Tomorrow I'm In La Havana!

[HonkyTonk]

Cuba, I love to visit Cuba with anyone or by myself. What an intriguing country and colorful history.

Have a great time and best wishes. We'll get the pics posted, you just supply them and a trip report

[Cubafro]

Good evening gentlemens
First of all I wanted to thank you all guys for the kind words ( HT, TIM,TB, KP AND EVERYBODY )
Second thing I want to thank the gringos forum for the message sent to me for my birthday yesterday, I really appreciated it guys and yes I did have a wonderfull birthday party right after arriving here

Now let's talk about this trip because I hope you've been waiting for it


Before to start I have to do like a flash back for everybody who didn't know this .....I've been talking to this young lady for a very long time,met personally with her, writing,phoning and all the thing and don't know why, never really give her the attention that she deserved.

HERE IS MY TRIP REPORT

08/30/2007 : Wake up at 6:30AM and prepare myself to go to the Pearson airport ...let me tell you as we usually say between us in family and friends it was a black job because I was preparing my suitcase the night before and didn't really sleep but hey the excitation was there so didn't really care about the sleep. At the airport here everything went find and off I'm to CUBA. Slept a bit in the plane and then met this cubana going back to visit family too..I was a bit disappointed because she was telling me that she was married with a canadian guy but couldn't really converse with him because his spanish is poor and her english does not exist and then discovered that the lady was acting like forgeting her words in spanish because has been here for 1year....anyways I didn't give a damn and slept again.
Landed in CUBA at 2:45pm right on time and was welcomed by a hot temperatures, seeing again the shape of JOSE MARTI airport, the green colours of the workers at the airport just make you feel here you are.
I did have kind of an argue at the customs because one thing I hate from the regime is as soon as you arrive in CUBA even if you have another nationality they treatyou as **** sometimes especially in the way they talk to you so as I hate to be talk like **** I had a small argue at the airport but my cousin luis appeared and oups everything was fine; they know him and didn't know I was his cousin so get presented and from there I was the attraction ....Changed my money and off we are in my cousin car, driving ...It feels good being back there I'm telling you....
I arrived to a casa particular because I just didn't want to stay to my family place for accomodations , comfort and for sure because I wanted to have my intimity with my girl....will call her Y.
Arriving there , y was there waiting for me and anxious and excited (in all ways hehehehe).
I made myself comfortable , took a shower because I was sweating like a pig overthere because it was really hoooottt!!!!!

Next part will be posted maybe later or tomorrow because I have to leave I'm at work and I'm done; so stay tune guys.....and let me know if I give too much info because I want to write it as if I was talking ...Ilove details so...

CUBA

[LastLion]

Welcome back CUBA ! Can't wait for the details. LL, wants to got to cuba, maybe next time you go let me know in advance I will shoot on thru the mexcian shuttle! Anyways bring it on CUBA!

[Cubafro]

Originally Posted by LastLion

Welcome back CUBA ! Can't wait for the details. LL, wants to got to cuba, maybe next time you go let me know in advance I will shoot on thru the mexcian shuttle! Anyways bring it on CUBA!

LL,
Thanks for the comments and I will be back in CUBA at the end of December or beginning of January and this time I will go to Pinar del rio, Cienfuegos and maybe La isla de la juventud...So anyone interested , let me know

CUBA

[Cubafro]

So after refreshing myself, decided to go out buying some drinks, and walk a bit in the barrio.I was in EL VEDADO, considered as one of the good neighbourhood.
The first thing that you will notice in CUBA is the cost of life, for sure the infrastructures but hey that is part of the originality of the island, or would I say La havana.
To give you an idea, 1peso CUC = 0,80$US = 1,10$cad so just a quick advice to all of you guys who would be interested don't land there with american dollars because you're overtax.
We bought some rhum, the bottle was 9 peso cuc, some drinks and few other things.
Came back at home and then started the party and talk. Where I was living I have to say that the lady who own the house is a cream because she accomodate you more than expected.
After awhile, decided to take some time alone with my girl, and fool around a bit.
The first day was quite so

08/31/2007: Woke up around 8:00am, took a shower, fooled around again and Y decided to take me for a tour in the city with her cousin (we will call her A)
Out we go walking the streets and headed on the street called LA RAMPA. Some activities was going on there with expositions, concert and mercado saling lot of things. We stop at the ACCENTO LATINO concert (it's a cuban reggaeton band) and man oh man you should have seen it...Actually I was at the same time happy to be with my girl but like everyone a bit sad because couldn't really look around but hey you'll see a picture of her and honestly I was good with her by my side.
Stopped there for almost an hour and half and then continued our way to her aunt house to take A.
Arriving there , the cousin was expecting us because Y called her and invited us upstairs to take a cup of cuban coffee.
After 30min we finally went out and took a cab heading to LA CATEDRAL. It cost us 4peso CUC and just to compare if we took an official cab it would have cost us casi 12cuc.
That was fun because arriving there there was a parade of circus people, took few pictures of it and so many girls. Went in a shop dedicated only to all the things related to EL CHE and I was dying to go there.
Anyways, we walked in the streets, went in EL GRAN TEATRO, all the shops, there but just to look around because it is overcharged but it's a touristic area.
While walking I noticed there was a western union office and was wondering how come because when I went there last time I didn't see any so I decided to go in and make sure I wasn't crazy. At the door of the western union the guard was acting like a fool because he thought I was a local (means living there so stopped me like what are you doing there? It was with a great pleasure that I put him my canadian passport in the face and the attitude just changed(I hate this part of my country but anyways ).
Apparently it works only from the states and Puerto rico..What the F***!?
We walked and went to the CAPITOLIO, visited it, and stopped to THE BARRIO CHINO, and let me tell you guys that where I love to go because the restaurant are good, clean and affordable. We stopped in a new restaurant for me and that was at the same time comic and just not serious. I ordered a plate of rice called ARROZ ALTEADO with a limonade and the girls ordered each a plate of bifteck ...We waited almost 40minutes to get the food and there's a joke in CUBA saying that they went to look for the cow so we had to be patient and worst of everything the biftecks were so strong and they litteraly fight with it hahahahaha.
We finished and decided to go back home to rest because we walked a lot and it was hot as hell so...
Dropped A and came back home, took a shower and lay down in the bed watching TV and fooling around

09/01/2007: My cousin LUIS came with my cousin MARIA and bringed the car with them because they wanted to go to MIRAMAR to just chill. Came down and guys that was a joke...In the pictures I put a pic of the car and it called COUCOU; it's a chinese car but that was just not serious because it would be a car for my 9 years-old nephew...But they insisted and we squeezed ourself in there.
Miramar is I would say the nicest barrio of LA HAVANA, with the embassies, well off cubans, president house and all that. I did like it too but wanted to be with the people so we decided to go to La havana vieja. Y was scarred to go because some places are not really recommended if you're not use to the place ; first of all because they use a broken spanish(un espanol caellera =de la calle) and if you're not use to the place and are not from there you can get robbed and more easily but you just have to be yourself and not show that you're scarred. That was what LUIS was keep saying to Y.
I loved it because it is a cuban neighbourhood, with all the day to day activities.
We switched the car and then we were the boss of the road. Turning heads when we were passing, and it feels great but could not really enjoy it because Y is a bit jealous and was holding me tightly just to show to every other girls that they couldn't approach :rooleyes:

09/02/2007: Rest day so my cousins came to my place and stayed with us there all the day.
At night we decided to go out to a comic spectacle down the street ; it was interesting but when finished we went to a night club called EL AZUCAR. It's a cuban night-club so there's no tourists. Reggaeton was all over the place, women were just wonderfull ...
I have to say something about Y. She is beautifull, kind and all what I could expect but she has a small tight ass and that bugs me ; I know it's just a details but I'm a bunda man and love it so it's bothering me a bit.
I hated the experience because as always there is a fight for tonterias or for a girl and my cousin and I was involved in one because some jerk tried with my cousin Maria and my girl while they were saying NO. I hate that when they just don't want to let it go ......
Luckily everything was fine and we just went out , enjoyed ourself and went back home.

09/03 and 09/04 were discussions days with me and my girl because I wanted to know what was her thoughts,ask questions answer questions , observe her. She really pleased in all aspect but something bothered me with her during all my time there is that when you put on the TV, you lose her. I hate talking to someone who don't look at me even if she was listening and talking to me.

09/05 to 09/09/2007 was days when we traveled a bit; we went a vilaage called EL MARIEL where live Y and to PINAR DEL RIO.

As you know CUBA is not Hi-tech ; we do have old buildings, old cars but we do have lot of heart and love to give.
Just for everybody info, there is lot of american going to CUBA and at the customs to accomodate us citizens, they don't stamp your passport. You have a touristic card on the side and that's it. There is an american embassy there too. Nobody knows what's going on with FIDEL, if he's dead or not and life just goes on as if everything was normal.

Now to talk about Y, she is a wonderfull woman, a wife material but few things bothers me ; as mentionned before the TV things bothers me, she just want one child and that is a big issue for me. I thought a moment that I would forget it again but after talking with my cousins and Mercy I realized that it may be linked by the fact that she lives there and from her point of view living in CUBA it's dumb to have more than one kid especially when you don't know how you will eat yourself tomorrow. We had an argue on that subject and finally came down and realised that we should give us time in that aspect because I think differently a bit because I live here and she lives there. I never felt that she was with me for money, or any other interest. She is even scared about the idea to come here but trust me . She made feel well as her man, not as a bank machine. She is intelligent, always tred to please me in all aspect, and never asked me any money and was even uncomfortable when I wanted to give her some money. I did a few tests like for example leaving my wallet with all the money open in my room and leaving her there alone and found it exactly where I left it with everything.
With all that I always feel that she is a very good woman and would like to give us a chance but don't close all my possibilities.
I came back on monday 09/10 my birthday and was welcome by the family here and had a party with everybody. I was tired but enjoyed it
I posted some pictures but will add other pictures this week.

Hope you did enjoy the trip report, and please I would like to know what you think about all that, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Note for RAY, I will have info for houses called CASA PARTICULAR those of you who will like to go and visit .....

Now for the pictures you go on

http://www.solisstyle.com/blog/login.php

username: afro_cuban26@hotmail.com
password : boss53
and go in the folder called CUBITA. ENJOY!!!!!


CUBA

[Cap'n Jib]

You have no idea how much I am enjoying your trip report. Like others, I dream of visiting Cuba.

Your “I thought a moment that I would forget it again but after talking with my cousins and Mercy I realized that it may be linked by the fact that she lives there and from her point of view living in CUBA it's dumb to have more than one kid especially when you don't know how you will eat yourself tomorrow.” was class and to be fair expected from you.

You always seem to take the time and make the effort to look at the other person’s situation. Sure we all have our opinions on how others should act and think but LISTENING and being willing to modify our own views is where growth occurs.

Almost everyday I am challenged to look at things from a level, to be frank, I am totally not comfortable with.

Thanks Again…..and have FUN!

[Supermary]

Sounds like an overall good trip

I wanna go to Cuba some day! I hear some of the beaches are great.

[LastLion]

Cubafro, cool hearing that report. I defintely think that place is on my top list to go to. I have a friend who visits it somewhat regularly. I also believe it would not be thoroughly enjoyed without travelling with an inside like yourself, or my friend!

P.S> cannot open the fotos cuba, your killing me here.

I hope to see a little bunda de cuba! or a big one, we are on the same page there mister!

[Cubafro]

Sorry to hear that you can't open the pictures LL...
Try with this link http://solisstyle.com/ims/view_folder.php?f_id=6825

username:afro_cuban26@hotmail.com
password:boss53

If it doesn't work then please guy tell me where I can put the pictures to be accessible to everybody because I really don't know how to do that

CUBA

[Cubafro]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Jib

You have no idea how much I am enjoying your trip report. Like others, I dream of visiting Cuba.

Your “I thought a moment that I would forget it again but after talking with my cousins and Mercy I realized that it may be linked by the fact that she lives there and from her point of view living in CUBA it's dumb to have more than one kid especially when you don't know how you will eat yourself tomorrow.” was class and to be fair expected from you.

You always seem to take the time and make the effort to look at the other person’s situation. Sure we all have our opinions on how others should act and think but LISTENING and being willing to modify our own views is where growth occurs.

Almost everyday I am challenged to look at things from a level, to be frank, I am totally not comfortable with.

Thanks Again…..and have FUN!

CAPN'JIB,
Thanks for reading my trip report and I'm glad you enjoyed it
I thought that she will probably think differently when she will be here seeing the difference of the living....At the same time I think and know that she's a bit scared of the changing and it's understable I guess

CUBA