Tuesday, February 28, 2017

CUBA

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 


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.

Airports
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.


 
Spanish
*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.

Stuck in the 50s.
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. 








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. 



Air BnB over hotels
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. 
A lot of beans and rice, meat/seafood, platanos, fruit!
Very simple. Not a lot of bread. 



*Bring food with you. I wanted to try all the local cuisine, and I did. But if you aren’t as comfortable, the markets are VERY small. 75% liquor, 10%baby food, 5% pasta, 5% coffee, 4%meat, 1% Kit Kat Bars. 


My favorite restaurant was “EL LAUREL” 
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.





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. 





Thursday, February 23, 2017

Traveling Basics

What's UP!?
This Week: Traveling 101

I am traveling to my first race of the 2017 season!
 Time to dust off the ole passport, pack up my bike, and hit the road.


This weeks destination: Havana, CUBA!




 I can't believe I get to travel to this mysterious and forbidden island. 

Unfortunately I will not have cell reception and am not promised any high quality wifi. So, hasta la vista baby!

I thought I would break down how I like to travel. 


Tip #1
Always smile and say thank you
Having a positive attitude can have a rippling effect. Appreciate the things you have. Show gratitude. Find beauty in the life you live today. You smiling, could turn someones day around. 

Tip #2
Practice Patience
Everyone is going some where, everyone is late, everyone is the most important person in the airport. Take a step back, breathe, and let the pushers, push. Karma always comes around. 

Tip #3
Never take bananas
They will always get smooshed

Bonus Tip
Clean your house before you travel. 
It's always nice to come back to a clean house. When you're already washing clothes and packing, you should continue and get organized while you have the chance. 


10 things to make the trip a little easier!


A BAG WITH LOTS OF POCKETS
   * You can never have too many pockets! Now that airlines are nickel and diming you for everything, now you can just fill your pockets full of things. I always have little bags, inside of medium bags, inside of bigger bags. I also like my bags to fit under my seat, so that I don't have to inconvenience the people sitting by me, but if you have longer legs, this may be a bigger issue. 




FOOD
     *No matter how near or far you are traveling, always take pre-made food or snacks. This way when you are delayed on the tarmac for an hour, you will not die with the single serving of smashed nuts they give you. 
   * For me, I always have the same little bag I travel with that has almond butter packets, oatmeal, rice, anything I can heat up in a hotel room when I travel. I have Gus, gatorade powder, anything I would need race day, if I couldn't make it to a store. Gum, almonds, etc. I take fruit domestically, but when traveling internationally be sure to check what you can and can't bring into other countries, you don't want to get fined.


TRAVEL PILLOW
   *Although I can fall asleep anywhere, at any time, with any noises, in any position, I like to have my travel pillow for added comfort, because why not?




JACKET, SOCKS, CHANGE OF CLOTHES
   * You never know if the airplane will be hot or cold, but airports usually seem so cold. Also, whenever you land you mind want to throw on a fresh pair of clothes, to make a good impression, or if you just stink. ;). Socks are my go too, for compression, to recover my legs, comfort, and hygiene, because although I am okay with my pedicured toes, some people may not be. 


HEAD PHONES
   * This is a good way to wind down on the plane. To actually listen to music, watch a movie, or to pretend you are so you don't have to listen to the lady next you babble.

WATER
   * Because they will never give you enough

CROSSWORD PUZZLE or BOOKS
   * I like to keep my mind busy with the New York Times Crossword. I do the Monday, easy puzzles, but I like the challenge. People like to do suduku, and other brain games. Even grab a book or buy one in the airport. Learn something.

LAPTOP or IPAD
   * Now is a perfect chance to get up on those e-mails, or if you don't have wifi, organize those files and photo albums


EYE DROPS, CHAPSTICK, DEODORANT, ETC. 
   * Small toiletries are so easy to pack and an easy way to freshen up after a long travel stent. After sleeping, or being attacked by the airplanes , you do not want to get to your destination and look like you've been up all night. People may just think you've been on drugs


MELOTONIN, IBUPROFEN
* Sometimes traveling doesn't go so easy and you just need some pain killers, have ibuprofen on hand for those head aches. We don't want your attitude to affect everyone else. Also, for long international flights, take some natural Melotonin or Ambien to help get you to sleep.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moments

Happiest moment
When I get off the plane and Logan is right there to pick me up.

Saddest moment
Getting to a gate after I'd been delayed, running through the airport, just watching the doors shut and plane back away. #defeated

Funniest moment on a plane
When I first travelled with Joe Maloy and he pulled out a full cucumber and carrots to snack on, not your typical airplane snack, but inspired me to bring my own snacks.

Weidest moment
I was sleeping on a United plane and all the sudden I felt water sprinkle on my face. I thought it was the guy next to me, spitting on me in his sleep, but then I looked up and it was coming from the ceiling. It's happened two more times after that. 

Scariest moment
I've actually felt relatively safe on all my flights, turbulence always occurs flying in and out of Colorado. 
When we were in the Istanbul airport, there was some guy walking around yelling, I felt a little uneasy.



FUN FACTS 

My Longest flight
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Los Angeles, CADuration: 15 hours, 39 minutes
Distance: 8,387 miles

favorite airlines
United 

favorite airport

Portland (PDX) or Frankfurt

Coolest celeb spotting
I wish this happened more often. I've only seen one celebrity, that was Vana White

Random fact
Sitting in the tail of an airplane improves chances of accident survival by 40%.

-  -  -  -  -  -


Are you a window seater, middle row seater, or aisle seater?

I am ALWAYS a window seater. I love the window, I can rest my head and all of my things. Most people don't like not being able to get up or go to the bathroom, but I love getting all my stuff out and making a home for the next couple hours.

Logan is opposite, of course. He is an aisle seater. He likes to roam around, get up, move, put his legs in the aisle. It works out perfectly. 

I'm not sure there are people who like the middle seat ;)




Remember to SMILE


Happy travels!