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CUBA: 21.03. - 09.05.2008
| Cycled kilometres: 2961 km |
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 Preface: For us Cuba was absolutely
one of the most interesting countries of our trip. Though have also
liked us the scenery and in particular the beaches very well, however,
much more full of suspense quite own socialist culture was under palms
which has developed during the last just 50 years after the Cuban
revolution. While Cuba is in 5 stars Beach resorts absolutely in the
ball of the time, the people lead a very easy life in particular in
the more rural areas. Many of the farmers work their fields also even
today in pure manual labour and a farmer him his corn field with a
wooden plough from Bulls is pulled ploughs up is no rare sight. In
addition many horse carriages and ox's carts come as a means of transportation
and American old-timer from the 50th. Sometimes we have to sit the
feeling in a gigantic time machine only around from 21 centuries.
all at once directly in late 19. To be restored century, or to land
in between in any time. We never know which new surprise behind the
next corner on ourselves waits. Often we imagine that Cuba might be
exciting just for our grandparents really, because they could return
there once again in her own youth without having to renounce the comfort
of the today's life. Will maintain this system of the extreme differences
by strong pressure of the government, however after Cheerful
Castro has handed over the office shops in spring, 2008 to his younger
brother Raúl after 49 years of the rule now the signs seem to stand
on change and opening. Raúl stands there before a difficult job, because
the risk that just the older Cubans and the rural population who have
carried the Cuban revolution for years, by a too quick change simply
fall down behind is big. The open warmth of many Cubans has gone on
to us the trip, nevertheless, mostly very simply and thus it hard
fell to us after 7 weeks this country again to leave. We wish the
Cuban on her way to a new "revolution" in any case all the best! |
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252nd Weekly Report 22.03. -- 30.03.2008
Route: Havana, Bahia Honda, Viñales, Guane, Peninsula de Guanahacabibes |
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 Entry into Cuba: On half a way to the
airport in Bogotá the right pedal dropped to me all at once. Apparently
the bicycle mechanics have used a little bit too much force in Colombia
and while unscrewing the pedal they have destroyed the thread within.
So I cycled the last 8 km with only one pedal to the airport. The
things were fast packed and although we of course again substantially
luggage had we had no problems with overweight once again, although
we have checked in 88 kg. The flight was as trouble-free as the entry
and duty formalities on Cuba. When we said with the duty that we are
cyclist we passed in the whole queue without any control directly!
We might assemble even our wheels directly in the arrival hall again
and pack our whole equipment again into the pockets and when we were
ready it was just 03:00 o'clock. We wait still during two hours at
the airport (we have saved one of the expensive overnight stays on
Cuba:-)) before we came along on the way to Havana. |
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 Welcome to Cuba: About 05:00 o'clock we
step from the air-conditioned airport building in the muggy-warm Cuban
morning air; it had rained overnight. The air is difficult and there
it up to the sunrise still long there is wrong we cycle in the pitch-dark.
To be able to cycle a little lighter I have fixed my left foot with
an instep belt in the pedal. Cuba is closed down and quietly before
us and nothing points to the fact that we stand before the gates a
metropolis with 2.1 million inhabitants. Now and again a small tourist
coach overtakes absolute silence to us, nevertheless, otherwise. With
the first isolated houses the spicy smell of the Cuban cigars floats
all at once then also by the heavy morning air, however, from the
Cubans still no track. We are overtaken by a Russian Lada and Czech
Java (motorcycle by side car) and the typical smell of the exhaust
gases recalls memories of East Europe and Russia. We approach the
centre and slowly we meet the first Cubans who stand with her cigar
in the mouth in dark in the bus stops. The first coaches appear all
at once and her thick diesel exhaust gases make the night even blacker.
Suddenly Nadine discovers a baker's and for converted 0.4EUR in an
open illuminated door we buy 20 tasty bread rolls. Greedily we bolt
down some bread rolls, nevertheless, we have eaten up to a few occupied
bread rolls yesterday morning since nothing. Laboriously I cycle with
my one pedal further and together with the first sunrays we come in
the city centre. We have used 2 hours for 25 km of the airport in
centre. The streets have filled meanwhile with life, however, only
one interests us: Where is the Casa Particulares (spare room) we have
booked. Finally, we want to sleep, nevertheless, we are already for
over 26 hours on the legs. The somnolent owner of the Casa Particulares
is sullen and has, actually, no desire for us and thus we are quartered
on a neighbour, a nice older lady, who fetches us a few minutes later.
Nevertheless, with thanks we reject the coffee our house mistress
before we to us, finally, in the empire of the dreams dismiss. |
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 Old Town of Havana: One can find
the quiet witnesses of the socialism in Havana on every corner: now
and again to half dilapidated colonial constructions magnificent once
in those the colour everywhere flakes off. With the breakdown of the
Soviet Union, the trading partner most important once of Cuba, Castro
had to keep a lookout Cheerful of course after new sources of money
and opened his country at that time to the tourism. At that time thus
was started to do up with it the Old Town of Havana again and now
everywhere many of the marvellous houses shine again in the old shine,
completely as well as it to themselves for an UNESCO world cultural
heritage also heard. Though the Old Town is tourist, however, anyhow
it has a lot of charm. In the cafés and restaurants her guests maintain
of salsa tape and not seldom a Cuban spontaneously resolves a little
dance in the middle of the pelican crossing to put down. The life
goes comfortably his way (so comfortably as a city just can be) and
after the mostly hectic South American cities Havana is almost already
an oasis of the rest. |
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 Pedal repair: To gain control of my pedal problem
I am sent by a bicycle store to a mechanic in a suburb of Havana.
The work town lies in the backyard of a row house and thus I have
to go with my wheel by sitting room, kitchen and two bedrooms in which
a few more members of the family in sleep are. To come by the last
door then I must develop even my front wheel, however, then
I stand all at once in 3 m x 3-m-workshop with an old Russian lathe
and other heavy metal treatment devices so full, that one can hardly
move. The mechanic and his about 20 year older assistant examine
the problem and then set to work without big words to lose without
any hurry. First a bigger hole is bored in my crank in then in new
thread is cut. Now a hole is bored in an aluminium block, a thread
cut in then later the pedal should be screwed. Afterwards the aluminium
block is clamped in the lathe, is milled smaller and, finally, from
the outside the suitable thread cut with it he in the new thread of
the crank fits. Now the shell new thus won is screwed into the crank
and is anchored and almost I already think that one the whole could
not have made better. However, when the mechanic wants to screw the
pedal it positions itself out that the thread of the pedal little
bit too thick! The shell screwed is already so thin ones that the
mechanic does not want to make them a little bigger and thus the thread
in the pedal is milled without further ado suitably! OK. now though
my pedal problem is repaired, however if my pedal is broken now I
have of course the problem that I can use no other pedal of the
world, without the thread was milled before suitably. However, I will
only deal with the problem when it is so far! |
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 Revolutionary museum: In the revolutionary
museum one can postpursue the whole story of the Cuban revolution
in great detail and bumps thus into a few interesting details. Cheerful
Castro was originally a lawyer and already a student leader. After
his exam he went as a promising newcomer by the Cuban elections to
the start, however, Fulgecio Batista revolted before to the power.
Against it Castro inserted Cheerful the objection before the uppermost
court which was turned down, nevertheless. As a result Castro organised
Cheerful an opposition group, went with her to the shooting training,
and removed with them a weapon store from to supply itself with weapons
and ammunition. Nevertheless, differently than many other guerrilla
warfare Castro went on the whole and instead of destroying streets
or public facilities he attacked with his troop on the 26.07.1953
the Moncada barracks, at that time the second largest barracks of
the military. The raid failed and Cheerful Castro was arrested and
sentenced to death. On international criticism his capital punishment
was converted into a long-standing prison sentence and he will dismiss
thanks of the help of Mexico under a general amnesty, finally, prematurely.
Cheerful Castro went with his brother Raul (who is, by the way, just
the Cuban president) to Mexico where he founded his revolutionary
army. |
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 Small everyday stories I: Thanks to the
socialism, to the Cuban wealth of ideas and the joy of life of the
Cubans Cuba is a country of the small everyday stories. Constantly
occur some little things which stimulate us for smiling or which give
to us "members of an affluent society" small lessons. However, instead
of boring you with all stories we will bore you only every now and
then with some of it. Here the first: We are already a few days in
Havana and Nadine shops just in street sales a small pizza. With her
an older man stands in the queue and all at once he lasts in the rubbish
bin and fishes half a pizza out. In some South American countries
this would have been an everyday situation, however, in spite of the
very modest relations in those many Cubans live, nevertheless, we
do not have the impression that one must suffer here hunger!? However,
instead of eating the pizza itself the older man throws them now simply
to a half starved dog to on the corner sits! |
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 Waterfront promenade: The waterfront promenade
of Havana, the Malecón, lies directly on the Atlantic side of Cuba
and as soon as a little stronger north-east hoist is a matter ruling
here equally violently to the thing, because then the waves with her
whole strength bang into the bank walls. Not only once we get a full
load of water as us in for the motor traffic is not allowed along
closed Malecón cycle. Then a little further from the centre
away the whole waterfront promenade and a few adjoining streets also
is underwater immediately laxly 30 cm what our bicycles love of course
less than us. Here in any case we would not like to be if hurricanes
come on Cuba! |
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 "Los Cubanos son buenos": We make just
in a small place by the sea our lunchbreak as an old happily Cuban
comes and gives us a few grapefruits. He still shows us we the
grapefruits, anyhow look quite differently than in Germany to available,
eats and with a happy "Chiao" and a shoulder doorknocker for Martin
he disappears again. A few minutes later there stands Manuel how we
know meanwhile, again before us and this time he still has some kilos
of bananas, Guayavas and a mango for us. We try to explain to him
that we cannot drag at all so much, however, he exists with the remark
"Los Cubanos son buenos" (The Cubans are stubborn good people) on
the fact that we take the whole fruit. At least as a recollection
we give him a Photo of ourselves at their back we beside a few thanks
our email addresses score. Manuels joy at the picture is the a lot
of bigger present than the whole fruit for us. Once more a hearty
shoulder doorknocker and before we to us is provided Manuel also disappeared.
However, not for long, because after a few minutes he is there again,
this time, nevertheless, without fruit, but with the request whether
we could not write his name and of his son (who lives in the USA still
on the back of the photo), because, otherwise, we do not squander
at all who would call there. Anyhow Manuel was so excited that him
has not struck at all that he now his names on his map stand has,
and we with it yet know who does not call. However, to explain this,
and the functionality of email around him Manuel was too excited a
lot, and thus we take down after he had gone for his names to our
directory and trust in the fact that his son in the USA already knows
what one with an email address starts. |
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 Solidarity: Because in Cuba there is not exactly
an abundance in food, one knows how to help himself. We see
just a fully loaded ox's team of the pineapple field coming. With
pleasure the farmer would give a pineapple to his friend who just
meets, however, he is not allowed to do this presumably. Thus the
chance falls now like it so wants 10 m before the ox's team with the
friend is a pineapple of the carriage which Freud gathers of course
with a thanks greeting joyfully from the ground! |
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 Viñales: In the northwest of
Cuba the nice tourist place Viñales lies in the midst of a hill chain.
Viñales is liked with the tourists primarily because of his nice middle
mountainous region with his many precipitous lime rocks and caves. |
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 Beach days: Cuba is the biggest Caribbean island,
and what lies there closer than sometimes a few days on the beach
to take it easy! One of the nicest beaches, Maria de la Gorda, lies
at the northwest end of Cuba and is, because he lies relatively far
away from the shot, still delightfully untouched. Up to a few fishermen
we see during two days no human soul. We have the whole beach with
crystal clear water and gigantic mussels completely for ourselves
alone, however although we we, actually, only in the shade of some
trees detain we have got both a well-arranged sunburn in shoulders,
backs and upper thighs! |
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 Attention crabs! The costal road was built apparently
directly into the native country of a cancer colony. Although in the
middle of a nature reserve nobody takes exception here to the fact
that the crabs lie to hundreds knocked down and killed directly before
the park office on the streets. The maybe life-saving sign on "wild
animals on the roadway" points, nevertheless, comes, unfortunately,
only a few hundred metres behind the cancer colony! As soon as the
crabs, nevertheless, a pedestrian, car or even a truck approaches
he stands, spreads his scissors on and makes thus an especially dangerous
impression what is rather a little promising in case of the trucks
nevertheless. Nevertheless, one can already impress a few cyclists
like us with the threatening gestures! |
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253. Wochenbericht 31.03. - 06.04.2008
Route: Piñar del Rio, Viñales, Havanna
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 Tobacco cultivation: Shortly before Piñar del Rio
we are demanded at the break of dawn by a young Cuban whether we did
not want to visit a tobacco factory. It would also cost nothing. We
follow our leader and land in the dry house of the tobacco company
"Hojas de Monterey". In the warehouse we find out that the tobacco
plants are harvested after 6 months. All together there are 5 s and
the sheets from below upwards are picked. While lower both sheets
the strongest ones are used uppermost for the skin of the cigars.
After the harvest the sheets come to the dry house where they remain
during 6 weeks. In this time withdraw more than 90% of the nicotine
of the sheet into the stalk which is removed then of course. Afterwards
it further goes to the fermentation. After the fermentation the sheets
are stored over again 2 years before they are rolled in the factories
at last to cigars. We find out from our guide then also like one a
cigar on her quality checked. 1. Rolled: Cigar between the palms with
the opening down roll; no crumbs may fall out then tobacco rubbish
would have been used. 2. Crackled: Cigar with the fingers in the ear
roles; one hears crackling. 3rd wind test: One blows on the open side
in the cigar; there escapes no air and the cigar puffs itself up something.
At the end of our small guidance we should buy of course cigars (it
the boys of the warehouse before from the factories swipes have).
Because we wanted to have anyhow a few cigars as "a small present"
we then completely against our habit well some taken. |
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 Ox's sledges: Because on the heavy grounds
here vehicles with wheels will became get stuck only much too easily
the tobacco sheets on sledge pulled by oxen in the warehouses brought.
Absolutely the best method, however, we feel moved anyhow another
century. |
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 La Libretta: During the economic crisis during
the beginning years of the revolution "La Libretta" was introduced
in March, 1962. Like the renewal coupons during the times of world
war every Cuban with the Libretta receives certainly subsidised food
which he gives in small village stores virtually everywhere, receives.
The food spent on the Libretta should protect in principle the basic
care for 4 weeks. Thus every Cuban receives 2.7 kg of rice, 1.5 kg
of noodles 1.5 kg of white sugar, 1.5 kg of brown sugar, 0.25 kg of
beans, 0.25 l of oil, a soap and every day a bread roll. Toddlers
receive, in addition, still milk powder and school children one more
cheese bread roll at school. For every family there is, in addition,
still salt, Cafe, tomato sauce and a tube toothpaste. However, according
to availability gives still eggs, chickens, various vegetables. Though
big feats are not possible with it, however, at least nobody must
starve with it. When short comparison here what Nadine and me per
person use in rice or noodles per day: 150 g of rice or 200 g of noodles. |
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 Shopping: Shopping can become
in Cuba easily a small adventure. First one must find first of all
a place in what one wants to buy generally gives. Then one must have
the luck that the store is also open just by chance and written up
opening times have not necessarily to mean that the store is really
opened. Then one must have the luck that the desired article is also
really in stock in the store, because bottlenecks already seem every
now and then. However, even if one the desired article already before
eyes has one can still on no account be sure whether one gets him.
This one hangs because of it from in what kind of business is. If
one is in one of the stores in those by the foreign currency CUC or
quite normally with peso is paid everything is in butter. If one is,
nevertheless, in a store in the Cubans the food only on her food maps
one can get and may buy officially nothing. Then it completely depends
before the desire and mood of the store staff whether one gets what
or may not pay and also whether one what for it or not. Often enough
we may not pay, although we exist stubbornly on what is always very
disagreeable to us, but when it simply the only landing is far and
wide we have, actually, no other alternative. Sometimes there are
also stores in those with the food brands as well as with peso is
paid, however, also here it always takes down on the mood of the shop
assistants whether we something we et and, nevertheless may at least
pay. |
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 But tomorrow certainly! Transporting a
bicycle in the train: Actually, we wanted to make in Cuba only one
small round tour around Havana, nevertheless, there Cuba is level
we resolve to drive from Havanna by the train ito Santiago situated
in the southeast around then all over cycle back. When we will want
to buy the train tickets we asked, nevertheless, rather tomorrow to
come again, because one would soon like to finish work. Then in the
next morning I buy the tickets (the tourist counters is not, by the
way, in the railway station!) and when we will come in the railway
station we with our wheels not let in. The security guard brings us
to the back entrance, nevertheless, there they should make no notion
what they with us and call her boss. Together with the boss I go to
the platform only to find out that bicycles can be taken only in a
special carriage and him today there would not be. Tomorrow indeed!
So we cycle back to the ticket counter around the ticket to return,
however, now the good woman wants to return me only half of the purchase
price because I cancel the ticket! Nevertheless, I succeed them of
the fact in persuading that I had made sure before with her whether
we the wheels can take what she had confirmed, and if now this was
not possible she would have wrong informed me, which is why I would
pay no cancellation fee. The next day then we are first at least so
smartly to ask whether there is today a carriage for the wheels and
after some hours (!), finally, we find out that there also is today
nobody, and that it, because most luggage carriages are defective,
rather is a piece of luck if there is sometimes one. But tomorrow
should give one! ", But tomorrow certainly little play" we already
know and thus I come along with a helpful man on the way to the freight
depot. While I before the door wait this does the person responsible
for the goods traffic on to me then rather plausibly assures that
he has for a carriage tomorrow. Tomorrow I should turn directly to
him. Not to wait for it keen still a next day which ends then under
circumstances again with the answer ", But tomorrow certainly", we
resolve to drive ourselves at last nevertheless rather by the more
expensive coach! |
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| To understand Cuba a small insight into the history has helped
us very much. Whom the short historical overview doesn´t interest
should jump to the next weekly report. |
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 The first years: On his search for a west rod to
India Christopher Columbus landed on the 28th of October, 1492 as
the first European on Cuba. A serious discovery for the natives of
Cuba, because during the coming 50 years they were reduced of from
200,000 to 4000! By his geostrategical situation Cuba developed her
treasures carried off in her colonies in the native country during
the next centuries to an important trading centre for the Spaniards
around them to ship. An other impetus experienced Cuba than it fled
in the course of the French revolution to a slave uprising on Haiti
occupied by the French (which came neighbouring island) and a lot
of French owners of sugarcane and Café plantation to Cuba. Beside
her specialist knowledge the French brought of course also a lot of
money with themselves and built up thus a successful sugarcane industry
which became within less years the world market leader and made Cuba
the richest colony of Spain. As well as also in South America the
Spanish-born Kreolen were fed up sometime with the control from the
old native country and thus explained Carlos Manuel Cespèdes in 1868
the independence of Cuba. Several wars followed against the Spaniards
and when the Cubans had almost hit the Spaniards, finally the USA
interfered in 1899 with the war and hit the Spaniards. Now, nevertheless,
instead of the independence of Cuba merely the supremacy of Cuba of
Spain on the USA was transferred! There the Cubans had been cheated
around her victory and had come from the rain to the eaves. Although
in 1902 though officially the republic Cuba was exclaimed, nevertheless,
Cuba stood massively under the control of the USA which ambassador
made, actually, also all important decisions. After a coup d'état
shortly before the set elections Fulgencio Batista himself exerted
himself in 1952 as a president of Cuba (of course with support of
the USA), established a corrupt regime, abolished the constitution
and pursued the members of the opposition. |
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 The Cuban revolution: The young lawyer
Fidel Castro who ran for election for a seat in the parliament was
also concerned by the refusal of the elections. First Castro inserted
Cheerful objection before the Supreme Court which was turned down,
nevertheless against the refusal of the elections. Nevertheless, cheerful
Castro did not surrender, rallied some like-minded round himself,
coached with them the contact with firearms (which they had pinched
to themselves from a weapon business) and attacked on the 26.07.1953
with 131 men and women the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba. The
Moncada barracks were at that time the second largest barracks of
Cuba and thus the courageous attack ended with a drama. Although only
6 of the attackers in the attack died were executed most during the
following days or were tormented to death. Cheerful Castro himself
was put in court and in spite of the famous epilogues of his pleading,
"convicted me this is meaningless, the history will acquit me," in
a show process sentenced to death. Nevertheless, under pressure the
church and the public the death sentence is converted in 15 years
of prison in the most famous prison of Cuba (virtually a death sentence
on rates). Nevertheless, cheerful Castro had luck then only 1.5 years
later he got free with a general amnesty and went to Mexico into exile.
In exile he assembled once more a group of revolutionaries around
himself (among the rest, the young Argentine doctor Ernesto "Che"
Guevara) with those he on the engine yacht Granma in November, 1956
again back to Cuba went. Dictator Batista had got of it of course
wind and Cheerful had already expected Castro and his 81 strong troops.
From one of Batistas troops laid ambush could escape only 16 revolutionaries
who fled in the mountain world of the Sierra Maestra and took up the
armed opposition. Cheerful Castro and his revolutionaries had the
Cuban people behind himself and thus fled at the New Year's Eve night
1958 Batista from the country. On the 1st of January, 1959 Castro
announced Cheerful de Cuba the victory of the revolution in Santiago. |
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 The aftermath: The USA so simply did not want to allow
to snatch away the control of Cuba, nevertheless, and after had forbade
to Castro foreign property, foreign oil companies had expropriated,
26 US companies had nationalised and, finally, had explained still
all US banks to the state property covered the USA the famous commercial
blockade them till this day continues. Under John F. Kennedy the USA
attacked Cuba with 1500 of the CIA to qualified exile Cubans in the
so-called pork bay, nevertheless, were beaten off by Cheerful Castro
and his revolutionary troops successfully. In 1962 then the next crisis.
To prevent that the USA would became attack Cuba once more Castro
with Russia the stationing of nuclear rockets on Cuba agreed. The
whole one flew up and the world stood all at once shortly before the
third world war. Russia yielded and drew off his rockets, after the
USA renounced for their part an invasion in Cuba. Since then he gave
beside to the constant mutual verbal attacks though no official military
actions of the USA more, however, attempts on Cheerful Castro as well
as a small propaganda war about the exile Cubans who are supported
yearly with 15 million US $, however, there was of course furthermore.
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 "Special period in peacetime":
After the problems with the USA and the exile Cubans were solved more
or less some followed peacefully years in those Cheerful Castro Cuba
to a socialist state did alterations. In particular the school system
and health service have profited from it and thus heard Cuba today
to one of the countries with the best training system and health system
(still before Germany!). It became narrow for Cuba, nevertheless,
after the breakdown of the Soviet Union which had strongly supported
her small brother financially and had bought, among the rest, Cuban
products to above world prices. There was suddenly not enough all
(stream, petrol, to spare parts, food...) and only endurance slogans
there was richly. To master the crisis Castro exclaimed a "special
period in peacetime", opened Cuba further for the international tourism
and introduced the US $ as a second currency. Now with the US $ as
a second currency the exile Cubans could send her related money and
by the whole measure package the situation relaxed again. Then in
2004 the US $ was substituted with the peso of Convertible. After
Cheerful Castro had handed over the government shops temporarily to
his brother Raul Castro in 2006 for a heavy intestinal operation withdrew
to "Comandante en Jefe" in spring, 2008 finally from his post as a
head of state. Although earlier than iron hand of the revolution seems
to be famously new head of state Raul Castro, nevertheless, a reformer
and already few weeks after his assumption of office he has already
loosened the travel restrictions for Cubans. Now the tourists exclusively
foreign till then to reserved islands and tourist facilities may enter
also Cuban! |
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254th Weekly Report 07.04. -- 13.04.2008
Route: Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, Pilon, Media Luna
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 Forgotten villages: On our way from Bayamo
via El Salton to Santiago de Cuba we come by some villages apparently
forgotten by the government. The sound map tarred street is a nice
mucky runway with many blow holes from the tar leftovers only every
now and then could be encountered. If we had still mentioned few days
before in Havana in the conversation with a German building contractor
that Cuba in spite of all disposes in comparison to other Latin America
countries of a very good structural fabric, this must take back we
here immediately. Many Cubans live here in very easy board huts without
electricity and fluently water. Even small stores are rare and only
laborious to reach. Though according to map there should be some villages,
nevertheless, more than isolated hermit's courts we do not agree to
face. We have already appeared to it to have to cycle up to the next
bigger place thirsty, because our stores of water go to the bending
when we are asked in the first house with stream connection by the
house mistresses sitting before the door whether they could help us
anyhow. We ask carefully for water and to our astonishment we get
delightfully refreshing chilled water. For us like absolutely also
for some neighbours pure luxury. Now we further come in the village
and although the grit runway still long is not past, nevertheless,
here the people seem to be better at least again around something
(stream, water, village stores). |
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 La Virgen de la Caridad: Before
the gates of Santiago de Cuba in El Cobre lies the church of the virgin
of the mercy. The statue of the virgin was fished in 1606 by three
fishermen in a storm from the sea and hardly that they had discovered
that it itself around a Marien's figure acted the storm already decreased,
so that they could paddle with quiet sea home. Then in 1684 the first
church was built for the Marien's statue and today the church in them
itself considers in 1927. The virgin of the mercy is a national saint
of Cuba and many known and less known Cubans come to ask to her around
for her assistance and her help. After her requests were heard many
Cubans dedicate her trophies of the virgin or make her presents. Thus
one can admire, for example, in a glass cabinet in the church a lot
of hand-signed baseball, some Olympic medallions as well as cups,
toys cars or strands of hair. The special thanks gifts like the Nobel
Prize for Literature medallion of Ernest Hemmingway or a golden partisan's
figure of the mother of Cheerful Castro, donated after the revolution
had won, nevertheless, are under sure fastener. |
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 Santiago de Cuba: Though Rebelde ayer, hospitalaria
hoy, heroica siempre, (rebelliously yesterday, hospitably today, heroically
always) is the motto of the second largest town of Cuba, however,
anyhow the life is a little bit too hectic to us in Santiago. Here
though there is one of the most famous music houses of Cuba (Casa
de la Trova), however, as us were there was just nothing doing, so
that we have disappeared nevertheless rather in the bed. With the
raid in 1953 on the Moncada to barracks and the victory explanation
in 1959 took place in Santiago of the Cuba beginning as well
as end of the revolution. |
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 National heroes: Beside the brother's pair Cheerful
and Raul Castro both revolutionaries Camillo Cienfuegos and Ernesto
Che Guevara whose portraits and remarks meet everywhere on Cuba also
count to the indisputable national heroes. Camillo Cienfuegos whose
brand name was a broad-brimmed Stetson joined Cheerful Castro already
in Mexico, and fought therefore from the outset on his side. Cienfuegos
climbed up to the Commandant in the revolutionary army and one of
his biggest days was supposed as him with his troop in Havana entered
and there more than 10,000 soldiers of Batistas disarmed troops. Nevertheless,
Camillo Cienfuegos was no communist and after his Cesna disappeared
suddenly without a trace from the radar screen and never again de
Cuba appeared as him from Santiago flew back where he a fallen from
favour military governor had arrested, spread the rumour that he had
been removed on instruction of the "Kommandante a Jefe". Shortly before
Cienfuegos to the "Maximo of eyelids has to go" in a personally conversation
because have accused of establishing a dictatorship in Cuba only again!
Also the destiny of the national hero Ernesto Che Guevara throws no
good light on Cheerful Castro. The young Argentine doctor Ernesto
Guevara joined Cheerful Castro also already in Mexico and got there
from his revolutionary comrades the nickname "Che" what means on well
in German mate and is at least today in Argentina a widespread address.
As well as Cienfuegos climbed up so also Che to the Kommandante and
after the victory of the revolution Castro lent in the fiddle the
Cuban citizenship. Later became Che Guevara leader of the industrial
department of the national institute of the agrarian reform (one of
these clarify hand socialist name for authorities) and late boss of
the issuing bank. However, also he seems to have alienated the Soviet
Union, the new friends of Castro from himself after the revolution
from Cheerful and after he in 1965, had attacked sharply his end seemed
to have been sealed in Cuba. Shortly after he left because Cuba for
good and renounces in his resignation letter not only all his offices
separate his citizenship also returned. Also Che Guevara seems about
the course Cheerful Castro had hit to other opinion to to have been.
Che Guevara went of initiating to Bolivia around the revolution also
there, however, without support of the farmers his army was fast chafed.
After he had wounded few days before and had been arrested he was
shot on the 09.10.1967 at the age of 39 years by the bolivianischen
army under martial law. The knowledge Che Guevaras that one wins in
a good revolution either, or dies had become for him immediately
twice the truth. |
| |
 Population mix: Officially the Cuban population
consists of 66% of white, 12% of black, 21.9% Mulatten and 0.1% of
Chinese. If one travels through Cuba one has anyhow the feeling that
the figures behind and in front do not tune there it rather after
1/3 for white, looks black and mixed. The riddle freed itself for
then, nevertheless, quite fast as us go that every Cuban might
determine his skin colour with the elevation of the data himself.
Then interesting we thought in the connection that we have met
sometimes families in those the parents, for example were black and
one of the children, nevertheless was white (with blond hair and bright
eyes). The grandfather was a European then we agreed as an answer
to our questioning looks. However, the fact that genes can assert
themselves even after two generations again, entails absolutely also
that many Cubans her skin colour not only after the real colour but
also after her family descent judge. |
| |
 Tamarindos: When we just on the beach our dinner
prepare joined themselves a young Cuban to ourselves and a tasty soft
drink shows us like one from the legumes Tamarindos can prepare. First
he breaks open the bowl and lays the cores surrounded by a viscous
mass in a cup. Now he pours water in the bowl and stirs some minutes
to himself the viscous mass bit by bit in the water dissolves. He
gets the shiningly touched cores from the water, adds some sugar and
a marvellous soft drink is ready. Because we in our thermos jug still
cold water had it is especially tasty of course. We invite him to
the dinner, however, our rice with chickpeas could not persuade him
really. No miracle then we had forgotten to soak the peas and thus
they are hard and tasteless. Nevertheless, he still leaves to us the
rest of his Tomarindos before he to himself with his barrow at breaking
night on the posthouse way makes. |
| |
 Costal road: The Costal road of Santiago de Cuba
to Pilon is an absolute dream. Past the delightfully lonesome beaches
which invite to Baden and tents the street is sometimes wedged
thus between the precipitous mountain slopes of the Sierra Maestra
and the sea that there seems to be, actually, no place for them. And
if not at some places soon sometimes a road construction troop goes
past then the street could soon belong absolutely to the history. |
| |
 Amarillos: The public transportation
nearly does not exist in Cuba in the absence of financial means and
thus the drivers all state vehicle are obliged to it for solidarity
reasons to take her comrades. To the better organisation there are
in every bigger place and in all more important crossroads the so-called
Amarillos. The operators of this state agency for arranged lifts carry
yellow uniforms where from also her name touches (the yellow). Nevertheless,
the state vehicles obliged to the entrainment are easy for the Amarillos
to recognise, because he gives of different colour number plates in
Cuba. Blue and orange for state vehicles, green for the military,
black for message member, yellow for private vehicles and red for
hired car. Nevertheless, most often empty trucks or tractors with
followers are used for the personal transport. |
| |
 Caution revolutionaries: After they had
escaped shortly after her arrival on Cuba from the ambush of Batistas
troops have here with 5 other revolutionaries Ernesto Che Guevara
and Camillo Cienfuegos on the 19th of December, 1956 on the way in
the Sierra Maestra the street crossed. What a patriotism and which
heroic admiration! |
| |
|
255th Weekly Report 14.04. -- 20.04.2008
Itinerary: Media Luna, Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Guillermo
|
| |
 Buffalo: We just show
to a German Cuban couple and a Cuban family our photo album when the
Cubans start to giggle with the picture of several buffaloes in Thailand
all at once and think that there are also many buffaloes in Cuba.
Because we the joke do not understand mine them that there is here,
however, only one buffalo. Now I am still more confused and thus the
Cuban with the Germans explains to me is on the move that one in Cuba
men two women have called generally buffalo (presumably because they
have taken immediately two women on the horns)! The men them are meant
with it, however, actually, although they have a firm relation or
are married, with a foreign girl take up an other short relation,
because it is a easy possibility is to be earned a lot of money. Clear
that the Cuban protests the tourist from the bottom of the soul to
love, however that this often only one professional occupational setting
is appeared in our case in which the Cuban admits even in the presence
of his patrons openly that this one pure "business connection" is.
He says this us of course in Spanish, because thus his "darling" understands
because no word and remains further in the faith that he loves them!
The real lifelong companion or wife of the buffalo point of course
therefore, however even if she is jealous she is reserved tactfully,
because she has the easily earned in addition money of course also
with pleasure. The female counterpart of the buffaloes is called,
by the way, Jintera. |
| |
 Street clap in Camagüey: From Camagüey
with his small winding lanes in the Old Town the nicest women of Cuba
should come., which is why one calls especially pretty women in completely
Cuba as Camagüeyenserin. An other attraction of Camagüey is of the
Plaza Carmen on whom in 1999 several bronze figures were put up which
should show the everyday life in the provincial centre. Thus there
is beside an old man to a handcart with sound jugs pushes and a round
of women with the comfortable clap also a newspaper reader on a bank.
When we just on one of the free benches sit the man goes past for
the bronze newspaper reader model has stood, sits down beside his
stand-in and spreads out his newspaper. As if we were half blind and
had not noted who is he now he folds his newspaper and draws the attention
of us to the fact that he was the model, before it turns to a family
with a small girl which is completely inspired the original to be
able to take able to find and to be able to take photos. |
| |
 Trust is good, ...: From the Arab world is the saying
"Trust in Allah, but tie your camel anyway." Yes sufficient. In a
church in Camaguey, we then discovered a few Christians who seem the
same precaution follow, for fear of theft, they have their bicycles
during the worship precaution with the church. |
| |
 Musicians: In the past we have
always believed that one in Cuba constantly on the music and dancing.
An image, from the Cuban tourism industry certainly like to maintain
and with the "Buena Vista Social Club" worldwide broadcast in cinemas.
On our journey through Cuba, we see musicians but then always only
where there is also tourism. Otherwise, the Cubans seem not much to
be musikbegeisterter rest of humanity as well. Only once have we seen
a school class on the square in Bayamo music has made for himself,
after having on the street had made any Marschierübungen. |
| |
 Pizza: Ordinarily we eat in our
lunchbreak bread and cheese (or something similar, according to availability),
however, already after few days we have discovered that there is somewhere
a pizza stove in Cuba almost in every place. The pizza stoves exist
of old oil barrels which are filled to one thirdl with coal. The choice
in pizzas is small, because beside the usual cheese pizza there is
maximum one more pizza with ham or one with onions. However, the pizza
ground is very tasty for German relations rather thickly. There is
plate in the street states of course none and thus one gets the boiling
hot pizza simply on a cut piece of cardboard passed. With the habit
of the pizza bakers to fold the pizza in the middle, nevertheless,
we cannot make friends and thus we open them over and over again directly
what does not look so tasty though then completely, does to the taste,
nevertheless, no demolition. A pizza costs everybody ordinarily costs
0.15 EUR (with onions then 0.21 EUR) and after we two have put away
we are also nicely full every time. |
| |
 Camellos: Means of transportation
is rare in Cuba and thus is used what there is just available. Beside
horses, horse carriages and ox's carts one meets on streets of Cuba,
however, also on tractors with followers, converted Trucks and the
so-called Camellos (camels), to the personal transport converted saddle
tractors. All the same around which means of transportation it concerns,
it is always full and the passengers resemble not seldom the famous
sardines in the tin. To be packed together at the ¨humid and hot temperatures
in a closed truck with umpteen other fellow-passengers (often there
are only standing places there one so more people can advance) one
of the more dubious pleasure is absolutely in Cuba. |
| |
 Jardines del Rey: One are the gardens of the king
(Jardines del Rey), an island group existing of about 400 coral islands
Cuba on the Atlantic side are offshore. However, beside many water
birds on the islands and in the mangrove woods live all included hotel
arrangements have sat down in the king's gardens meanwhile also bulky
to satisfy the longing of the predominantly European and Canadian
tourists for the sun, beach and sea. However, in spite of more than
10,000 beds of the tourism industry still most place is left for the
nature. |
| |
 Stone ways: To connect the islands
of the Jardines del Rey better to the mainland the Cuban tourism industry
to Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo has built 17 km of "stone way" (Pedraplen).
The Pedraplen built in 1980 leads by the level Bahia de Perros (dog
bay), among the rest, the native country of gigantic dreams of flamingos
and pelicans is. To guarantee the water exchange between both sides
there is regularly tunnel whose shade is used with pleasure by crawfish
and fish what draws of course pelicans and anglers equally. To cycle
the feeling by the bicycle in the middle over the openly sea is breathtaking
and just shortly after sunrise one has the feeling as skies and earth
in the horizon would melt. |
| |
 Cayo Coco: Thanks to his miles
long sandy beaches and thanks to the crystal clear water Cayo Coco
is the most popular holiday place of the all-inclusive tourists to
Varadero. The vacationer's island does not deal with Cuba of course
a lot, however, most vacationers want to relax anyhow only from her
strenuous job sometimes something on white beaches with crystal clear
water, and here of it there is really more than enough. Cayo Coco
for Cubans "off limits" was earlier, because only three sea miles
before the coast running important international Sea road opens of
course high-class escape possibilities. While we on Cuba are, however,
Raúl Castro lifts the law that to Cubans forbids to visit the facilities
of the international tourism. |
| |
 Dream beaches: The crystal clear water on coast of
Cuba which seems to shine in the most different blue tones, turquoise
tones and green tones is absolutely impressive. Especially amusing
I find over and over again if one by a radiant blue wave which comes
up to one, is able almost "look through". Nevertheless, unfortunately
most beaches are left to the guests him all included hotels. |
| |
 Beach party: We have found a nice beach in Cayo Guillermo
and together with us is the host's group of a big hotel here which
spends her free afternoon also on the beach. While Nadine to us what
to the dinner cooks the hosts stand in a circle and dance to the music
from a car radio roars. Besides, they hand round a rum bottle in the
circle and every time if de DJ in the car radio the music puts out
that which has the bottle just in the hand must take of course a strong
gulp from it. Though we is invited in the play to take part also,
nevertheless, are rather content to us with our noodles with tomato
sauce. Then about evening a big Reseisebus comes first to the beach
and a police car a little later then. Within few minutes after the
arrival of the police the celebration is dissolved, everything is
cleared up again, and the host's group is stowed away in the coach,
because she has tonight one more appearance! |
| |
 Grasshoppers: On the beach with a Campismo comes all
at once a boy to us around us two grasshoppers to give. Horrified
Nadine rejects the present. So gigantic creatures are to her in no
case funny and as a vegetarian she does not want to eat them anyhow.
Nevertheless, the boy exists on the present, and leaves them to us
there. Now Nadine recognises that both grasshoppers are made out of
palms. She proceeds to the family around the boy once again for really
deceiving the similar grasshoppers to thank, talks to the Cuban family
here just a few holiday days on the beach has spent and can look with
own eyes with at how the boy makes cleverly in the twinkling of an
eye an other grasshopper for them. |
| |
 The Blockade policy: Though officially
a complete commercial blockade has covered the USA on Cuba, however,
nevertheless, completely so seriously one does not seem to take it.
In spite of all brinkmanship the USA belong because to ten most important
trading partners of Cuba. Yearly food and feeds is imported in a value
of 500 million US $ from the USA, so much more than goods in a value
of from 302 million euros from Germany. If one still calculates the
1.2 milliard US $ there the exile Cubans yearly to her families transfer
(in comparison with that the tourism industry plays just twice as
much in the cash), then one can talk absolutely hardly more of a commercial
blockade. In spite of that the Cubans explain the fact that it for
them sooooooo badly goes over and over again with pleasure with the
commercial blockade, however, apparently they overlook the fact with
the fact that there are just 200 other countries in the world with
which they can pursue trade. Rather it seems as if the Cubans lacked
the necessary change for a big worldwide shopping stroll, and there
people reluctantly the responsibility for themselves and her situation
take over it is easy of course to give to somebody other for it the
guilt (particularly if the culprit the USA are). |
| |
|
256th Weekly Report 21.04. -- 27.04.2008
Route: Cayo Guillermo, Cayo Coco, Moron, Cayo Santa Maria, Guayos,
Trinidad
|
| |
 Drunk cyclist: On our way back of Cayo
Coco a young Cuban cyclist meets us and 50 m before us he overthrows
very sudden without evident reason face at the head on the street.
We hurry of course immediately for the help and are surprised that
he has not injured himself. The accident cause is fast cleared: Drunken
stupor! José is in the beginning of 20 and means he is just on the
way to Cayo Coco. Though in consideration of his state we doubt that
he goes past to the police check post, however even if, are still
absent him just 50 km and with headwind in the full afternoon heat.
Nevertheless, we do not want to encourage him and thus we give him
one of our full water bottles then José the water will need to fight
not only because of the heat but also around his fire. Thankfully
for the water José tells us that in Cuba the things not so are by
far as they seem what he with the scanty words "Cuba is a plight"
summarises. He would have stroked from Castro's regime the nose fully.
There comes that his brother has fled from 2 weeks over Sea road going
in Cayo Coco and would be now well in Texas. To know his brother at
liberty during him here further on Cuba sticks is apparently too much
for José and therefore the clutch is not fetched to the rum bottle
too far. José wants to touch it his brother and flee also, which is
why he is just with nothing but of his clothing on the body on the
way to Cayo Coco. Today he will not even create it presumably any
more to the police check post, however, we hope that he can soon be
realised his dream of the freedom. |
| |
 The cock of Moron: From her Spanish native
country the town founders of Moron also brought a legend from 16 centuries.
At that time the Spanish Moron was governed by a very dominant mayor
who suppressed his citizens and exploited. He countered criticism
with the saying that there can be only one cock on every dunghill,
and it is just the cock of Moron. Nevertheless, sometime the citizens
of Moron had the nose fully from her mayor, beat up him and threw
him together with a plucked cock from the town. Now it is a plucked
cock and now can cluck only like a chicken they called after him.
At the moment Batistas came the ancient history again to the public
and thus a bronze cock was put up. However, after the victory of the
revolution the cock was destroyed, because he reminded of the odious
dictator. Only in 1981 one remembered again that the cock symbolised,
actually, the power of the people which has thrown his dictator without
further ado and thus a bronze sculpture of the cock was put up once
more in Moron. Nevertheless, the times change the subjects the same
ones remain. Many just of the younger Cubans feel suppressed from
Castro regime and her freedom robs, however, a little bit against
it nobody acts familiar itself. The young Cubans again see to remember
when time the ancient history of the cock of Moron, "pluck" her regime
and placed before the Door. |
| |
 Tobacco factory: In a village we discover rather by
chance a small tobacco factory and curiously we watch the women at
her work by an open window. After a few minutes the upper supervisor
comes to us and loads us the factory, nevertheless, from the inside
to visit, while the door attendant would pay attention to our bicycles.
The cigars rolled here are determined for the Cuban market and come
thus beside the whole tobacco sheets also small pieces with to the
cigars. With the help of a small plastic mat the cigar has rolled
in the twinkling of an eye. Afterwards the cigar ruffian comes to
compression moulds of wood or plastic and is pressed during about
15-30 minutes (as long as to the next load has rolled). Now the cigar
ruffian gets one more outside bowl. Interesting we think that the
outside bowl with a glue of flour and water is stuck. For the cigars
certain for the export in Havana any "confidential" magic cure which,
nevertheless, also our leader does not know is used of course. In
the cigar factory rules a loose comfortable atmosphere. The women
talk comfortably during them to her craft follow. Though there are
also a few men the cigars here roll, however, today shows up only
one of them. The company is very loyal to state and thus there is
specially a space to honour of the big children of Cuba and their
heroic deeds. Under it also some photos of the time as Cuba Angola
in his war in the 80th has supported. Proudly our leader tells us
that also he in Angola was present as the Cuban revolutionary troops
to the African country for the help have hurried as them therefore
were asked. Then on parting we get as a gift even of every one more
cigar of the house as memory. |
| |
 Village rivalry: Who does not know villa Arriba and
villa Abajo from the known television commercials. However, the both
around the bet to celebrating (washing up) villages are not only a
pure fiction. In Remedios two parts of town of El Carmen and San Salvador
beginning on the 24th of December during 1 week around the bet celebrate
because every year. Everything has started in the Christmas Eve in
1820 when the inhabitants of El Carmen reminded in the middle
of the night her neighbours in San Salvador with a drum whirl
of the Christmas fair. Next year the inhabitants of San Salvador got
revenge in the same way and the custom was born. Since 1971 the quits
celebrations of both parts of town are defeated by even firm rules
and now thus the celebrating are judged by festival carriage, street
decoration, dancers and fireworks. To profits is of course a question
of the honour, however, also the losers had absolutely a rushing festival!!!! |
| |
 Cayo Santa Maria: Though the Cayo Santa Maria also
belonging to the king's gardens presumably lies in only 30 km of air
line from Cayo Guillermo, however, to reach him we had to go only
again back on the mainland to cycle then on the day after the next
again out on the island world. More or less 150 km. While we
on the way to Cayo Coco more by mangrove woods cycled the 46-km-long
stone dam leads to the Cayo Santa Maria between some islets through
almost exclusively about open water. The Cayo Santa Maria is still
very peaceful, however, this will change absolutely if the tourism
industry has finished the planned hotel arrangements with more than
10,000 beds. We find thanks to the recommendation from a Spanish to
French cyclist's couple the Playa situated at the island end Blanca
(white beach). On the beach there is merely the small house of an
old sailor who is active now for the state enterprise "flora y fauna"
and his time with it spends during the day the going past. He sells
a couple of drinks to Tourists sell and then devotes itself in the
evening to the fishing. Though the beach is not most beautiful, however,
here quietly and peacefully and thus we whip for a night our tent. |
| |
 Artist with French friends: With
a lunchbreak we get to know Luis. Luis comes from Remedios and belongs
there to the local theatrical group which is decisively involved with
the creation of the move during the competition between both parts
of town. Just he is on the way to a village in the area of Sancti
spirit where there is meanwhile a similar party. Animated conversations
have before long told themselves devotedly in he to us a lot about
the peculiarities of his country. He himself has a small farm which
he leaves, nevertheless, managed, because he is occupied himself too
much with the theatrical group. On his farm he also has some cows
who belong officially though to him about whom, however, the Cuban
government has the control. Should Luis come sometime once on the
mad idea to kill a cow and to sell he would be punished with it after
his statement at the age of 20-30 years of prison with which the life
of a cow is more valuable than the life of a person (10-15 years of
prison with murder)! Of course most farmers also do not have registered
cows, nevertheless, the risk that they are found by the state controllers
is high. By his theatrical group Luis also has many friends in France
who invite him also over and over again, however although he in France
could apply easily for asylum he returns over and over again to Cuba,
because he wants no problems with Castro's regime how he calls it.
He does not have here though the financial prosperity like he could
have him in France, however, he has a nice happy life and there him
his French friends over and over again invite he also has to visit
the possibility other countries. To sell his house and his farm and
to leave does not come to him to then sense, because his native country
is and anyway remains Cuba, with her culture, the loose life, the
warm climate and many charming people. When he had had a look at our
small photo album he means about the end only briefly: "Now you can
safely die, because you have seen everything what there is to worth
seeing in the world." Luckily he does not have here, however,
quite right! |
| |
 Cameras and military service: We also find
out from Luis that in the bigger towns of Cuba on the places often
visited by tourists Supervision cameras gives to spy out whether Cubans
have too much contact with foreigners. Cubans too much contacts with
tourists have not held back or themselves otherwise system-compliant
deficit points agree. Then with too many deficit points it goes from
in the prison. However, one also has to acquire the possibility to
himself pluses if one announces himself, for example, voluntarily
to the military service. Thus there are with the military, on the
one hand, the loyal regular soldiers and on the other side a whole
series "of recalcitrant Cubans" only her image want to polish up or
have to go! |
| |
 School bread rolls for pigs:
In Guayos we meet a South German for 14 years with a Cuban is married.
While he a half of the year in Germany spends he lives the rest of
the year here on Cuba and has integrated himself meanwhile quite well
into the municipality. He operates to us our supposition that one
in principle on Cuba everything agrees what wants to smudge one, the
question is only where and whom one for it or must pay. Thus he is,
for example, just with a bag with 7 crawfish on the way home, although
crawfish may be offered officially only in state restaurants and the
private sales are strictly forbidden. He also tells us that he and
his woman hold a few pigs. Hence, regularly a few school children
come past to him the cheese bread rolls them free of charge at school
preserved for the pigs give, because they have no desire for cheese
bread roll. As a countermove for it he brings to the children then
over and over again a few T-shirts from Germany. |
| |
 "No socialism kids": Just in the towns
of Cuba the children and youngsters are anything but socialism kids.
The clothing they carry there is in none of the state stores, because
they get them just we her CD or player MP3 of a relative from the
USA skilful. Clear that just young men no aspiration have to work
if the family income by the dollar them the relationship from the
USA sends more than only is protected which they exceed a normal salary
around a multiple one. Instead of working one enjoys thus either the
life or makes with his mates a few deals. As long as there are still
enough system-compliant older Cubans, they the whole work for the
state make gives everything is still nice and well. However, if in
not too far future the Cuban state on the worker of the "No of socialism
kids" depends it becomes narrow. We have anyhow the feeling that in
any more too long brainwork does not last to these kids to the state
hard will want, because they, on the one hand, no goat has to work
and on the other hand, however, her freedom. It will become exciting. |
| |
 12 EUR monthly: Converted 12 EUR per month
one earns in Cuba, relatively no matter whether one is a farmer, cigar
turner or head of department in a special clinic. In principle sounds
after 12 EUR extremely a little, however, together with the food
map, it does not let to free living space, free stream and water as
well as subsidised special achievements like cinema, restaurants,
transport..., nevertheless, meanwhile at all sooooo badly live (in
the 80th and 90th this may have been different absolutely). For the
price of 1.5 l of bottle of coke one gets thanks to the subsidies
in a state restaurant, for example, 35 cheese bread rolls or 35 cigars.
Clear the fact that many Cubans see of course different. Posts are
desired, hence, with those one either a free company car at the public
expense put agrees, because one can be of use of course also privately,
or places in companies in their products are produced one exchanges
well is able. As well as in many other socialist states, many Cubans
try to earn an extra income in which they allow to go along in her
factory what is possible around it later to exchange or to sell on
the black market. Clear that accordingly a gigantic black economy
existed in you we have, nevertheless, no idea as a foreigner. |
| |
 Cuba in the international comparison:
In spite of the easy living conditions Cuba does not stand there in
the international comparison at all so badly. According to the Humanly
Development index of UN, beside the Bruttoinlandsprodunkt also life
expectancy and the alphabetization rate lay considered Cuba in 2006
on place 50 and therefore with the sophisticated countries (Germany
place 21, Russia place 65, China place 81). Besides Cuba is also the
only Latin American country without malnourished children. In principle
the health service is trained very strongly and with a doctor per
164 inhabitants Cuba disposes in terms of percentage seen of more
than twice as many doctors like Germany (1 doctor per 349 inhabitants)
who are trained in addition still very well. Further Cuba over a thick
net of hospitals disposes and thus it is to no miracles that the life
expectancy lie for women with 79.85 years and for men with 75.11 years
and also the baby's mortality rate lies with only 6.22 thousandths.
Also in the training system the achievements of the socialist country
impress. According to the educational index of UNESCO Cuba counted
in 2004 together with Canada, Finland and South Korea to the countries
with the highest developed educational area of the world. Also sportily
small Cuba with his 11 million inhabitants is worthy of notice. In
the Olympic games in Sydney in 2000 occupied Cuba astonishing 9 places
in the medallion mirror of the nations and landed with it still before
Great Britain! However, what does a really health system, a long life
and a top education use to one if one is not free (travel freedom,
right on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly...)?! |
| |
 Creative begging: In comparison to the
rich European tourists with whom many Cubans her salary compare without
nevertheless also other achievements of the state to consider they
cover, many Cubans believe themselves very poor. Hence, many also
moneyed Cubans beg tourists and, besides, invent the most astonishing
stories. Once we were asked by a Cuban, nevertheless, to buy at the
supermarket oil which she would need for her baby (baby). Even better
a Cuban of middle age was Nadine around money for her mother asked,
because she would have cancer (the mother is presumably more than
70 years old). As Nadine asked whether her mother then not we all
the other Cubans also her drugs free of charge from the state this
would get the woman affirmed though, nevertheless, believed that she
the money had to be able to buy with pleasure around her mother a
bottle of coke! |
| |
 Restaurants: The easy restaurants of the III class
in Cuba often pass from hardly more than a tiled bar behind the sullen
women subsidised easy dishes and snacks sell. The available line of
products is on small little wooden boards written in a rack are inserted,
or are pulled out if the product is sold off. Actually, almost everywhere
there are with powder touched soft drinks, rum and cigars. With a
little bit more luck one also finds cheese bread roll, one can discover
egg bread roll and ham roll on the menu and in few special cases also
spaghetti, rice with beans or even pizzas. |
| |
257th Weekly Report 28.04. -- 04.05.2008
Route: Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Playa Giron, Varadero |
| |
 Jewellery box Trinidad: Trinidad does not
belong to the most-visited towns of Cuba and this without reason.
The marvellous colonial architecture of the Old Town provided with
cobblestones as well as the everyday life give almost the feeling
as if one was in a big open-air museum. His period of bloom experienced
Trinidad fled as the French sugar barons at the end of the 18th century
from Haiti and in Trinidad found a new one at home. In the Valle situated
before the town gates de loose Ingenios 50 sugar mills originated
thus during their 50 years later 1/3 of the Cuban sugar was produced.
One can foresee the wealth of the sugar barons in the splendid colonial
buildings in Trinidad also even today, even if the times have changed
of course. Today Trinidad seems to live on the tourism and on account
of the tourist masses itself here daily her rendezvous give it is
nearly one miracle that the inhabitants of Trinidad are still so quiet
and leave. The life in Trinidad goes comfortably his way and thus
one meets even every now and then even the locals who take her birds
with on a small walk or to the street pizza state around the corner. |
| |
 Socialism and the alcohol: As well as already
in the former socialist countries of East Europe also strikes us here
in Cuba again how of course also during the day strong alcohol is
consumed. Men somewhere sit together in a small round in the shade
and a rum bottle allow to circle are no rare sight. Also men in the
restaurants of the III class come around themselves her empty bottles
to let fill in again. We come back just from the Playa Ancon (beach)
and buy a few cheese bread rolls for tomorrow for the breakfast in
an easy restaurant when older man comes in, gets silently a double
rum put, drinks this with a big gulp, lays 2 pesos on the bar and
has disappeared. The whole action has maybe lasted 30 seconds without
somebody would even have said any word! |
| |
 Salsa on the stair: Directly beside
the Inglesia Parroquial on the big stair in the Plaza mayor there
rises every evening the hottest party of Trinidad. Tourists as well
as locals flow out at 22:00 o'clock here around to the hot sounds
the respective salsa tape to dancing or just to listen. Every tape
plays about 1 half an hour to hour before them of another it is removed
and the tape members by the rows sitting on the stair are a matter
around her CDs of selling or of collecting tips. Also the local dancing
instructors assemble here around her arts to present arms, to hit
presumably in hope here on a solvent tourist from whom salsa hours
would like to take. It is muggy-warm and thus the dancing in the most
true sense of the word to the sweat work and thus to themselves will
wipe the dancers after every round the sweat almost by the litre from
the forehead. We are in two evenings on the salsa stair and experience
twice a completely different image. While in the first evening more
the Cubans and in particular also the older couples which had danced
in the afternoon already in a cultural centre the audience put more
tourists are her firmly rehearsed show in the second evening here
before their one animation group departs. |
| |
 Casa Particulares: Wild tents are not presumably
forbidden in Cuba only yet because the government has not come yet
ouch the idea that there is foreigner who make this real. Although
as in the beginning were rather nervous we never had problems, even
if we had difficulties sometimes because of many fences to find a
camp site. Thus we have camped not only on lonesome beaches, lakes
or irrigation canals, but also half in sugarcane fields or on hardly
used ways. There are not favourable Hostels or youth hostels like
in the rest of the world in Cuba, and thus we had to fall back in
the towns then on the Casa Particulares. Casa Particulares are a spare
room in private houses who must be paid, nevertheless, in foreign
currency (CUC). There are the favourable Casa Particulares from 11
EUR and many of them have a rather high standard (own bath, fridge
and air-conditioning). Nevertheless, the small hook for the Casab
owner is, that they to the state a monthly all-inclusive from mind.
110 EUR must pay. If is the Casa is not booked up a lot, however if
only few tourists the fun can come to become very expensive very quick
(on a salary of 11 EUR per month). Thus these are then also no miracles
that we are often appealed by the owners of the Casas as soon as we
roll into a town, because they presumably often have no other choice.
We have spent the night merely in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey
and Trinidad in Casa Particulares, however, thus really warmly we
have become, actually, only with our older lady in Havana. All the
others wanted that we had to go always also with them to dinner, however,
this was not in our budget, nevertheless, unfortunately, in it. |
| |
 Defects Toilets: Often we encounter in
public places or restaurants to a sign that we have indicates that
the toilets were broken. Most then hang a large handwritten cardboard
sign on the toilet door with the following inscription: "Roto, no
se moleste!" "Defect, they harass us why not." The toilets are of
course not broken what determines if you just use them anyway, but
the employees simply have no desire to clean it! |
| |
 Family invitation: During a small break
on the beach Nadine comes along as usual on the search for nice mussels.
Quick she gets society of two girls whom they richly supply. Today
the older one of the both has birthday, which is why the family spends
a nice day on the beach. However, of many mussels enough and thus
only the girls do not bring us a chilled coke tin and later the mother
(Sonja) still brings us a whole plate fully with the tasty rice court
which they have brought. We talk very nicely to Sonja and, finally,
she invites us to herself after hare. We decline first, because we
want to pose no problems to the family (we had belonged that the house
can be taken from one for unlawful accommodating of foreigners and
a shocking punishment is due), however, Sonja assures and several
times that it there where they live no problems would give. Sonja
and her family live about 40 km from here and because we must have
already late afternoon we ourselves over again incredibly do the utmost
to come even today what we create, however, in the pouring rain just
still on time before advent of the darkness. The family lives in a
very nice house directly beside the high street, however, there because
of the strong rainfall just stream failure rules we are content with
flashlights. Sonjas has an electric cooker which also does not function
of course, and thus we offer to her that we can cook the dinner on
our petrol cooker for the family. There still from the tasty rice
court, for the rest, is, nevertheless, Sonja passes on it only this
to jazz up over again and to eat. We prepare in the flashlight light
the rice dish on our cooker, what for us though the everyday life
for which to both girls is really exciting, however. Sonjas man had
allowed itself a little bit too much rums on the beach and is still
to be got with it occupied again a clear head, however, he performs
us courageously society. When the dinner is ready, we must find out
to our frightening that Sonja has prepared the dinner exclusively
for us. They would have already eaten and thus they deny to themselves
firmly us with the gigantic serving to help. We want to expel the
girls not from her room and thus we whip on the terrace our tent.
Grunt in the middle of the night then all at once dog barking and
the loud. Sonjas man comes from the house, something fiddles around
and afterwards there rules again rest. The next morning then we see
that directly beside the house a big pigsty lies and get to know that
it at night problems with one of the pigs gave. Though soy still asks
us at least one day to remain, however, our time on Cuba leans towards
the end and we must still cycle many kilometres to come again at the
airport of Havana, so that we lack, unfortunately, the time and we
must swing ourselves of heavy heart again on the wheels. A few days
later Nadine from the found mussels makes two arm small chains for
both girls whom we send together with the photos, however, the post
has opened the package and has taken out the arm small chains and
has delivered only the photos to the family! |
| |
 Tipping policy: The international tourism
and in particular the tip politics mix up the socialist system of
Cuba quite a lot. In particular the lavatory attendants at some places
visited by many tourists (as for example in the salsa stair in Trinidad),
can earn thus on one single day laxly this what a head of department
earns in the month!!! Now clear one could be glad gigantically for
the lavatory attendants who earn substantially, however, the consequence
is natural that many intelligent young Cubans work much rather in
the well paid-up tourism industry than waiter, doorman or something
else or simply flee abroad to start as her spiritual potential, for
example, as an engineer! Thus can move Cuba, although it to the countries
with one of the best education systems of the world capital hardly
belongs from it, because incredibly a lot of knowledge, talent and
creativity are never used. |
| |
 Without words: |
| |
 Pork bay: The USA did not want to accept the power
loss over Cuba and the expropriations of the US companies of course
simply so and thus they sent in 1961, 1500 from the CIA qualified
exile Cubans to Cuba. 1500 exile Cubans should form on Cuba a bridgehead
in then later already educated in the USA the a government in exile
should be test-flown which should ask then officially the USA for
help for the freeing from Cheerful Castro and his revolutionary troops.
As far as so well, however, after John F. Kennedy (!) the president
at that time, shortly before the invasion Cuban airports bomb read
around the Cuban air force to switch off Castro got Cheerful wind
of the thing and moved out all of a sudden with his revolutionary
troops. As the exile Cubans then in the Playa Giron in the pork bay
put in they were already expected. Within 24 hours the exile Cubans
were encircled and chafed just 2 days later or arrested. Of the US
aircraft carrier already before Cuba lay as a result turned away and
the attack was repulsed. |
| |
 Crabs, crabs, crabs...: Between the Playa
Giron and the Playa Larga lies the native country of thousands of
crabs and in particular every evening they come from their earth caves
and come along on the way to the sea. Nevertheless, besides, they
must cross the dangerously street what becomes daily hundreds of crabs
the disaster, although there is virtually no traffic. We drive swerving
line by the crabs who apparently hear nothing and react only to big
movements and flee then with far stretched out scissors to the back
and so often they flee from us., Among the rest, the crabs also seem
to live on her congeners and then thus they become especially easily
victims of the few cars. Actually, it is a miracle that we no cancer
cross, nevertheless, have if once a car went past crashing the cancer
tank already went for us by Mark and leg. The street is complete here
and there with dead crabs littered and the reddish banquet does not
exist of small little stones separate from crumbled cancer tanks.
Very much to Nadines joy we must camp this night directly in the cancer
country on the beach where it, nevertheless, actually, everywhere
only was swarming so with the creatures and everywhere only cracks
and rustles. I believe Nadine the whole night has closed no eye because
of the fear one of the crabs could bite by the tent wall. The night
toilet way was also stroked of course, because who wants to be pinched
already by a cancer in the bottom. |
| |
 Even more crabs: The next morning then the crabs have
crept away almost completely again in her holes and only a few quite
courageous ones are on the move still. We have luck and with some
tutoring we can take a few very nice nice pictures of the crabs. |
| |
 Bathing fun: Not everywhere Cuba
with white sandy beach is blest, however, on some rocky coasts there
is to leaders with the help of those one from the water again on the
rocks can climb. Though so a jump of the rocks in the delightfully
blue shining sea has one not all days, however, after the nth jump,
until we had, finally, a good photo, then it became even with too
much. |
| |
 Sugar and bread shopping: Shopping is exciting
on Cuba though always a little bit, however, especially full of suspense
it is always to be bought bread and sugar. There is bread though also
in normal baker's, however, there is the bread is so aerial that it
stops no five minutes. There is sugar merely in some foreign currency
stores, so that Nadine lands regularly in the Libretta shops (there
where one food with the food map comes). If it was not sent away immediately
again what sometimes seemed in baker's, the history mostly ran off
as follows: There one enters Nadine with her plastic bag armed the
store in the normal stores of Cuba only loose food agrees and must
bring the transport containers themselves. With customers as well
as with the shop assistants change into embarrassed silence. One works
after the technology that Nadine maybe directly again goes if
one they simply ignore. After she has waited first of all for a while
Nadine asks politely whether she could not buy some sugar. The silence
stops, however, now the shop assistants together as well as with the
customers exchange to themselves expressive looks. Nobody even says
a word, but it looks in such a way, as if one clarifies whether somebody
the courage has to take the floor or whether somebody has to argue
a little bit the foreigner what to give. Sometime, these can be some
minutes spread, a courageous shop assistant mostly takes the floor
and means about her colleague:" Then give her just what", whereupon
these Nadines plastic bag accepts around in a next room disappears.
How much we now got depends now completely on what the shop assistant
with the bag "just by what" understands, and this can reach from
one to 1/4 full bags up to a full bag. Now follows the more difficult
part: Nadine wants to pay! First becomes mostly direct sent away,
however because Nadine the tactics knows already she insists furthermore
on paying on it. There follows an other round of embarrassed silence
and expressive looks. One of the shop assistants sometimes means:"
She does not know it just better" (mine she acts with the fact that
Nadine does not know that one here with the food map "makes purchases").
However, nevertheless, thanks to her stubbornness Nadine then mostly
may pass sometime at least some money about the bar. Nevertheless,
easier with the payment it is most with the Libretta baker where the
price can considerably sway then, however, between 0,002
EUR and 0.03 EUR per bread roll (670 bread rolls for 1 -
EUR or 33 bread rolls for 1 EUR), depending on whether we may pay
the subsidised price or the normal price. |
| |
258th Weekly Report 05.05. -- 09.05.2008
Route: Varadero, Havana |
| |
 Varadero: Varadero is the most
famous resort of Cuba with 50 hotels and beach resorts with over 15,000
beds all together which have settled on the 20-km-long sandy beach
with delightfully clear water on a peninsula 130 km to the east of
Havana. The construction boom was opened in the Varadero founded in
1887 by a 10-headed fishing family in 1930, as the US of industrialists
to itself there a country estate for 338,000$ build read. There followed
other well-to-do Americans and thus Varadero became a Cuban seaside
resort in the 1950th and at that time climbed up to the most popular
holiday destination in the Caribbean. After the Cuban revolution in
the course of which the international tourism was fallen from favour
to climb up a lot of Varadero in a long sleep, only in order 30 years
later again like phoenix from the cinder. After the breakdown of the
Soviet Union an economic crisis broke out because of foreign currency
lack in Cuba, and the tourism in Varadero decisively contributed to
an improvement of the situation in the whole country. Today Varadero
is visited yearly from more than 1 million foreign tourists. |
| |
|
Toilet paper: We meet an American itself hard with it does
to understand that we camp, actually, almost always wildly and,
finally, he offers us from his good soft loo paper from the USA
a role with the words: "Then must not always take him sheets." in.
|
| |
 To snorkels and diving: A few kilometres
before the gates of Varadero lies of the Playa Roca, a small beach
segment, thanks to an offshore coral reef a popular place to snorkel
is. We borrow with the small restaurant a snorkel equipment and come
along on around the underwater world to discover. There are witty
proofs also some diving companies who bring of her customers from
Varadero here to the diving, however because the water is very level
here, us can observe beside the fish now still the divers who admire
the same fish possibly 1-3m among us like us. Nevertheless, with progressing
the low tide the water will always flatten, and then, finally, the
divers also float in the surface. Anyhow an amusing sight. |
| |
 Oxen on the way: While we cycle up just
one of the precipitous Cuban mountains there came to us two oxen against
one trunk move downhill. In this case nothing unusual, is actually
to be discovered, however, by the owner of the oxen far and wide no
track. We have been surprised, that the oxen drag the big trunk completely
without supervision as well as a well trained dog on direct way home.
Apparently the oxen can read our thoughts, because about 50 m below
us insert them abruptly a break to eat some grass. We cycle further
and only 10 minutes later, finally, we hit on the owners of the oxen,
lumberjacks who transport an other trunk in the valley just with another
ox's pair. |
| |
 Operation Milagro: Under the name Operation
Milagro Cuba has brought to life a sort of medicine tourism during
the last years. As a countermove for political backing or for oil
like in case of from Venezuela, poor citizens from other Latin-American
countries can be operated here free of charge in particular on the
eyes! D sharp offer has made Fildel Castro, by the way, also to the
USA, however, this was probably rather a political manoeuvre. |
| |
 Socialism school: The way with customers
is to be handled in Cuba now and again quite a special and sometimes
we have the impression that there must be somewhere a socialism school
in which one learns all small delicacies and pinches. "We simply ignore
them, maybe they go then from the same" method again we know already
from Libretta shops and baker's. An other important tactics is "always
nicely a customer after the other serve". Unusually the thing becomes
only when, e.g., a pizza baker also sells soft drinks. I.e. if the
person has ordered a pizza before one and has pushed the pizza baker
the pizza just in the stove, he has of course no time so long to the
pizza ready a few drinks are to be sold or to take orders, but he
must wait only for it to the pizza is ready to be able to devote itself
then fully to the next customer. In this regard quite a lot of pizza
baker, nevertheless, still was excelled by the employees of some supermarkets.
Highlight was here a supermarket in a specially counter also stationery
were sold. Nadine wanted to buy merely fast a CD and even had a customer
before himself when suddenly a cardboard was delivered. There were
two shop assistants and thus one of them took the cardboard against
around him in spite of long queue immediately to talk. Nevertheless,
receipt of goods is something particularly important and thus the
other shop assistant immediately put her sales talk with her customer,
only to watch her colleague while unpacking. Though the package was
not gigantic, however, a receipt of goods must be made of course quite
conscientious and thus unpacking stretched in the length. However,
instead of helping her colleague was content to themselves to observe
the second shop assistant merely with it them. Then, "unfortunately",
nevertheless, after 20 minutes the package was unpacked and while
one shop assistant now again of her customer turned required her colleagues
now of course first of all a break! Nevertheless, for the Cubans meanwhile
waiting in a gigantic queue this seemed to be the most normal one
of the world. This calmness presumably is also one of the reasons
for the high life expectancy of the Cubans! |
| |
 Birthday party: Directly before the gates
of Havana we spend the last afternoon on the beach and even as we
want to go I see a marvellous old Yank's sledge under a palm on the
beach standing. I take a few photos and please, finally, still Nadine
still to itself with her wheel beside the car to put to be able to
shoot the "perfect photo". Even as Nadine on the way comes along the
owner the car comes. Juan is glad gigantically that we like his car
and now thus he wants of course with on the photo. Now, unfortunately,
the sun disappears behind a cloud, however, now we get into conversation
with Juan. Today Juan has birthday and celebrates him with his family
here on the beach. Presumably there are not on Cuba yet child birthdays
without rum and thus it is no miracle that Juan is already completely
drunken now in the late afternoon. However, the alcohol does no demolition
to his friendliness and openness. Though he would like to spend the
night to us with pleasure in his house to invite, now however, thus
near in the capital we would really like to cause to nobody difficulties
so that we decline with thanks. Juan supposes that we decline only
because of that, because we suppose that he then money of ourselves
wants to have. Thus he immediately explains to us that he has no financial
interest to us and he would be interested only in our friendship.
Now Juan is in his element and although his tongue hard does itself
to catch his thoughts in words he explains to us that he is a garage
mechanic in his own small workshop. He would not earn so though a
lot of money, but he would be very proud, nevertheless. Now almost
contemptuously he believes that there are nowadays, nevertheless,
more and more Cubans who neither want to work, nor fight, however,
he is none of them. Juan is a witty friendly Cuban with the heart
in the right spot and thus we regret that we have not met him already
a few hours earlier. |
| |
 Houses exchange: There is not a free flat
market in Cuba and if one wants to move in another town, it goes virtually
only when he there a place to live has. One can move so only to a
place at which one has family or friends who allow to draw one with
themselves, or if it at the place in one wants to pull somebody gives
who wants to live there where one himself comes and is so ready to
exchange his flat. |
| |
 Hemmingway: The house in Ernest Miller Hemmingway
of 1939 - in 1960 lived today lies still in a suburb of Havana. The
house surrounded by a small park lies idyllic on a hill and from a
small turret one can see even the sea. The house left virtually exact
as it had left Hemmingway at that time, before he went to Spain and
committed, finally, shortly after suicide. The house is moulder furnished
(in particular for past), look, however, not excessively magnificent.
Hemmingway loved books and at last comprehensive library the place
went out to him for his 9000 books, so that he had even book shelves
in the bath. However, beside many books one can also see even today
his hunting trophies of his big game hunt travelling to Africa and
many paintings of bullfight scenes during always still music from
the original radio hums. . Because Hemmingway almost always guests
had the table is also covered even today always for 3 people, just
so one would expect that the author could bend any minute around the
corner. Further the author also had to be very able to take a lot
the call and thus there also is even today to some bars in Havana
boast that the famous author has carried on drinking here many nights.
Hemmingway also loved the ocean-going fishing and his boat Pilar lay
at anchor in the neighbouring fishing village Cojimar. In Cojimar
the fisherman Gregorio Fuentes who served as a model for the Hemmingsway
the most famous novel "The old man and the sea" also lived by the
way. As a Hemmingway for this novel, finally, the Nobel Prize for
Literature received he was invited by a brewery from Havana to a receipt
to his honour. Hemmingway which celebrated just the success with "his
fishermen" and did not want to leave this took them without further
ado everybody with on the receipt what they credit to him till this
day still high. In the garden one can also admire Pilar who is renovated
just by some carpenters. When I come 4 carpenters sit just side by
side at the bank in the rear of the boat, as well as on the famous
photo of the construction worker with her lunchbreak on a steel beam
of a skyscraper high over New York. Each of them has another biography
Hemmingway’s in the hands and has aroused enthusiasm like the small
children show them to themselves mutually in particular the photos
of Hemmingway’s adventure and results with the ocean-going fishing
and with the big game hunt. This is one of many moments on our trip
where I only one photo with the heart camera makes, because the normal
photo would destroy everything. |
| |
 Bicycle rickshaws: Partial up to 3 passengers
the cyclists of the bicycle rickshas advance and are much slower,
besides, by no means than us. We are absolutely fascinated, in particular
because the steel horse with her motorcycle tyres and mostly without
gear anything but racing motorcycles are! |
| |
 Hairdresser: Shortly before the
takeoff I go in Havana over again fast to the hairdresser and as in
the whole world the hairdresser is also to be exchanged on Cuba a
popular place around news and life profundities. As just my hair cut
agrees I can listen in thus of an animated and passionately controlled
discussion which turns on whether now the work is the hardest work
in the agriculture as a tobacco farmer or as a sugarcane farmer. Nevertheless,
at last the tobacco group gets the upper hand. Almost I would have
thrown that the work of the banquet mowers takes second place absolutely
to the other both in hardness in nothing, however, around essential
is more monotonous and more dull, however, at last I keep my opinion
for myself. Since what knows then already a foreigner! |
| |
 Depature from Cuba: Our flight goes in
the early morning hours and there we about 2 hours need to cycle around
from the city centre to the airport we decide to make this in the
eve where we can ask a few more passers-by for the way to need. Then
1 km before the airport we also find a camp site where we spending
the night. Then about 4:00 o'clock we get up, pack our things and
cycle to the airport where we pack our whole equipment and the wheels
in two bicycle cardboards and four pockets. First it still sees after
problems with the wheels there the lady in the check In means, they
would be too big, however because responsible in the check in no desire
has to deal with us and the wheels at last everything has checked
in without before been weighed to! Anyhow the lady in the check was
occupied In, nevertheless, thus with the wheels that Nadine and me
have separate seats, although the airplane is not even half-filled.
Now it goes for us further after means and North America, the last
continent of our trip! |
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