Pictures and Videos from my Cuba trip...

[MaDalton]

As promised here are pictures from my Cuba trip this month, i will also put some videos on Youtube in a bit...


Some first impressions of Havana and the area where we stayed - actually one of the poorest parts of the city

















more to come...

[MaDalton]

I do not recommend sleepwalking in case you live in that place without walls..

[Spunky]

Looks pretty rough down there,I thought it was supposed to be much nicer than that.Don't think I would venture out at night

[pornguy]

Originally Posted by Spunky

Looks pretty rough down there,I thought it was supposed to be much nicer than that.Don't think I would venture out at night

Thats a misconception. it is 100% safe at night.

No one messes with tourists.

I have been there 7 times and spent on average of 1.5 weeks each time. My mother in law has a house in Miramar. I have seen 1 instance of a crime and the guy ran from the cops. that was it.

I was in Miami the other day a city basically the same size as Havana and all you hear and see is the cops stopping and chasing people etc.

[JFK]

Coomunism @ work .........

[Manfap]

So what did you think of it, most of my family have been and said the people are lovely but there's not much food about.

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Spunky

Looks pretty rough down there,I thought it was supposed to be much nicer than that.Don't think I would venture out at night

we have seen people literally in shock after they saw us - they had never seen tourists in that area before

but we didn't have any problems at all...







had lunch here...



they brew their own beer - quite tasty





I don't know what's up with the catholic church and the little naked boys - but it really didn't need a statue for it...

[brassmonkey]

Originally Posted by pornguy

Thats a misconception. it is 100% safe at night.

No one messes with tourists.

I have been there 7 times and spent on average of 1.5 weeks each time. My mother in law has a house in Miramar. I have seen 1 instance of a crime and the guy ran from the cops. that was it.

I was in Miami the other day a city basically the same size as Havana and all you hear and see is the cops stopping and chasing people etc.

they need to train the kids in masonry looks like shit

[Sid70]

Ukraine!!!!!

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Manfap

So what did you think of it, most of my family have been and said the people are lovely but there's not much food about.

going to Cuba for the local cuisine is pretty useless, yeah

it's all very basic and the regular people still live on rationed food

here's my menue from a restaurant in that area we stayed:

2 Cristal Beer - $1 each



Shrimp Cocktail - $2.50



Cordon Bleu with rice and fried banana - $3.50



makes $8 in total plus tip...

The restaurant didnt look bad on the inside



but a little rough on the outside

[8pt-buck]

Originally Posted by Spunky

Looks pretty rough down there,I thought it was supposed to be much nicer than that.Don't think I would venture out at night

I concur. Cuba certainly would not be my first choice.

[yuu.design]

nice pics dude! congrats!

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by 8pt-buck

I concur. Cuba certainly would not be my first choice.

well, it's most certainly not a place with 5 star luxury resorts and people that love to show their bling...

[ilnjscb]

Wow - certainly an eye opener for us US folk.

[MaDalton]

Driving through Havana - Part 1

[MaDalton]

[Screwed Up]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

well, it's most certainly not a place with 5 star luxury resorts and people that love to show their bling...

Sarcasm, right?


Nice pics, looks like it hasn't changed much.

Now post the babe pics.

[HardTaffy]

pretty sweet price for those dishes

[MaDalton]

[Robbie]

LOVE those cars!

It looks like a lot of fun there, and probably cheap as hell too.

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Robbie

LOVE those cars!

It looks like a lot of fun there, and probably cheap as hell too.

cheap from a western tourist point of view - yes

i would not want to be a Cuban with an average income of $19 USD per month though...

and the cars: they look cool but 99% are in a horrible condition, have their V8 replaced with some japanese or russian diesel engine and driving with them is hell.

one time we thought we're going to die from carbon monoxide poisoning cause the exhaust kind of went directly into the passenger compartment

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

and the cars: they look cool but 99% are in a horrible condition, have their V8 replaced with some japanese or russian diesel engine and driving with them is hell.

one time we thought we're going to die from carbon monoxide poisoning cause the exhaust kind of went directly into the passenger compartment

Yeah, with the U.S. boycotting them for 50 years I guess they can't get replacement parts for those cars.

But it sure would be cool to go down there and buy a couple of those 1950's cars and fix them back up with real Chevy and Ford parts.

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Robbie

Yeah, with the U.S. boycotting them for 50 years I guess they can't get replacement parts for those cars.

But it sure would be cool to go down there and buy a couple of those 1950's cars and fix them back up with real Chevy and Ford parts.

there's one little flaw in that plan: those cars are worth about 30,000 CUC (which is 1:1 with the USD) to Cuban people - which is way more than they are worth in he US (at least in the condition they are)

but Cuban people can do private businesses now and we thought it could be a good biz to have someone in the US buy the parts, drive them over to Mexico and then ship to Cuba and sell them there to the local mechanics.

what costs $200 in the US you could sell for $400-$500 easily there

[baddog]

Cool cars

[L-Pink]

With the retro architecture and old cars your father could have taken the photos.

I'v always wanted to live there, I love the architecture on some of the old buildings. Most are probably in worthless shape by now though …..

[JayAllan]

Looks great! Thanks for sharing. I have always wanted to visit there. I am a big cigar smoker so when I do go I will have to go see some of the plantations and check out at the Grand Havana Hotel

[AsianDivaGirlsWebDude]

Originally Posted by Screwed Up

Nice pics, looks like it hasn't changed much.

Now post the babe pics.

Interesting pix. More observations about the people and life from your Gringo perspective, por favor...



ADG

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by L-Pink

With the retro architecture and old cars your father could have taken the photos.

I'v always wanted to live there, I love the architecture on some of the old buildings. Most are probably in worthless shape by now though ?..

trust me - you don't want to live there

unless you are willing to give up on almost every comfort we western people are used to

their family spirit and hospitality are hard to beat though

[Forest]

no chica pics? What kind of a pornographer are you????





Ive dated a few Cubans here in S. Fla. Spicy for sure!

[MaDalton]

this gets my recommendation btw...



price over here: 65 USD

price in Cuba: 39 USD

[96ukssob]

nice pics!

just curious, why do they seem to all drive cars from the 50's? was there some kind of time warp between the US and Cuba through the Bermuda triangle?

[MaDalton]

Every night at 9 pm they do a cannon ceremony at the old fortress La Cabana



http://www.umbrellatravel.com/cubablog/?p=837

it becomes interesting around 7 mins.

and the video hardly reflects how loud the cannon is in reality

[Just Alex]

Are beaches any good in Cuba? Clean and sandy?

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by bossku69

nice pics!

just curious, why do they seem to all drive cars from the 50's? was there some kind of time warp between the US and Cuba through the Bermuda triangle?

seriously?

Originally Posted by Just Alex

Are beaches any good in Cuba? Clean and sandy?

beaches are great

[Paul&John]

nice pics, but doesn't looks like a place I would like to visit

but that beach looks nice

[GetSCORECash]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

I don't know what's up with the catholic church and the little naked boys - but it really didn't need a statue for it...

That little boy is an Indian, who was being educated/converted to Catholicism.

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

what languages to you speak?

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by GetSCORECash

That little boy is an Indian, who was being educated/converted to Catholicism.

yeah - i thought it looked a little amusing though

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by Grapesoda

what languages to you speak?

fluent?

german and english - why?

[facialfreak]

I love Cuba!

I find most Americans still hold a Cold War perception of Cuba that predates most of the cars on the streets down there!!

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

well, it's most certainly not a place with 5 star luxury resorts and people that love to show their bling...

Plenty of 5 star esorts in Cuba ( Santa Maria, Santa Lucia, Guillermo, etc ... ) ... as well as 5 stars hotel in Havana ...

Let's just suppose that to describe the USA, I select a shit neighborhood in ... Detroit ???

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

Plenty of 5 star esorts in Cuba ( Santa Maria, Santa Lucia, Guillermo, etc ... ) ... as well as 5 stars hotel in Havana ...

Let's just suppose that to describe the USA, I select a shit neighborhood in ... Detroit ???

what are you trying to say - that Cuba is actually modern and luxurious and i just went to the wrong places?

[Phoenix]

cuba is safer then mexico...id go there for a vacation
nice pics man

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

what are you trying to say - that Cuba is actually modern and luxurious and i just went to the wrong places?

Just what I said ( I normally don't try .. but just spit it out ) : there are 5 stars resorts ...
I have been to them ( like Las Dunas in Santa Maria ) and am in the process of booking a 5 star resort for November 20th ( September 20th is Cancun - 5 stars as well ).

check as an example:
http://voyagesarabais.com/index.php#...rport=YUL&ages[0]=61&ages[1]=&ages[2]=&ages[3]=&ages[4]=&ages[5]=&departure_date_flexible=Y&flexlow=2&flexhigh=2&d eparture_date=2013-09-06&travel_days=7day%2C8day&destination_codes=&hote l_code=&occupancy=D&stars_min=5&price_max=

[dillfly2000]

Makes me want to watch "Captain Ron"

[directfiesta]

http://www.vacancestmr.com/fr/hotel.php?soft_sid=56e234773889cbd3a8bd4778384da60 1&language=fr&hotel_id=VRAPAR&StarRating=5&selecte d_hotel=10

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

Just what I said ( I normally don't try .. but just spit it out ) : there are 5 stars resorts ...
I have been to them ( like Las Dunas in Santa Maria ) and am in the process of booking a 5 star resort for November 20th ( September 20th is Cancun - 5 stars as well ).

i am sure that there are also nice hotels - like the Hotel Nacional in Havana - and if you don't leave them during your stay you might be able to successfully ignore the reality out there.

don't take your wife for shopping at the biggest "shopping center" of Varadero for example though











but they had a lot of shoes

[ErectMedia]

After the first few pics was gonna say sure you didn't go to Detroit
Cool pics, I like seeing anywhere I haven't been and dig the cars even if not mechanically sound.

[directfiesta]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

i am sure that there are also nice hotels - like the Hotel Nacional in Havana - and if you don't leave them during your stay you might be able to successfully ignore the reality out there.

don't take your wife for shopping at the biggest "shopping center" of Varadero for example though











but they had a lot of shoes

Sure, the country is poor and the population has a hard access to merchandise, which is why the prefer gifts to money.

If I have time tomorrow, I will post oictures of luxury hotels beach & resorts as well as cities like Santa Clara ( where the CHE bambushed the National soldiers train ) , as well as other cities more in the center of the island ...

[xNetworx]

Looks like Mexico