Cuba 2
Hey there grovers, hipsters and trendsetters
We're back in the land of wifi and SIM cards coming to you direct from NYC over the Interweb.
Very tricky getting out of Havana with the hurricane. Finally made it a day late via Cancun and Miami.
Got to play the cow bell with a lunch band on our second last day in Havana. Then did lines with the band and groupies...
Michelle Obama toured the Malecon (Havana's iconic seafront wall) with us for a few seconds amidst sirens, police and secret service.
On the food front in Habbannna some really quite good places and a couple of duds:
El Cocinero (in an old motor oil factory) - very nice Cuban food with a French rose
San Cristobal Paladar - free cigars and rum, good Cuban food and a delicious dusty old Spanish red
La Guarida - make your way through a dark alley and construction site and then upstairs to a bit of old world Havana. Very nice food, great service and good wines
Cafe Laurent - was a dud, had both kinds of wine (red and white), inedible entres, service was friendly however all over the place
Lessons learnt updated and expanded:
Altitude does have a big affect and is not to be taken lightly
Chile has very good Rose
Coca tea is nice and does fix the headache
Both Chile and Peru have very nice beer - from Patagonia, Arequipa and Cusco
If you don't like potatoes or onions, Peru is not for you
Guinea pig is great and you can eat a whole one (deep fried rather than roasted is best)
Cuban beer is best left in Cuba (Domenican Republic beer is another matter)
Outside of Havana is a beer only area (unless you like rum)
Cubans have a fantastic culture, inate honesty and friendliness and a wonderful sense of national pride
If you don't like papaya or avocado Cuba is not for you
There are no tomatoes in Cuba out of season
There is wifi in Cuba if you know where to find it
The addition of a tablet above the rear view mirror enhances your old American car substantially
Skippy is only just being broadcast on TV in Havana
Cuban popular music only has one beat
Avocados are the size of clogs
If you don't like sniffing petrol then don't ride in an old Cuban car
The old cars cost around $30k USD, although most have been heavily modified and are held together with a mixture of real parts, glue, wire and voodoo
Car sound systems have USB storage and small screens with old Soul Train video clips playing
Lots of stuff doesn't work in Cuba
Take lots of cash (pounds are best) to Cuba
Go now, the Americans are coming
Some photos below - central Havana, music at lunch, car & pig - not sure if he was trying to stop the car or the pig getting away, sunset across Havana skyline, Brenda and Ethan in an old car, streets of Havana, large avocados. Apologies a couple of photos at the end containing food.