So delicious spag bol (naturally) but dodgy rice (thanks Nick!) and onto Mondo Taitu - The place to hang in Bocas apparrently! Had a few bebidas there and then found ourselves in this amazing club that had some sort of shipwreck in it. So the done thing is to jump into the shipwreck for fun- Nick also thought that catching the starfish at the bottom was all part of the game -which he successfully did. Me on the sideline very excited about the fact he had done it - was clearly shouting so loudly I didnt hear everyone else shouting "YOUR KILLING IT". The starfish died. Accident.
The next day - bit stuck to know what to do. All you do in Bocas is go to the beach...but which? There are so many! We decided that we would make our way to Wizard beach which was supposed to have the best surf and rent a "foamie" (totes down with the surf lingo now) and Nick was going to teach us how to surf. Foamie in tow, we made our way to where the boats are to take you to the various Islands. This is what I imagine walking through an Indian market may be like. EVERYONE approaches you, haggling prices bla bla bla. But apparently I have got my haggling down to a pretty fine art after looking at Robertos ID and threatening to call the police if he didnt pick us up, we were on our way!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW I have never seen a beach like it. There was no-one else there (possibly due to the lack of waves...) long sandy beach, behind us green jungle and infront crystal blue water. It felt like we were on shipwrecked. Totally amazing! The whole day I think we saw three people in total.
So we just chilled on the beach, a surf lesson without waves was interesting but from what little I did, I think I can safely say I am not going to be the next surfpro to come out of England - damn it!
Infact it was that good-a-beach we went back the next day...!
We just chilled out that evening and said goodbye to Nick at 6am as he was on a flight to San Jose... It was emotional. We spent the whole day crying so were too tired to do anything! OK not really we were just lazy and wanted to save money so hung out in the hostel with some kiwis. One of which had farted in my face the morning before and another that had been playing musical sex beds that night and app landed on mine everytime! (EUGH) But as we keep saying... all part of the experencia.
Next day F and I rented bikes and cycled our way to playa bluff.. buff...blufft? Who knew. After eventually finding the breaks off we went... The beach was nice but not as nice as Wizard but the waves were intense! Something about rip tides..? Cycled back in our bikins and felt like wed been transported back to the 60s or something on our vintage bikes with baskets on the front "totally rad man!".
Then to the bus station... 10hr ride to Panama City...Taxi to Airport.... 6hr wait and a very dodgy burger... On plane...2hrs later arrive in BOGOTA!
Hummmm...Bogota - not quite as cosmopolitan as the old lonely planet suggests but another experencia. Staying in a hostel and met three english girls who are a laff and other than that its too cold to move! Spent the evening drinking rum to keep us warm (of course) and yesterday we found some CULTURE...can you believe it? It is a church ontop of a huge mountain that looks over the whole of bogota (which by the way is mahoosive) and is meant to be the highlight. Not as much of a let down as the old canal but still not that great. The hilarity of it all was F and I have started doing a documentary and the theme up in this chuch was "gap yah" - of course, and within minuites of finishing fliming one of the girls we were with chundered EVERYWHAR! Haha...
(Apologies to those of slightly more maturity that I who wont know what I am talking about)
So that made the trip slightly more entertaining oh and meeting a Lama on our way down.
Today we are waiting to catch a bus to San Gil which is meant to be the sporting part of Colombia... sounds fab! Its a stopgap between us and Cartagena (which is a 20hr bus ride from here).
Hope all is well with everyone...keep commenting. Miss you all xxxxxxxx
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Monday, 25 October 2010
Panama
So after a shaky start in Panama and it's terrible canal - things started to improve(ish)... we got back to our 10 bed dorm (we were the only 2 girls) and met two English guys who had met each other on boat over from Cartagena (Colombia) to Panama... only problem was their boat got a bit shipwrecked and they were stranded on an island for a week - CRAZY! It was happy hour in the bar downstairs so we all met up there for "a drink" 3am came around and we were in a 24 hr fried chicken place with a crazy fat american lady who picked a fight with a one-legged panamanian?! Ooop... how did we end up there? Who knew... perhaps Havana Club did! All I can say was it was an experience to tell the grandkids. So all four english amigos made the hasty decision to get out of the city asap so the first thing the next morning we hit the bus station full throtle to buy tickets to anywhere but there. Costa Rica was the first bet but too far and everyone in the Hostel had been banging on about a place called Boca Del Toro... Boca Del Toro it was and I tell you it was worth the 10hour bus ride!
We are staying in the sister hostel of the one in the city - which has a great laid back vibe full of other travellers. So the three of us (Flo, Me and Nick - one of the english guys) settled in nicely to our air conditioned room and planned to hit the beach. This was yet another experience - apparently the number one panamanian rule is to screw over english people?! We'd already had a rip-off incident getting here and then we paid for the bus to Boca Del Drago (a beach) and somehow missed it?! So the same guy who'd screwed us over before told us we could get a taxi for a $1 each to catch up with the bus. 10 mins into the journey I was having a spanglish row with the driver who wanted us to pay what we paid for the bus each... apparently they dont understand spaniglish so we gave in! The only bonus was we beat the bus by about 10mins WAHOOO!
Anyway the beach was great and we just chilled out on hammocks played in the sea - the usual beach score. That was until we passed out - me forgetting that my malaria tabs make me prone to sunburn and the 2hr sleep I had frazzelled my back - oops. Anyhow back to the hostel and out for dinner back to the hostel to find we were the only 3 people in our dorm that night and proceeded to tell ghost stories - apparently not the best idea and managed to scare ourselves shitless.
Right i'm off.... got to check on my spag bol am cooking! Over and out xxxx
We are staying in the sister hostel of the one in the city - which has a great laid back vibe full of other travellers. So the three of us (Flo, Me and Nick - one of the english guys) settled in nicely to our air conditioned room and planned to hit the beach. This was yet another experience - apparently the number one panamanian rule is to screw over english people?! We'd already had a rip-off incident getting here and then we paid for the bus to Boca Del Drago (a beach) and somehow missed it?! So the same guy who'd screwed us over before told us we could get a taxi for a $1 each to catch up with the bus. 10 mins into the journey I was having a spanglish row with the driver who wanted us to pay what we paid for the bus each... apparently they dont understand spaniglish so we gave in! The only bonus was we beat the bus by about 10mins WAHOOO!
Anyway the beach was great and we just chilled out on hammocks played in the sea - the usual beach score. That was until we passed out - me forgetting that my malaria tabs make me prone to sunburn and the 2hr sleep I had frazzelled my back - oops. Anyhow back to the hostel and out for dinner back to the hostel to find we were the only 3 people in our dorm that night and proceeded to tell ghost stories - apparently not the best idea and managed to scare ourselves shitless.
Right i'm off.... got to check on my spag bol am cooking! Over and out xxxx
Friday, 22 October 2010
El final de Cuba y la empieza de Panama
Hey!
I am not sure if anyone has read my last post but I am just going to launch into the end of the Cuba chapter!
So we had our day in the Valley with yoan which was great as I said, and then that night we went to "The Club" - the only club in Vinales. It was a bit of a culture shock to what we had seen in Habana... it was outside and there was a random show going down with crazy ladies dressed in what looked like granny's knitted toilet rollholder stuff (you know the stuff!). I figured it was probably their attempt at their version of a night in Tropicana, which we couldn't afford so we couldn't complain about a cheap taster. Afterwards a little more salsa and then onto the regeton (which is more like what we would listen to at home) with a few very old english songs chucked in along the way...
Apparently you canny get away from the old Salsa! Yoan and a friend of his - Ishbel took it upon themselves to teach us the latin american way - apparently it's all about the rythmo hips y los ojos! I prefer the english way - all about the beer and farting but hey when in Cuba do as the cubans do...
The next day we had the BEST day of our trip so far. We got a guide to take us on horses into a different part of the valley. The horses were hilarious and wanted to trot the whole time which was rather bouncy and uncomfortable for the old derrier! Anyway we made our way into the valley to a tobacco farm where we met a rather dashing tobacco farmer. He told us all about making cigars and gave us drinks in coconuts (yet more rum!). Apparently the government give every farmer the same amount of seeds and after 9 whole months of long hard work they take 90% away and leave the rest for the farmer to sell. Justice? I don't think so. But when you ask questions about why there are certain rules and ways everyone just answers with a simple "this is cuba" - so we stopped asking why!
Whilst in this farm (basically a wooden hut) drinking our ron and smoking our cigars another guide turned up with two honeymooners from Israel. The four of us our rum, cigars and our two guides made our way from the farm to the caves.
Who would have thought not even a year ago I was scared of horses and here I was drinking rum and smoking a cigar on one?! How cuban!
Anyway the caves - they were huge and we trekked (slight over exageration) inside them with two torches for 14km where inside the cave were two natural pools. And yes we swam in them... totally crazy it was pitch black and the water freezing but what an experience!!
When we had finished rubbing "mud with minerals" all over our body and chilling out in the pitch black pool off we went back to our caballos (horses). Flo and I asked our guide if we could gallop... little did we know the two of us would be galloping off into the sunset with no guide and just the wind beneath our feet. It was amazing I felt like I was in some sort of film - the sun set and within what felt like seconds we were galloping around in the moonlight - luckily the horses knew where we were going! If I was ever going to "find myself" as one does on their gap yah - this would have been it - but afraid to say I didnt find much! But totally amazing and when sitting on the porch that night in a rocking chair with my mojito and cigarette I thought if time could stop right now....
Our final day was more relaxing and we made our way to a hotel in vinales to use their pool. That night we partied the night away and during the random show they held that night (an african themed something) I got dragged up on stage... slightly embarrasing but all part of the experencia. Met some crazy travellers and it was a nice break from the strenuous salsa as they didnt have one rythmic bone in their bodies!
So bye bye cuba... what a GREAT time we had. It was really sad to have to go and we could only hope that the fun would continue. That was until we hit the outskirts of Panama. Oh dear... what a shithole?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Not much to say really - ate in the skankiest food place (one could not call it a restaurant!) for $5 and decided to make our way to the Panama Canal as that was supposed to be amazing. Hum.... the "highlight" of Panama. Well i'll tell ya if thats the highlight all I can say is adios Panama hello Costa Rica. We are going to make our way out of here asap... tomorrow morning and lets just pray that "things can only get better".
Hope all is well with everyone at home!
Lots of Love xxxx
ps. am going to try and get photos going on facebook xxx
I am not sure if anyone has read my last post but I am just going to launch into the end of the Cuba chapter!
So we had our day in the Valley with yoan which was great as I said, and then that night we went to "The Club" - the only club in Vinales. It was a bit of a culture shock to what we had seen in Habana... it was outside and there was a random show going down with crazy ladies dressed in what looked like granny's knitted toilet rollholder stuff (you know the stuff!). I figured it was probably their attempt at their version of a night in Tropicana, which we couldn't afford so we couldn't complain about a cheap taster. Afterwards a little more salsa and then onto the regeton (which is more like what we would listen to at home) with a few very old english songs chucked in along the way...
Apparently you canny get away from the old Salsa! Yoan and a friend of his - Ishbel took it upon themselves to teach us the latin american way - apparently it's all about the rythmo hips y los ojos! I prefer the english way - all about the beer and farting but hey when in Cuba do as the cubans do...
The next day we had the BEST day of our trip so far. We got a guide to take us on horses into a different part of the valley. The horses were hilarious and wanted to trot the whole time which was rather bouncy and uncomfortable for the old derrier! Anyway we made our way into the valley to a tobacco farm where we met a rather dashing tobacco farmer. He told us all about making cigars and gave us drinks in coconuts (yet more rum!). Apparently the government give every farmer the same amount of seeds and after 9 whole months of long hard work they take 90% away and leave the rest for the farmer to sell. Justice? I don't think so. But when you ask questions about why there are certain rules and ways everyone just answers with a simple "this is cuba" - so we stopped asking why!
Whilst in this farm (basically a wooden hut) drinking our ron and smoking our cigars another guide turned up with two honeymooners from Israel. The four of us our rum, cigars and our two guides made our way from the farm to the caves.
Who would have thought not even a year ago I was scared of horses and here I was drinking rum and smoking a cigar on one?! How cuban!
Anyway the caves - they were huge and we trekked (slight over exageration) inside them with two torches for 14km where inside the cave were two natural pools. And yes we swam in them... totally crazy it was pitch black and the water freezing but what an experience!!
When we had finished rubbing "mud with minerals" all over our body and chilling out in the pitch black pool off we went back to our caballos (horses). Flo and I asked our guide if we could gallop... little did we know the two of us would be galloping off into the sunset with no guide and just the wind beneath our feet. It was amazing I felt like I was in some sort of film - the sun set and within what felt like seconds we were galloping around in the moonlight - luckily the horses knew where we were going! If I was ever going to "find myself" as one does on their gap yah - this would have been it - but afraid to say I didnt find much! But totally amazing and when sitting on the porch that night in a rocking chair with my mojito and cigarette I thought if time could stop right now....
Our final day was more relaxing and we made our way to a hotel in vinales to use their pool. That night we partied the night away and during the random show they held that night (an african themed something) I got dragged up on stage... slightly embarrasing but all part of the experencia. Met some crazy travellers and it was a nice break from the strenuous salsa as they didnt have one rythmic bone in their bodies!
So bye bye cuba... what a GREAT time we had. It was really sad to have to go and we could only hope that the fun would continue. That was until we hit the outskirts of Panama. Oh dear... what a shithole?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Not much to say really - ate in the skankiest food place (one could not call it a restaurant!) for $5 and decided to make our way to the Panama Canal as that was supposed to be amazing. Hum.... the "highlight" of Panama. Well i'll tell ya if thats the highlight all I can say is adios Panama hello Costa Rica. We are going to make our way out of here asap... tomorrow morning and lets just pray that "things can only get better".
Hope all is well with everyone at home!
Lots of Love xxxx
ps. am going to try and get photos going on facebook xxx
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Mas de Cuba!
Well after a rather eventful start and a lot of travelling lessons learnt after eventually finding the internet we did some more cultural stuff... we walked around habana vieja and saw lots of crumbly buildings and la plaza vieja and la plaza de catedral. I feel a bit guilty that maybe we havent done as much cultural stuff as we should be but I feel we are living the cuban lifestyle! Mojitos, Musica y Cigars!
Its really annoying this internet is SO slow I cant remember where I got to so sorry if I repeat myself.
Another night in habana vieja and we eventually managed to find a bar with music and salsa as we hadnt seen any salsa yet. Here we met a salsa teacher who TRIED to teach both flo and I un poco de salsa it was rather hilarious as as much as I like to dance apparently I cant do it when people tell me what to do! Afterwards Ray the teacher took us to a club... yes we were the only foreigners but it was a hoot. I am starting to feel rather guilty about telling the truth about my time here I cannot emphasise enough how careful we are being but mum keep taking that valium because im not holding back! We had a great time there and we left when we felt it was time to go [sensible]. The next day we went to Santa Maria beach with Ray and we met a sweedish guy on the way. He was the nerdest person we have met so far but it was highly entertaining and good to have another person to talk to. We are just trying to talk to as many people as we can he was on his own so we felt we should look after him, and later a friend of Ray joined us. As Rob said to me safety in numbers.
That night we went back to our casa particular and met two german girls and two americans a man and his son who have been travelling cuba together. The dad was really interesting and was explaining a bit out Che as he is everywhere here but I know nada about him. Then Jacob his son who is 25 and works for the peace corps joined us and ray for some salsa in the same bar. He told us that his was gay but hadn´t told his dad yet which was all rather exciting for us, a bit of gossip! He was really interesting and as much as I am enjoying pracitsing my spanish it was nice to communicate with someone in english for a bit.
Anyway early the next morning flo and I and the two german girls we met made our way on the bus to vinales where we are now. We are staying with a guy called Joan who my friend Amy stayed with when she came to Cuba which is all rather exciting. Vinales is a valley and it turns out he is a guide of the valley. So yesterday afternoon we took his tour which was AMAZING the valley is huge with all kinds of different plants and a cave and we met a farmer who gave us some of his home grown wine and hand made cigars. I tell you what you cant get away from the alcohol and smoking!!!
Today we are going to go horseriding in the valley which is very exciting and then making our way back to havana tomorrow as our flight is on friday morning.
Al if you are reading this, I cant wait to see you and your beautiful face get in touch about the lost city trek we want you to come do it with us!
Well guys, thanks for reading, I am sorry its a bit of a blow by blow account of what we are doing but as I say the internet here is rare and expensive and I dont have enough time but hopefully when we are in other places it will be a lot easier.
Jacqui please send my love to Georgia its all sooooooo exciting! And keep me updated on her progress.
Got to dash.... love to all and please continue to post comments I love reading them more than writing the blog! Love love love xxxxxx
Its really annoying this internet is SO slow I cant remember where I got to so sorry if I repeat myself.
Another night in habana vieja and we eventually managed to find a bar with music and salsa as we hadnt seen any salsa yet. Here we met a salsa teacher who TRIED to teach both flo and I un poco de salsa it was rather hilarious as as much as I like to dance apparently I cant do it when people tell me what to do! Afterwards Ray the teacher took us to a club... yes we were the only foreigners but it was a hoot. I am starting to feel rather guilty about telling the truth about my time here I cannot emphasise enough how careful we are being but mum keep taking that valium because im not holding back! We had a great time there and we left when we felt it was time to go [sensible]. The next day we went to Santa Maria beach with Ray and we met a sweedish guy on the way. He was the nerdest person we have met so far but it was highly entertaining and good to have another person to talk to. We are just trying to talk to as many people as we can he was on his own so we felt we should look after him, and later a friend of Ray joined us. As Rob said to me safety in numbers.
That night we went back to our casa particular and met two german girls and two americans a man and his son who have been travelling cuba together. The dad was really interesting and was explaining a bit out Che as he is everywhere here but I know nada about him. Then Jacob his son who is 25 and works for the peace corps joined us and ray for some salsa in the same bar. He told us that his was gay but hadn´t told his dad yet which was all rather exciting for us, a bit of gossip! He was really interesting and as much as I am enjoying pracitsing my spanish it was nice to communicate with someone in english for a bit.
Anyway early the next morning flo and I and the two german girls we met made our way on the bus to vinales where we are now. We are staying with a guy called Joan who my friend Amy stayed with when she came to Cuba which is all rather exciting. Vinales is a valley and it turns out he is a guide of the valley. So yesterday afternoon we took his tour which was AMAZING the valley is huge with all kinds of different plants and a cave and we met a farmer who gave us some of his home grown wine and hand made cigars. I tell you what you cant get away from the alcohol and smoking!!!
Today we are going to go horseriding in the valley which is very exciting and then making our way back to havana tomorrow as our flight is on friday morning.
Al if you are reading this, I cant wait to see you and your beautiful face get in touch about the lost city trek we want you to come do it with us!
Well guys, thanks for reading, I am sorry its a bit of a blow by blow account of what we are doing but as I say the internet here is rare and expensive and I dont have enough time but hopefully when we are in other places it will be a lot easier.
Jacqui please send my love to Georgia its all sooooooo exciting! And keep me updated on her progress.
Got to dash.... love to all and please continue to post comments I love reading them more than writing the blog! Love love love xxxxxx
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Cuba
well well well.... here I am a traveller AHHHHHHHHHH! The shit has already hit the fan - I shrink wrapped AND padlocked my bag in mexico before checking it in and it arrives in cuba with NO shrink wrap NO padlock and a little slash in the front... later to discover that some little foreign bastard has nicked my ipod/i-phone charger the old phone I was meant to use here and my USB where I was going to save all my photos. Great start - all I keep telling myself is that it is all part of the experience.Perhaps is things like this that people "find themselves" I am sure those of you that "found yourselves" on your gap yah's would say that I am materialistic but remember you can't "find yourslef" in 4 days WITHOUT A PHONE!!
Apologies for the swearing but I am afraid this is the blog of truth and they are my true feelings!
Anyway rant over... we are having a wonderful time and Cuba has lived up to my expectations. It all started with a bang - after locating a map (with difficulty) and a cafe (with difficulty) some stranger approaches us to look at the map - at 4am we are in the police station trying to free this stranger! (Crazy I know... but would we do it any other way?) Let me fill in the blanks... so this stranger has a name - Alex and a friend Raul. We chatted with them over our newly acquired map and delicious coffee about things to do in Cuba. Within 20mins were in a famous Museum - El Museo De Las Bellas Artes - huge building, lots of art - what more can I say? Cultural! I do remember saying to flo " I hope we can shift these guys when we want too" turned out it wasn't all that easy. Moving on... some lovely food in a street vendor and onto a park in an old fashioned american car. We explored the park for ages- it was beautiful but deserted it was really strange but had a great time. Afterwards we made our way to the famous Coppellia where you have ice cream. Then onto our first mojitos where we learnt very quickly from the crazy toilet lady that YOU CANNOT PUT PAPER IN THE TOILET (oops) crazy cuban women arent fun!!
After this we found ourselves in the malecon - where all the young cubans hang out at night and onto a rap club. It all happened so fast but it really was fun. In hindsight we have learnt that we feel much safer with cuban men than solo. Anyway after getting the bus back to our hotel Alex and I were talking whilst Flo and Raul where too -further ahead when a Police man popped out of nowhere and within seconds alex was in a handcuffs shouting to me where the Police Station was. Turns out Cubans arent allowed to converse with tourists and they apparently get put in prison for this - doh!! SO in the police st I had to claim he was my boyfriend and they let him go - no questions asked not even my name or his surname (thank god because I had no idea what it was - I was struggling to remember his first name!!). Anyway at 5 am we managed to shrug them off and off to the land of nod. I do hope we aren't sounding too reckless but we were careful and I am glad we trusted them as we had a super duper day.
Awoken to a hurricane... hurricane Paula. Another crazy experience. Noone seemed to care that there was water coming in everywhere!! The cubans just continued to gulp their rum and smoke their cigars whilst florence and I were slightly nervous.
The next day we ended up in a bar where the Buena Vista Social Club were playing and some random restaurant which was actually someones living room (dont ask)! We have learnt that cubans are friendly but nothing comes for free with them. They help you and want to take you places and then order themselves lots of drinks, smoke all your cigarettes and then make you pay!! We have learnt....!!
Now we have moved from Centro Habana to Habana Viejo where we have had a bit more of a relaxing time. Lots of mojitos, music and chatting to various cubans. We were staying in a very cheap hotel but apparently it is cheaper to stay in Casas Particulares which are peoples homes and they rent the rooms (turns out they arent really that much cheaper than our cheapy hotel but good to practise Spainsh). So in our CP there are a few crazy cubans who want to speak to us all the time I think one lady is off her rocker I just smile say "si" and hope that she thinks I understand.
But last night we didnt have the best night... we had some drinks in a bar called Floridita which was amazing - but we could have been in London. It was a nice break to not have to worry about your phone/money or anyone stealing anything. BUT afterwards we were looking for somewhere to eat where we were approached by a man with security written on his shirt. He said he would take us somewhere cheap to eat and then afterwards we would go to his cabaret bar. But the place we ended up eating was a bit scary and the area of town scary too. Not remember where we were staying we managed to get a taxi and eventually found it PHEW - glad we live to tell the tale if somewhat boring.
We are certainly learning a lot of lessons!!
Only a couple mins left on the internet clock - I have no idea what I have written but no time to check so Jennie sorry if there are lots of spelling mistakes I know you hate that!
I miss everyone and home a lot but having a wonderful experience!!
LOTS OF LOVE xxxx
Apologies for the swearing but I am afraid this is the blog of truth and they are my true feelings!
Anyway rant over... we are having a wonderful time and Cuba has lived up to my expectations. It all started with a bang - after locating a map (with difficulty) and a cafe (with difficulty) some stranger approaches us to look at the map - at 4am we are in the police station trying to free this stranger! (Crazy I know... but would we do it any other way?) Let me fill in the blanks... so this stranger has a name - Alex and a friend Raul. We chatted with them over our newly acquired map and delicious coffee about things to do in Cuba. Within 20mins were in a famous Museum - El Museo De Las Bellas Artes - huge building, lots of art - what more can I say? Cultural! I do remember saying to flo " I hope we can shift these guys when we want too" turned out it wasn't all that easy. Moving on... some lovely food in a street vendor and onto a park in an old fashioned american car. We explored the park for ages- it was beautiful but deserted it was really strange but had a great time. Afterwards we made our way to the famous Coppellia where you have ice cream. Then onto our first mojitos where we learnt very quickly from the crazy toilet lady that YOU CANNOT PUT PAPER IN THE TOILET (oops) crazy cuban women arent fun!!
After this we found ourselves in the malecon - where all the young cubans hang out at night and onto a rap club. It all happened so fast but it really was fun. In hindsight we have learnt that we feel much safer with cuban men than solo. Anyway after getting the bus back to our hotel Alex and I were talking whilst Flo and Raul where too -further ahead when a Police man popped out of nowhere and within seconds alex was in a handcuffs shouting to me where the Police Station was. Turns out Cubans arent allowed to converse with tourists and they apparently get put in prison for this - doh!! SO in the police st I had to claim he was my boyfriend and they let him go - no questions asked not even my name or his surname (thank god because I had no idea what it was - I was struggling to remember his first name!!). Anyway at 5 am we managed to shrug them off and off to the land of nod. I do hope we aren't sounding too reckless but we were careful and I am glad we trusted them as we had a super duper day.
Awoken to a hurricane... hurricane Paula. Another crazy experience. Noone seemed to care that there was water coming in everywhere!! The cubans just continued to gulp their rum and smoke their cigars whilst florence and I were slightly nervous.
The next day we ended up in a bar where the Buena Vista Social Club were playing and some random restaurant which was actually someones living room (dont ask)! We have learnt that cubans are friendly but nothing comes for free with them. They help you and want to take you places and then order themselves lots of drinks, smoke all your cigarettes and then make you pay!! We have learnt....!!
Now we have moved from Centro Habana to Habana Viejo where we have had a bit more of a relaxing time. Lots of mojitos, music and chatting to various cubans. We were staying in a very cheap hotel but apparently it is cheaper to stay in Casas Particulares which are peoples homes and they rent the rooms (turns out they arent really that much cheaper than our cheapy hotel but good to practise Spainsh). So in our CP there are a few crazy cubans who want to speak to us all the time I think one lady is off her rocker I just smile say "si" and hope that she thinks I understand.
But last night we didnt have the best night... we had some drinks in a bar called Floridita which was amazing - but we could have been in London. It was a nice break to not have to worry about your phone/money or anyone stealing anything. BUT afterwards we were looking for somewhere to eat where we were approached by a man with security written on his shirt. He said he would take us somewhere cheap to eat and then afterwards we would go to his cabaret bar. But the place we ended up eating was a bit scary and the area of town scary too. Not remember where we were staying we managed to get a taxi and eventually found it PHEW - glad we live to tell the tale if somewhat boring.
We are certainly learning a lot of lessons!!
Only a couple mins left on the internet clock - I have no idea what I have written but no time to check so Jennie sorry if there are lots of spelling mistakes I know you hate that!
I miss everyone and home a lot but having a wonderful experience!!
LOTS OF LOVE xxxx
Monday, 4 October 2010
Phoenix
So I made it to Phoenix... after missing my connecting flight - not the best start!
But finally made it back to Rob's appartment where his cousin Andy and friend Rory were staying - they have been road tripping around America.
On Saturday I spent most of the day asleep (successfully avoiding the Ryder Cup!) only to be woken up to a monsoon - which was amazing. I have never seen a drop of rain here and this was possibly the biggest storm I have ever seen - the lightening was unreal! And it was actually COLD afterwards within five mins it had dropped from 93 degrees to 83!
Once the storm had cleared the four of us set off to City Hall -where you get " THE BEST STEAKS EVER" (aldridge, 2010) for Rory and Andy's last night... only to discover that we couldn't get served as we didn't have our passports!?! AH MY GAWD... luckily the manager offered a free ride home to get them ( I hopped in the free ride quicker than you could say flamin' cosmo*). An hour later... and what would have been a $100 ride we were ready to get the night started!
I think I can safely say that dinner was enjoyed all round - despite Andy finding a large chunk of glass in the bottom of his drink (which he only discovered wasn't ice until he had finished it and noticed it hadn't melted!)
Afterwards we headed out to see what Scottsdale could offer us... and ended up in a bar called The Lodge. Here we were invited to join in a game of garden sized Jenga. It turned out we were quite popular at this bar and not because of our banter - because of our accents!! Once the bar closed we went back to one couples appartment where I managed to find myself in some deep Islam and Pink Flyod discussion with a guy called Nick - whilst everyone else played drinking games (doh!) The only thing I can take from that night is that I don't know who Pink Flyod are, I clearly know nothing about Islam and we should have ordered a taxi earlier than 5!
A great night all the same... Andy and Rory are now in Flagstaff and Rob in class so I am off to the pool...
I'll be in touch soon xxx
* They put dry ice in their cosmo's so they bubble an steam whilst you drink them - Heston Blumenthal's wet dream!
But finally made it back to Rob's appartment where his cousin Andy and friend Rory were staying - they have been road tripping around America.
On Saturday I spent most of the day asleep (successfully avoiding the Ryder Cup!) only to be woken up to a monsoon - which was amazing. I have never seen a drop of rain here and this was possibly the biggest storm I have ever seen - the lightening was unreal! And it was actually COLD afterwards within five mins it had dropped from 93 degrees to 83!
Once the storm had cleared the four of us set off to City Hall -where you get " THE BEST STEAKS EVER" (aldridge, 2010) for Rory and Andy's last night... only to discover that we couldn't get served as we didn't have our passports!?! AH MY GAWD... luckily the manager offered a free ride home to get them ( I hopped in the free ride quicker than you could say flamin' cosmo*). An hour later... and what would have been a $100 ride we were ready to get the night started!
I think I can safely say that dinner was enjoyed all round - despite Andy finding a large chunk of glass in the bottom of his drink (which he only discovered wasn't ice until he had finished it and noticed it hadn't melted!)
Afterwards we headed out to see what Scottsdale could offer us... and ended up in a bar called The Lodge. Here we were invited to join in a game of garden sized Jenga. It turned out we were quite popular at this bar and not because of our banter - because of our accents!! Once the bar closed we went back to one couples appartment where I managed to find myself in some deep Islam and Pink Flyod discussion with a guy called Nick - whilst everyone else played drinking games (doh!) The only thing I can take from that night is that I don't know who Pink Flyod are, I clearly know nothing about Islam and we should have ordered a taxi earlier than 5!
A great night all the same... Andy and Rory are now in Flagstaff and Rob in class so I am off to the pool...
I'll be in touch soon xxx
* They put dry ice in their cosmo's so they bubble an steam whilst you drink them - Heston Blumenthal's wet dream!
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