Just got back from three weeks of backpacking around Cuba and after 80% humidity and 34 degrees celsius each and every one of those days, I’m pretty happy to be back in my beloved Barcy. It’s hot as hell here now as well, Europe’s experiencing a major heatwave at the moment, but man it does not compare to the drenched, sweaty mess I was in Cuba. Yay for perspective changes.
I spent the first couple days by myself, speaking in Spanish 100% of the time, chatting away with bartenders and workers at the casa particular, then met a great group of folks from Germany and Finland a few days in that I traveled with on and off the rest of the time. Cuba is a beautiful country with very kind people but it was reminiscent of countries I’d visited in South America. What really stood out to me though was Havana… a place humming with a palpable energy that excited me. My first day off the plane being dropped off in the midst of a city that appears to be structurally falling apart and with hundreds of eyes on me and my bigass backpack, I thought “What the hell did I just sign up for three weeks of?” I only had 5 CUC (about 5 euros) because the machines to exchange money at the airport were broken (didn’t wanna use them anyways, just to exchange a bit since it was Sunday and I knew exchange offices and banks would be closed) and American cards don’t work, as well as European debit cards. . . so my meals on day one consisted of saltine crackers and 1.5 liters of water. Day two was when everything changed. . . got money, internet cards, food, and settled in and adapted to the lifestyle of everyone hanging out and people watching in the streets. After traveling around the island for a couple weeks, I was very happy to be welcomed back by Havana and its amazing sunsets.
Got a couple more rolls in the lab so more to come soon.
