What’s Up?!
This Week: Cuban Life
Last weekend I took a leap across international waters to race a Continental Cup in Havana, Cuba.
I posted a race report on my other blog for JUST the race, www.erinstorie.blogspot.com
Check it out here
Check it out here
This post I wanted to talk about traveling to Cuba, if you decide to go, and our vacation.
We overnighted on Wednesday to Fort Lauderdale. From there we took a 45 minute Flight straight down to Cuba. It look longer to go through security and customs than the overall flight. It was very cheap, about 200$ round tickets with a bike, even less from Florida, plus visa, and travel insurance.
No Credit / Debit Cards
Before coming to Cuba take out more than enough American money. You can always exchange more, but you can’t take out money while you are there.
Two currencies
CUC- Tourist money- Be careful paying with CUC, because you do not want to pay 3 times the amount.
* We were looking for fruit and there was this little fruit stand and he said Platanos were 3 CUC and we were like, that’s 3 USD, no way... then we come to find out it was CUP and the was more like 25 cents.
CUP- Local money- (You can’t get CUP unless you go to fruits stands, or trinket shops in the local areas, if you stay in the big tourist spots, you won’t typically see this currency)
Limited to NO Internet
You can only find certain hotels to pay for internet or Verizon has texting. Get ready to unplug.
There are a couple airports on the island, we flew in north to the Jose Marti airport. This airport was pretty small and due to the triathlon, crowded! It took awhile to get our bikes, because everyone had a bike. Taxis were available everywhere, but pretty spendy.
*Bring Spanish translation book, or phrases
Luckily for me, I can speak, hear, and read Spanish when forced too, but there wasn’t a lot of English spoken. They do have different phrases than most Spanish. Like Fajitas de pollo is not fajitas, but chicken nuggets.
There were old cars everywhere, but not taken care of.
There were old buildings, but abandoned and old.
It seems like the whole world has progressed, except Cuba.
It seems like the whole world has progressed, except Cuba.
People
The people were, kind-of friendly? Most were mono-emotional. Didn’t go out of their way to help. However, they weren’t annoying or disruptive, I never felt pressured or bothered or scared like in Mexico sometimes. Everyone just kind of did their own thing. I did get a lot of kiss faces.
Not really the island life I was thinking
It wasn’t as hot as it could have been, there weren’t really the white sandy beaches you might think off. It was more rocky. The water was still warm and blue.
We stayed in an air BnB which is what most of the triathletes did. We all stayed in different areas around the race site, everyone had good reviews. Some had ocean front property, we were on a body of water and our host offered us breakfast and rides to go see things. Others were inland near Fidel's Land. It’s cool to get out of the touristy scene and go live with the locals.You also get to meet other people who stay at these BnBs.
Food
The food was very good. Healthy, not processed.
The food was very good. Healthy, not processed.
A lot of beans and rice, meat/seafood, platanos, fruit!
Very simple. Not a lot of bread.
Very cool. They have their own spice garden, have a playground, and a bungalow over the water.
Highly recommend finding it down 1km past Marina in Santa Fe, on Avenida 5ta.
Highly recommend finding it down 1km past Marina in Santa Fe, on Avenida 5ta.
Old Havana City
Advice
Live in the moment. You don’t get a lot of opportunities to strictly put the cell phones and internet away. You don’t have the distractions and you really get to appreciate the time spent here. Disconnect. Any chance you get to travel, is a chance to grow. You can grow culturally, linguistically, spiritually, emotionally, even physically if you want to work out. Take advantage of it.
