Cuba

Picture 064
Originally uploaded by qazwsxmko.
Additional pictures on her and my photo streams.

Anna is back safely in Seattle, and I'm here at my post over Lake Nicaragua. Everything almost as I left it. High humidity and persistent (even when it's sunny) rolls of thunder. The rains have made the roads bad again, and I'm down to half the normal number of transportation options. But I have a good feeling about my remaining just-under-three weeks here. There's a lot to take care of, but volunteer is coming Monday to help out, so we'll see what we can do.

How was the trip? It was very good, thanks. I got frustrated with myself on several occasions for making us spend too much money, or failing to plan enough to take better advantage of our time. And there was a hell of a lot of time spent in transit, some of it unnecessary. But that's how it goes, neh? I think I learned a thing or two about travelling.

And Cuba? I've been saying, a different world; unlike anywhere I've been. Propaganda everywhere, commerce so controlled, and repressed. No es fácil was the constant refrain, and it sure seemed to be the case. People wanted anything spare we could give them. Mostly, the people we talked to blamed Fidel Castro for their conditions, if they had the nerve to blame anyone. No one had much interest in talking about the future.

Some of the hilights of the trip: horseriding through the Miraflor reserve in northern Nicaragua, scrounged-up dinner on the front porch during a class 4 hurricane, excellent music, moped-ing along the coast near Baracoa, and living it up for a few days in San José, Costa Rica. Many thanks to Anna for her companionship, for revivifying my life down here.

Dennis

Just in case any of you were worried about our well-being out here, I can assure you that Anna and I survived the recent hurricane just fine. We had spaguetti, beer, cake, and tea on our front porch as rain, coconuts, and roofing material flew by. The center came pretty close to where we were, but it wasn't that dangerous. Some people died in the center of the country, but I think it had slowed down by the time it got to us.

Anyway, we're in Santiago de Cuba, after spending a week or so in and around La Habana. Cuba is certainly another world. There's all the apparent stuff, crumbling architecture in La Habana and classic cars, but I'm trying to get some idea of the politics: what people think of Castro and of the States, what everyday life is like, how people get by. "No es fácil" is the standard refrain.

Well, we just got off a 16-hour bus, so I think we're off to take it easy for a bit. I should check in once or twice more before we take off.

Estelí and Miraflor

After a few days on the island, Anna and I have made it to Estelí. Besides being cool, and one of my favorite places in the country, Estelí is the setting-off point to get to the Miraflor Reserve. It's a truly beautiful place, so green and cool, with streams everywhere, and moss clouding the trees. We spent a few days wandering around on foot and horseback, and staying at campesinos' houses.

Due to my having to learn a certain lesson twice about buying airplane tickets, we'll be flying out of San José CR on Sunday instead of Managua tomorrow. We also paid about $250 more than expected, my fault. We'll arrive back in San José the 22nd of July, and spend a few days in Costa Rica until Anna's flight home. I don't know how Internet access will be in the meanwhile, although there'll surely be some.

I forgot to bring my camera to this Internet Café, so what pìctures I've taken thus far will have to wait to be uploaded.