1000 WORDS

Extended blog entries might be a little while coming so, in the meantime, here is list of some of the highs and lows of cycling Cuba.

Highlights:

• Cuban smiles and warmth.
• Thunderstorm skies.
• Camping on beaches watching lightning over the sea.
• Random conversations.
• Meeting other cyclists.
• Gunanahacabibes Peninsula.
• Literate and well-informed children (and general population).
• Vinales valley.
• Cenotes and caves.
• Fresh fish. Lobster.
• Finding unpaved roads.
• Seven shades of Caribbean blue.
• A clandestine tour of an abandoned nuclear power station with four guys who are quietly (and illegally) dismantling it under the not so watchful eyes of the military.
• Camping on the beach with Cuban biology students watching for nesting giant turtles.
• Diving and snorkelling.

Lowlights:

• Riding through Havana when it was knee deep in stinking storm water and getting soaked: my clothes have never ever smelt so vile.
• Lousy food.
• Queuing up for hours at markets that only sell four items: unripe avocados, over-ripe bananas, yams, bell chillies.
• Giant speakers pumping out dance music at idiotic volumes on beaches and other public places.
• The Cuban conversation.
• Cuban vehicle exhaust.
• Camping by the freeway in a rainstorm.
• Pathetic mangy dogs.
• “Lady, where are you from? Want to rent room?”
• Literate and well-informed children (and general population) begging.
• Visits from the military in the middle of the night.
• Cuban pick up lines: “It’s my birthday…..” (I mean what, exactly is the expected response here? “Oh, OK, I’ll give you your birthday blow job, then.”)
• Cubana Airlines.

Things that get old, quickly:

• Socialist propaganda.
• Two currencies.