December Sun In Cuba (Click Here Before Proceeding & Grab Your Headphones!)
“Got tired of the workin life,
Needed to escape for some fun,
Cuba’s where I decided to stay,
To relax in the sun,
Havana and Trinidad,
Ain’t nothing else to say,
Larrikin’s eyes in a paradise,
Only for 6 days.
Cigars n rum in the December sun, Cuba (whoa whoa),
Leave me where this winter sun,
Gunna treat me so right, so right”
Havana – it’s exactly what you’re stereotypical mind is thinking. Old colourful 1950 Chevvy taxis driving the streets that are lined by tall palm trees. Like walking into the time capsule you’re primary school buried all those years ago. Don’t forget to queue traditional music in every restaurant and street corner.
Not a ‘cheap as chips’ island, the first hurdle to overcome was understanding the currency, split into both local and foreign. No USD here – only CAD or EUR to exchange. 1 for 1. An equal swap (almost). If you’re a gringo with non Espanol like the Longitudinal Larrikin, you’re exchanging 1EUR for 1CUC. If you’re a local, your exchange rate is 1EUR for 25CUP. Everything is unequally priced but there is no bullshit. That’s the way it is and if you don’t like it, don’t come.
A few things worth noting:
- It’s as safe as houses. Locals are locked up between 4-8 years for carrying any weapon with a harsher penalty for touching a tourist. Still have to have your wits about you.
- There isn’t much in the way of fruit and veg – think more rice, chicken and pork. Times like these makes the Larrikin wish he has iron guts.
- The time capsule does include some modern day, cultural niceties, including the Fabrica del Artes – an art gallery turned night club. Felt very cultured walking around with a giant mojito. Also the El Aguila [sic] secret club; pitch black with two professional Cuban dancers in the middle of the room setting the vibe.
- Cuba has been shut off to most of the world for so long that they made their own medicine and provide surgery for free to Cuban citizens. Ladies, that means free breast implants if you’re Cuban.
Low expectations are always important coming to places that you aren’t sure about. With a six hour bus ride to Trinidad, Cuba, Havana was just the warm up.
