another blog) and day to day purchases. You will be charged in CUC everywhere you go. A bank is used by Cubans to pay bills etc, this is why it can take forever. I recommend changing money at hotels (all government owned, more about this later) - you will get a little less than a bank but save hours of time and not have to stand in the heat.
Okay, now you are finally out of the airport, you will head to a hotel or a casa (home stay, very popular and used all over Cuba). But that can wait till tomorrow as I know the above is a lot to take in.
In short: Remember, Cuba is not a western country. Take your patience, leave the attitude at home and prepare for an adventure.. It is a fabulous country - relax and enjoy it.
P.S. You will hear lots of things about what inoculations you should get to visit Cuba - I recommend you talk to your doctor.
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Time Flies...
It is funny how time flies. I just realised my last blog was the 11 of May. At this stage I will say I now agree with the older you get, the quicker time flies.
I started looking at property to buy again. As I go through the foster to adopt process I am conscious that I need a stable home for a child and renting doesn't make me feel that. However; after attending an open home tonight that was a dog box you couldn't swing Lily (the cat) in, on a main road, with the (very small) bedroom facing said main road, with the real estate guy telling everyone in the place it was "prime location", that has an auction guide of $700K+, I think I just gave in. I am going to be a renter for life if I remain in Sydney. And for at least the next 15 years, if I am successful as a foster parent, I need to stay in Sydney. So renting it is.
I hate the uncertainty of it. While I live in a nice place, a two minute walk from a Westfield (a girls dream!) I have no sense of stability. I guess all people renting feel it. I just never thought I'd feel it at 44 and a half years old. But I won't pay the ridiculous prices Sydney demands for me to own my own home. It puts me in a position where I would be a slave to the corporate world for ever. And I am not sure I want that.
Maybe it is winter, you know, you tend to retreat into yourself for a while until the spring comes and then the sun is on your skin, making you feel alive again.
I don't know. Guess I'll work through it all. Or meet a millionaire. I think I have a safer and better chance of working through it.
Till next time.
Ax
I started looking at property to buy again. As I go through the foster to adopt process I am conscious that I need a stable home for a child and renting doesn't make me feel that. However; after attending an open home tonight that was a dog box you couldn't swing Lily (the cat) in, on a main road, with the (very small) bedroom facing said main road, with the real estate guy telling everyone in the place it was "prime location", that has an auction guide of $700K+, I think I just gave in. I am going to be a renter for life if I remain in Sydney. And for at least the next 15 years, if I am successful as a foster parent, I need to stay in Sydney. So renting it is.
I hate the uncertainty of it. While I live in a nice place, a two minute walk from a Westfield (a girls dream!) I have no sense of stability. I guess all people renting feel it. I just never thought I'd feel it at 44 and a half years old. But I won't pay the ridiculous prices Sydney demands for me to own my own home. It puts me in a position where I would be a slave to the corporate world for ever. And I am not sure I want that.
Maybe it is winter, you know, you tend to retreat into yourself for a while until the spring comes and then the sun is on your skin, making you feel alive again.
I don't know. Guess I'll work through it all. Or meet a millionaire. I think I have a safer and better chance of working through it.
Till next time.
Ax
Wednesday, 11 May 2016
Crikey...
Oh my I know that saying is so Australian.. But I am Australian.. So forgive me.
Today my washing machine decided to pack it in. Water everywhere.. Laundry. Kitchen. Yep. Everywhere. I tried to be McGyver (because I have managed a lot of situations over the last 18 months and I am proud of me!!) but it did not work. Water is water. No matter who you are or where you are.
But I laughed. A lot.
Then I go for my fostering medical. You know what I adore about my doctor? He cares so damn much. I can't be mad he is running 30 minutes late because he over runs my appointments all the time.
I am healthy. I am fine. I am waiting for the next steps of fostering.
Till next time.
P.S. I miss you
Today my washing machine decided to pack it in. Water everywhere.. Laundry. Kitchen. Yep. Everywhere. I tried to be McGyver (because I have managed a lot of situations over the last 18 months and I am proud of me!!) but it did not work. Water is water. No matter who you are or where you are.
But I laughed. A lot.
Then I go for my fostering medical. You know what I adore about my doctor? He cares so damn much. I can't be mad he is running 30 minutes late because he over runs my appointments all the time.
I am healthy. I am fine. I am waiting for the next steps of fostering.
Till next time.
P.S. I miss you
Sunday, 1 May 2016
29 April - Two Anniversaries
The 29th of April marked 2 events.
What I cannot believe is that the anniversary of the murder Myuran and Andrew passed without a lot of comment. It's like as a country we have moved on. We do not care that this callous act was more of a political event than that of a country punishing two people, who had spent 10 years in gaol turning their lives around.
I still refuse to visit Bali. I will not go there regardless of how cheap it is. Do the people of Bali miss out on my tourist dollars? Yes, I suppose so.. But I can't do it.
RIP.
- 26 years since I moved to Sydney. Yes, I had a short hiatus in Qld and Melbourne but Sydney has always been my home.
- 1 year since Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan were sentenced to death - actually, they were murdered, in Indonesia
What I cannot believe is that the anniversary of the murder Myuran and Andrew passed without a lot of comment. It's like as a country we have moved on. We do not care that this callous act was more of a political event than that of a country punishing two people, who had spent 10 years in gaol turning their lives around.
I still refuse to visit Bali. I will not go there regardless of how cheap it is. Do the people of Bali miss out on my tourist dollars? Yes, I suppose so.. But I can't do it.
RIP.
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
Long Lost Families, Love Child & Married at First Sight
I need to stop watching reality television. These days if I am not having a "moment" over Long Lost Families I am having a "moment" when I watch Married at First Sight..
Now before I go into Long Lost Families, I know there is a lot of debate around the show Married At First Sight, can I tell you, there are a lot of people who relate to what these couples are going through. Isn't it the same as an arranged marriage which is common in some cultures? Is it because we are a culture (Australian - is that politically correct?) that means we debate it so fiercely? Yes, I hate the fact that gay marriage isn't legal here and I get a lot of people are pissed we can arrange a marriage for tv ratings but two people, who just happen to be of the same sex, can't get married, but I am not convinced it is wrong.. The tv show that is as not allowing gay marriage is just WRONG!!. Pandora's box really..
But I digress... I m hooked on "long Lost Families". I have to make sure I watch it when I know I can sit in my home and cry like a baby so no one sees me. Which isn't hard these days as I spend quite a bit of time alone with Lily Cat.
Kind of off subject but not totally, I love the show "Love Child". Let me explain why. They tie in.
My mum was pregnant in 1971. She was a single mum. I was born in early 1972 to a single mother. That equals her parents and society being really, well pissed. They sent her to NSW, presumably to one of the "homes" they sent single mothers to in the 70's. But my mum (and you wonder where I get my guts from) dissed that idea big time ran away and caught a train to Newcastle. So the story goes - because really, we have only scratched the surface once or twice. It hurts her too much to talk about and I had a good life, so why bother dragging up the past. She stayed with a friend, I have seen the photos. And then when it was time for me to come along she went home.
There is so much I could say. To try and fill in the blanks. But I can't. All I know is I am very grateful my mum had he guts to fight for me. I watch Love Child and Long Lost Families and over analyse the whole thing (it's a girl thing). My mum could have ended up in one of those homes. I could be that person on Long Lost Families looking for my family. And I am not. Phew.
You fast forward to today and I am so incredibly lucky my mum met my dad. Yep, the man who adopted me when I was about 2, and whose name is on my birth certificate. I have never known anything different. My dad is my rock, the only man I truly love, right now, in my life.
My grand parents forgave my mum, apparently as soon as I was born. I still have the teddy bear my mum was given before I was born.
How lucky am I? So I watch these shows with a certain "I am so incredibly lucky" as I could have been a product of either.
I know this blog is a bit all over the shop but it is hard to get your thoughts down without boring people. So I leave you with this. I sometimes wonder whether my life is a sitcom. I get myself into more interesting situations than most - it has been that way since birth. My life is never dull. Oh it has never been dull. And for the most part, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Now before I go into Long Lost Families, I know there is a lot of debate around the show Married At First Sight, can I tell you, there are a lot of people who relate to what these couples are going through. Isn't it the same as an arranged marriage which is common in some cultures? Is it because we are a culture (Australian - is that politically correct?) that means we debate it so fiercely? Yes, I hate the fact that gay marriage isn't legal here and I get a lot of people are pissed we can arrange a marriage for tv ratings but two people, who just happen to be of the same sex, can't get married, but I am not convinced it is wrong.. The tv show that is as not allowing gay marriage is just WRONG!!. Pandora's box really..
But I digress... I m hooked on "long Lost Families". I have to make sure I watch it when I know I can sit in my home and cry like a baby so no one sees me. Which isn't hard these days as I spend quite a bit of time alone with Lily Cat.
Kind of off subject but not totally, I love the show "Love Child". Let me explain why. They tie in.
My mum was pregnant in 1971. She was a single mum. I was born in early 1972 to a single mother. That equals her parents and society being really, well pissed. They sent her to NSW, presumably to one of the "homes" they sent single mothers to in the 70's. But my mum (and you wonder where I get my guts from) dissed that idea big time ran away and caught a train to Newcastle. So the story goes - because really, we have only scratched the surface once or twice. It hurts her too much to talk about and I had a good life, so why bother dragging up the past. She stayed with a friend, I have seen the photos. And then when it was time for me to come along she went home.
There is so much I could say. To try and fill in the blanks. But I can't. All I know is I am very grateful my mum had he guts to fight for me. I watch Love Child and Long Lost Families and over analyse the whole thing (it's a girl thing). My mum could have ended up in one of those homes. I could be that person on Long Lost Families looking for my family. And I am not. Phew.
You fast forward to today and I am so incredibly lucky my mum met my dad. Yep, the man who adopted me when I was about 2, and whose name is on my birth certificate. I have never known anything different. My dad is my rock, the only man I truly love, right now, in my life.
My grand parents forgave my mum, apparently as soon as I was born. I still have the teddy bear my mum was given before I was born.
How lucky am I? So I watch these shows with a certain "I am so incredibly lucky" as I could have been a product of either.
I know this blog is a bit all over the shop but it is hard to get your thoughts down without boring people. So I leave you with this. I sometimes wonder whether my life is a sitcom. I get myself into more interesting situations than most - it has been that way since birth. My life is never dull. Oh it has never been dull. And for the most part, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Under the Tuscan Sun...
One of my favourite movies... Maybe it is the romance of it all. The female solidarity.. I just know I have to go...
I've been researching like a mad woman. Firstly tours for over 40's. Interestingly enough there are tours for people from 28 to 42 (okay, right about now I admit I am researching tours for singles.. Sigh...). And people (singles) over 45. The only tours I fall in are 42 to 64. What are the odds I'd be the only person in their 40's on the trip? Pretty good I think..
Apparently I fall into the "age black hole".
So if anyone out there knows of a good tour to go on, I'd be very appreciative of advice.
I want to take about a month off (don't tell my boss just yet). I'd like to go at a nice time of the year. I don't want to end up with a group of mature people on zimmer frames (no offence old people). I want to, need to, make new friends. I want to stare in awe at monuments, I want to be so immersed in the trip I forget the last 18 months has been interesting, to say the least. I want to have fun and laugh. I wan to be surrounded by people so I forget the loneliness I feel on a regular basis.
Look forward to your comments and advice.
Axxx
I've been researching like a mad woman. Firstly tours for over 40's. Interestingly enough there are tours for people from 28 to 42 (okay, right about now I admit I am researching tours for singles.. Sigh...). And people (singles) over 45. The only tours I fall in are 42 to 64. What are the odds I'd be the only person in their 40's on the trip? Pretty good I think..
Apparently I fall into the "age black hole".
So if anyone out there knows of a good tour to go on, I'd be very appreciative of advice.
I want to take about a month off (don't tell my boss just yet). I'd like to go at a nice time of the year. I don't want to end up with a group of mature people on zimmer frames (no offence old people). I want to, need to, make new friends. I want to stare in awe at monuments, I want to be so immersed in the trip I forget the last 18 months has been interesting, to say the least. I want to have fun and laugh. I wan to be surrounded by people so I forget the loneliness I feel on a regular basis.
Look forward to your comments and advice.
Axxx
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