CUBA- 

Hey all. It's really hard to get on the internet here, so we want to get this out while we can. Sorry not to be able to send out more frequently. Hope this helps you connect. This is a great group and we are impressed by how well all are doing as travelers. 

4/27

For the BLOG?

All is well in Cuba! Yesterday, after a long morning of travel, we took a bus tour of the city of Havana and made our way to the casas. The city is absolutely beautiful, an explosion of vibrant color unlike any I have ever seen before. We’re all feeling quite spoiled here at the casas, the rooms are lovely and the food is delicious. Today, we will journey to old Havana, supposedly one of the most beautiful places in the city.   

-Morgan    

4/28

Well… We went chilling around at some sweet musemes. I was blown away by how politically charged the art and culture in Cuba is. Another thing that I was very impressed by was the 

-Elijah

The common perspective on Cuba is it is a “land of contradictions” and this is almost an understatement. It is no wonder there is a fair degree of pride among Cubans, as compared to other Latin American countries, at least in Havana, there is much (faded) opulence. The houses in this Vadero neighborhood where we’re staying are block after block of Victorianesque mansions built in the 1920’s or 30’s. Even if they are 100’s of percents more run down than their original state, they are far more luxurious than any of the shacks and concrete block huts in the DR or Nicaragua. At the same time, half the houses look like they must be unoccupied, with no windows, crumbling pediments, shattered shutters. Likewise, the cars are a complete trip—there are the famous, immaculate 1950’s taxis for tourists, but the rest of the auto fleet is similarly aged vintage vehicles that bumble along as local taxis holding up to 10 passengers in what was a basic 4 door sedan for a family of 5. 

Happily, we felt great success on the food front on our initial foray down the main drag near our case—the 24 hour dessert store with 12 cents guava paste tarts and similarly priced chocolate cake, followed by the 1 peso (2.5 cent), freshly baked, Cher tasting buns that will easily fuel Nicholas for the next 8 days, and finally, the 3 peso chocolate soft ice cream cones (following the basic communist country rule that if there is a long line for something, it is probably worth the wait). So the snack world is promising—the other shopping is, in another understatement, rather limited. While we did find big bottles of water 2 days ago, I have not seen a store selling any since (thankfully we can refill filtered water at the casa). The “big market” has fruit and vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, guava, eggplant, carrots, mango, pineapple, banana, garlic, onion (and that is it)), and then another area of “ration food” displayed as merely a shelf of cups with beans, rice, sugar, salt, flour and the set government price (and that is about it), another person sells eggs, another sells meat (meaning sides of an animal cut to order), another is the rum man with two casks for filling up your own container. I think that is the sum total of food to buy. There are other stores (few and far between) that sell a few cans of catsup or some other #10 cans,maybe noodles, and then a lot of empty shelves. There are plenty of restaurants that seem to do magic with this limited set of ingredients and we have been eating well, but the picnic lunch today will consist of this simple set of ingredients and we will eat like Cubans (and probably quite a bit better). 

-Rick

Today we will venture for the first time to the beach! Excitement is brewing in all of us as we anticipate the warm waters that await. We’ve done a lot of walking here, exploring, adventuring and adjusting to this new culture and lifestyle. Overwhelming at best, I’ve been finding comfort in the little things that bring me closer to home. Within our originally separated group, you can start to see the “lines” fading as we experience a new environment together. I give the wonderful sun lots of credit for keeping our attitudes high and happy.

-Sophie

This morning, a couple of us walked down to the market to pick up some lunch items. On the way, we stopped for chilled glasses of juice. I ordered a glass of “jugo de guavana”, or guava juice. It somehow managed to be sweet, tangy, a little bitter, and pulpy all at the same time. When we finally arrived at our destination, we were overwhelmed with the colors and scents of the market, the humid bustle of humans all reaching towards the same goal: food. There were plantains, mangos, tomatoes, very seedy watermelon, and so many other sights to see. One of the things I’ve really enjoyed about staying in Cuba has been the spontaneity of our adventure. For instance, on our way back to the “casa”, we all stopped for 12 cent ice cream. If we had purposefully gone in search of ice cream, I think it would have been so much less of an experience. 

-Olivia 

I went to the beach today, I got sunburned but it was worth it. The water was very clear and a light blue, I got to go sailing on a catamaran with Jesus. He spoke a little english and we had a great time talking to him about Italy and winter. We also talked about how pretty Cuba is, then we all need up singing songs together including Adele. It was pretty funny and I had  great time. The waves were too small to go surfing, but i didn’t mind. we went really fast on theft and i liked that. 

-Silas

During the day we went to the beach. It was a lot of fun and a group of us went around and collected sea-glass and put small pieces into a bottle. We filled it halfway and still had a lot that wasn’t in the bottle. Sadly I didn’t put on enough sunscreen when we left the house and I couldn’t wear anybody else’s because of my allergy and I didn’t realize I had mine in my bag until we got back to the bus. I probably had the worst sunburn out of everyone that got one. At least I learned that if I run out of mine I can borrow some from one other person.

-Dakotah

I HAVE ALL THE BREAD ~Nicholas

My physical souvenirs for the day include an intact bottle of Havana Club filled half way with shards of glass, a dog bone which I will hopefully find in our luggage, a stomachful of mangoes and bread, and some very red arms (I forgot sunscreen).  Our third day has brought me fully into my sense of home here.  I’m going to be sad to leave our casas tomorrow, but I will embrace our move with less doubt than I brought here from home.  My feet are on the ground.  

-Skye

I appreciate Charles for coming on the trip because I knew he was thinking of not, and he is a cool dude to hang out with.

I thank Nicholas for bringing the cards because a lot of people seem to be enjoying that. 

I thank Silas for giving me this hat.

I appreciate Skye for going with my way of playing the game.

I appreciate Olivia for joining us in our card games and joining us in searching for sea glass.

I want to appreciate James for getting on the sailboat today

I apprecaite are for being a cool person and unto be with

Top “five” stories to share when we get home

Almost going to the gay club (with the group of guys who never would have thought they would even say the words “going to the gay club”

Spending 20 minutes with the buskers/singers on the Malecon. They were nice and asked for money in a kind way and were inclusive and tried to relate to us. Making a connection with somebody even with language barrier.

Catamaran ride with Jesus. Fun communicating and sing along. 

Elijah dancing with Cuban guy.

Morgan buying 60 things of bread. 

Could have bought 1311 rolls for the cost of pizza.

12 cents soft ice cream.

Running into Yokeris at PlanB or on the street. Finding someone we know!

My group didn’t have the computer so Gabe and I will now try and remember….. 

Elijah thanked Sophie for her leadership

Sophie thanked Elijah and Lucas for inviting her into their “circle”

Lucas thanked Morgan for being so chill and on Cuban time

Morgan thanked me- louise for sharing what I knew at the beach

I thanked Austin for getting the crowd together to go to the gay dance club (it was closed)

Austin thanked Dakotah for her smartness and bravery trying his sun screen

Dakotah thanked Gabe for the piggy back

Our group thought good stories when we get home might be- many of the other groups but also

Boarding the plane

Dancing at dinner

2 kinds of money

Translating for Rob

and what they said

We are at a bus stop getting gas on our way to Trinidad.  Just minutes with wifi. The group is doing AWESOME_ what a splendid group of people.... Love to all.