hola!
still in Cuba - trinidad is a small
town here. We are having a great
time, the
music is absolutley fantastic - we hired some bikes yesterday and
went for a
ride around the place - the weather was too hot for peddaling so
we ended
up at this bar, rehydrating ourselves....The chef came out and
started
singing and playing his guitar, all the locals passing would come in
for a
quick song, then be on their way again..It was great. Actually alot of
the songs
he was playing had similar tunes to some irish folk songs..perhaps
it is the
shared spanish influence? interesting though.
Questhouses
and restuarants here are all run on the shonky. We are snuck
into
houses to eat dinner with about 10 other people on the outside
patio...then
when it is time to leave, the owner has to check out front to
make sure
the policia arent lurking about! We stayed in a "casa
particular'in
Havana - the owners were an old couple illigally renting out
their room
- so they ended up sleeping on the
couch for 3 nights! I felt
terrible
but they scored $25.00us a night - which is alot here. Our room had
this
beautiful balcony overlooking the old centre of havana - however we
weren't
permitted to stand out on it -policia! Here in trinidad we have
found a
legal casa to stay in - it's nice
to be able to freely enjoy your
balcony.
Greg is finding it v exciting sneaking around and being dodgy, I
did
mention to him that che guvera didn't die so that we could give our US
dollars to
a couple of capitalists and we should be thinking about the
'common
good'....But still it is fun.
Have sent
off a postcard to the boy the other day, also have one here for
Bren which
he'd like. Yet to spot fidel...we hear he is down in Santiago,
we're
heading there next - maybe we'll catch a glimpse. Actually while we
were in
Havana, they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of some socialist
significance...There
were big parties and celebrations...Fidel gave a speach
on TV
transmitted from Santiago...it went for hours and hours and
hours..everyhouse
we walked past had it on and the families were alll glued
to the
screen...
Better
go..greg has given me the 'morning off''while he finds a birthday
present
for me - told him i had my eye on some shakers, of the percussion
variety
not s&p! Should go nicely with my bodrun from Ireland! Lots of love
Cara XXXXX
14/08/2003
Hi mumsy
and da, you can relax now!!! sorry to worry you!
We are
back in Mexico now, ready to do a proper exploration. We flew back
yesterday
from Havana and caught a bus from Cancun straight to Merida,
arrived
here late last night. The internet was almost impossible to find in
Cuba -
those we did find were permanetly occupied....
Had a
great time in the land of big fat cigars, chevies, salsa and music. At
times it
was a little bit frustrating getting around, transport is
infrequent
and expensive. In hind-sight a hire car would be the way to go.
Also, we
couldn't find a guide book in Mexico before we left so we were a
bit lost
too...It is probablt the worst place in the world to just turn-up
and 'wing
it'. Toursit information is scarce aand the info you receive is
all
produced by the government. i.e. you go where fidel wants you to go, and
you are
told what fidle wants you to hear..Also, the service you receive is
really
half hearted and almost a bit complacent...one of the affects of
socialism
i guess.
But apart
from that, the people we met were great. The music was absolutley
superb.
Dad, have captured some gigs on video - you'll love it. The dancing
was
incredible, intoxicating. We booked ourselves into a Salsa lesson with
Omar,
Vinalles local groover. We spent hours in his kitchen Salsa-ing away.
Poor Omar,
I think we tested his teaching skills! Good fun.
In the
end, the food turned out to be not too bad. We were staying at casas
(local's
homes) - so the family would cook for us. The fish was great and
the salads
and soups were pretty good too.
Anyhoos
now in mexico and currently starving, going to pop off for a quick
taco. Will
write shortly.
Loved the
email from dad about adelaide trip! What{s the stoty on the house?
Big shame
about losing raised roof!!!
lovemeXXXXXXX
16/08/2003
Hola all!
It's been a while since I've sent off a 'groupie', I hardly know
where to
begin...
Well,
while you've been toiling through the long cold winter in Aus (with
the
exception of a few of you smattered around the world) Greg and I have
been
gallivanting around the very hot northern hemisphere, living a very
free and
easy lifestyle... I am now well and truly accustomed to this pace
of life!
Though, yet to get used to my constantly peeling nose.
Last time
I wrote we were shacked up at some bizarre uni/youth hostel in
Slovenia,
so I will start from there. We headed onto Austria, which was very
pretty,
but not affordable. Greg refused to sing 'How do you solve a problem
like
Maria' with me as we traipsed around the streets of Salzburg -So I saw
no point
in lingering. We kicked onto the wonderful Czech Republic. Spent
about two
weeks exploring a few little towns outside of Prague which were
absolutely
delightful, very quaint and fairytale-ish. Prague had become a
big hit
with the tourists since my last visit there...swamped with umbrella
welding
tour-guides with hoards of germans in toe...Still, it manages to
retain
it's charms. The big bonus was the fantastically cheap and tasty
czech pivo...
worth another visit for that alone!
From there
we maneuvered our way through Amsterdam, London and Ireland. The
latter two
are sentimental favs with me. London dished up it's finest
curries
for us. We went straight to the source on Brick Lane AKA Little
Bangladesh
and munched on many a popadam and devoured many a dahl. From
London we
sailed over to Dublin and treated ourselves to a zippy little
Pergot for
a few days. After popping into the place I used to work in the
lovely
Glendalough - We headed to some little towns on the west coast, famed
for their
music, Dingle and Doolin. A great time was had, bantering with the
locals
while knocking back the Guinness's. The music was wonderful too.
Toyed with
the idea of learning the banjo - but bought a bodrun instead - a
little
less intimidating....Greg picked himself up a whistle, envisaging an
irish jig
jam session in our loungeroom i think...If all fails they will
make good
ornaments....
We flew to
NY from Dublin, which was everything you imagine. Big, loud,
exhilarating
and patriotic. It was mind boggling and exciting one minute,
and
exhausting the next. A good time
was had again.
From NY we
flew down to Cancun Mexico and caught a ferry over to Isle
Mujeres.
After a weeks of whirlwind travel we stayed put on the island and
relaxed
for a week. Doing nada but drinking cheap pina coladas. Bliss.
We have
just spent the last 3 weeks in Cuba, which was a great experience.
We were
staying at 'Casa Particulars' which are the homes of local families.
They were
cheap and a good incite into the cuban culture. Probably more so
if you can
speak more than three words of spanish. Strangely, 'hola',
'gracias'
and 'manana' limits you a bit ? However we managed to get around,
despite
not having guide book. Believe the hype: the cigars, rum, music and
dancing
are all sensational. Greg and I summoned up enough courage to
completely
embarrass ourselves and take a Salsa lesson- It was the best
$5.00 ever
spent. The town's local groover, 50yr old Omar took us through
the steps
in his little kitchen...Poor Omar, his toes are probably very
bruised
now - but I think he got a good laugh. The cuban people are lovely
and
intrigued by western culture. Alot of people sport USA symbols on their
clothing,
stars and stripes bandanas, Reebok tattoos (!), USA flags on
t-shirts.
Che Guevara most be rolling over in his grave. It shocked me to
learn that
most people take home only $3-6.00US a month- after a pitiful
food
ration. When a beer costs $1.00US this wage is hard to comprehend
?...Must
mention that to socialist brother who enjoys the odd one.
When we
weren't enjoying the afro-cuban beats at Casa la Trovas, we were
riding
around the countryside on bicycles and motorbikes checking out towns,
caves and
beaches. We were saturated each afternoon when a torrential
thunderstorm
hit and were forced to seek shelter on some stranger's front
porch in
fear of being struck by crazy lightening bolts (have never seen
such
berserk lightening before!). Have now resigned ourselves to the fact we
are cursed
with hire goods on this trip. Most memorable disasters being:
stranded
in deserted, isolated forest in Turkey with Good-For-Nothing
motorbike
that conked out and floating out to sea and dangerously close
leaving
Croatian waters..(well it felt like it). Good-For-Nothing speed
boat. Must
add, that Greg is not very handy in the oar department...But to
be fair,
later redeemed himself with swiss army knife, masking tape and
broken
fuel line. Very Boyscout indeed. Greg bought me a very cool pair of
Cuban
percussion shakers for my b'day..am now thinking a fusion of celtic
and
caribbean beats. Could be big.
Anyhoos,
we flew back to Mexico three days ago and caught a bus to Merida
with the
intention of visiting Chichen Itza- the mayan ruins, yesterday.
However we
are holed up here, waiting for Greg's Guardia to subside (not
pleasant
at all)...Poor thing. Has been progressively getting worse over the
last few
weeks. Who said Mexican tap water was nature's nectar? He is back
at
Latino-Cesspit-Hotel as I type - mosquitoes sqealing overhead and
cockroaches
skimming across the floor around him, but I bet he's silently
rejoicing
that this bed doesn't have bed bugs.. (only the Best Squalor for
you my
dear, in your sickly state). He is on a strict diet of antibiotics
and
water..should pass shortly.
Well
better go , there's a bottle of cold water with my name on it (one must
endevour
to be supportive). All the best to you all. Looking forward to
hearing
from you!
Adios Cara
XX