Pauliina and I spent a couple of weeks in Cuba. Ossi, Pauliina's father, united our team as he also decided to travel half the world to see us. The two weeks spent there provided us a chance to get a break from our daily lives in Honduras, taking a deep breath and coming back with renovated energy. We could also do something we cherish: travel together.
Cuba is another world. This being certain of every country, it is even more of Cuba, a country that has endured a communist regime for almost half a century. We both felt it would be impossible in two weeks to know how the country works. So we tried to chat with Cubans and ask about their reality, without forgetting that all the data we collected could not possibly explain life there. Nevertheless, the education, security, status of women rank high compared to the rest of the Central American countries. However, the lack of freedom can not be compensated by the social gains. It is like a beautiful car without an engine. It is admirable, but it goes no where.
We also took time just to enjoy this experience. There was lots of ways to have fun. Our first good wine in months, excellent live music from salsa to jazz, the beauty of Habana with its mixture of radiant squares and ruined buildings, absolutely polished coffee places and unbearable odors. We found some intresting artists and their fantastic works, got to know real personalities who didn´t care a bit about social norms. We hang around Malecón were the cubans go to spend some time and fotographed the street signs which were full of propaganda. All in all it was like a step back in time. Yet after Honduras, Cuba felt quite developed.
We also had time to visit the country side. Viñales was our favorite place. We stayed at a hotel with marvelous views over the Valley. Manu was a little bit sicks those days, but with enough strength to enjoy a horseride. Pauliina loved it and got the spark to learn more. All of us were laughing all the time. But the best rider was Ossi, he tamed his horse that showed to be a little bit furious. There we could see peasants from the valley and we remembered the peasants from Honduras. They all share a certain innocence that we adore.
After Viñales we headed south and visited Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Sancti Spíritu. The trip was quite interesting as there are hardly any street signs and the cubans have a peculiar way of explaning. We got lost countless times, which wasn´t only a bad thing as in this way we saw quite interesting places. Anyway, we were not in a hurry. In Trinidad we went to the beach, danced salsa (and felt clumsy in front of incredible dancers) and enjoyed the handicrafts of the village. Trinidad is a colonial town and with its architecture and colours it gave a sensation of walking in a dream. Sancti Spíritu was a contrast to other overcrowded turistic Cuban spots. It was the most "real" place we visit. The afternoon there was very amusing, the people were very friendly and the three of us ended up in the roof of the family house we stayed looking at the stars, the fallen moon, with couple of beers. Of course the finnish stayed longer than the spaniard!
Last days in La Habana we relaxed. Last good meal, last good songs, Manu swimming with the Cubans in the Malecón, learning more about the revolution, tasting 7 year old rhum, finding out where Hemingway lived and wondering how the sea in front of La Habana inspired him, chatting and laughing with Ossi and then, back to Honduras, our now home.
