havana nights

emil says:
top 5 ways you know you are in cuba:
5. as you enter your air cubana flight, the plane steward says in a thick russian accent "this plane was made by russians for small chinese people"
4.  there are no exit row procedures, because no one can read russian
3.  you yell to cabbie that he is about to run over a dog and he yells "the dog will figure it out, its the people that haven't"
2.  money exchange office runs out of local currency (insert USD is 'for sale' joke here)
1.  everything 'works' in cuba. they fix everything. circa 1950s cars from around the world somehow continue to run, duct tape protruding from the engine bloc. mcguyver is alive and well in everyone. a doctor can fix the leaky roof. the dentist can fix potholes in his driveway. its impressive. a super resilient culture. no one has anything, but everyone has nothing, so they lack jealousy and envy.  its a happy and upbeat culture despite the oppression and economic malaise they have and continue to face.

the symbol of havana

the vintage cars are amazing

touring havana's oldest cemetary

hemmingway's hangout...where the original daquiri was created

a glimpse of havana vieja

laurel says:
any country with $2 mojitos, is a friend of mine.  by far the most unique place i have ever been.  in a sea of homogeny where everything has definitely started to look the same, cuba truly is an island.  no internet, no english newspapers, us cell phones and credit cards do not function...we truly were 
off the grid.  old havana is a gem...vibrant colors, stunning colonial architecture, and live music everywhere you turn.  but i would only recommend this destination for the truly adventurous.  the poverty is 
oppressive, but the spirit of the people and the authenticity of the culture prevail.