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Jan 10, 2012

Back from Cuba

Hello my dears!

How have you all been doing? Did your year start off well?

I just got back from 12 days in Cuba and had an excellent vacation. The weather was oddly chilly as a cold front came down from Canada but nevertheless, it was way better than the freezing cold temperatures we have in Switzerland. I was ill when I left and came back even sicker (sinus infection and pharyngitis...) but I enjoyed every moment of this memorable trip and think I'm going to start saving my pennies to go back soon!

Cuba is one of the most beautiful islands I've ever been too and the people over there are so nice. We rented a car and moved around quite a bit to exciting places like Havana, Pinales, Las Terrazas, Pinar del Rio and finished off our trip on the white sand beaches of Varadero, which is usually full of tourists but we found a secluded hotel and didn't even see them really.

Here are a couple of pictures of our trip:


Havana (with my brother in law and my sister on the left and my man on the right)


Havana


Havana


Cigar making in Vinales


Saint Thomas cave in Pinar del Rio (second largest cave in South America, over 14km of connectiong caves on 7 levels!)


Saint Thomas cave


View from our hotel in Vinales


Outdoor shower in our bunglaow in Las Terrazas


Our bungalow in Las Terrazas


Havana


Havana


Havana


Varadero


Me on the beach in Varadero


Varadero


Chullo, my new buddie


A glimpse of the weather in Varadero.


Thanks for all your comments on my scheduled posts and welcome to my new subscribers. I didn't check my emails when in Cuba so I'll reply to all comments in the next few days.

Did any of you polish lovers go anywhere for the holidays?

Besito.

5 comments:

  1. Wow, looks like you had an amazing trip! Thanks for posting these great pics! I've always wanted to travel to Cuba but it's difficult to do so as an American because of all the government restrictions that make it so you have to have a special license to travel there. It looks like such a beautiful country, I'd love to go someday!

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  2. This looks absolutely amazing! I've always wanted to got o Cuba! :)

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  3. @Chelsea: We did indeed have a great time! You're welcome for the photos. A special license? Are you sure? I met many Americans over there and they had no problem going there, except that the customs officers aren't allowed to stamp your passport, only your visa...

    @Something Polished: :)

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  4. Cuba has been on my Go-To list for vacations for a while now and your pictures just made me wanna go sooner than before. They are all beautiful pictures and I'm glad you hear you enjoyed your stay (: What kind of food did you eat out there? Thee native cuisine of some countries interests me (:

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  5. @Ami: Oh Cuba is such a wonderful place! I was kind of skeptical about the destination before being there, thinking it was massively invaded by rude and obnoxious tourists showing off their wealth in a very poor country, but we really stayed out of the tracks most of the time. If you go, I really recommend you visit the inlands which are incredibly beautiful and wild, I'm thinking Vinales, Pinar del Rio, Trinidad...
    As to the food, several people had warned me that it wasn't great and that I ought to pack dried fruit and cereal bars as there aren't many vegetables and the Cubans have a rice based diet, but I was positively surprised. They have the best chicken ever and we also had quite a bit of grilled crayfish and fresh water shrimp. As to the vegetables, you will mainly find tomatoes, cabbage, onions, cucumbers, a bit of lettuce and loads of plantain bananas that are served fried or as chips (no potatoes). The rice is usually mixed with black beans and there isn't much fish. You'll find loads of fruit, consisting mainly in bananas, guavas, watermelon, pineapple and papayas (the best ever!)
    I really liked the food but was equally glad to have packed some healthy snacks because you can't really buy food there as all the food stores we saw are government owned and tourists don't have access to them.
    Let me know if ever you want to see more photos (I have over 300) or if you plan a trip there, I'd be glad to help :)

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