The moment I saw the words “blog your way to Cuba” enter my inbox, I was instantly captivated. For weeks since returning from my South American adventures, I’ve pondered how best I might explore the creative spark that had been reignited with my travel blog, which without the travel, seemed to be missing a natural outlet. I mean, I could blog about my spreadsheets and the eggs I had for breakfast, but I fear that might create a revolt from even my most loyal readers. I’ve also always said I wanted to return to Cuba one day – in fact, I’d been talking about it just days earlier. The combination seemed serendipitous, yet having read the finer details, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I did initially worry whether blatantly using my blog as a competition entry would be somehow feel like I was selling out. Then the words of a wise friend came to the fore: “We all sell out” he said, “Just make sure your price is high enough!” And who am I kidding – a return trip for 2 people for 3 weeks to Cuba with what I already know to be a sensational tour company (I think grovelling is permitted in the Ts&Cs), is definitely a high enough price! So without further ado, the 10 reasons I should go to Cuba:
I owe Roger a salsa dance. On my last trip to Cuba, I was blessed with an incredible guide. He was super intelligent, passionate, good humoured and, like most Cubans, a great dancer. Due to bizarre circumstances – like an entire aircraft being incorrectly informed of the local time in Cuba, and curious intense bouts of illness affecting other tour mates, both the first and last “group dinners” were just Roger and I. Arriving at one of clubs after dinner, the dance-floor was bursting with what looked like a video clip full of professional dancers. My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. To say I was intimidated by the talent and rhythm would be an understatement. It was clear I was going to be way out of my league anywhere on that dance-floor, but Roger gallantly offered (more than once) to teach me. But alas, for all my adventurous spirit that had brought me there, I was too shy to take up the invitation. Too afraid of looking ridiculous… of falling over, of stepping on toes, of heaven forbid, being out of time. I’ve since overcome all of that. I’ve salsa’d badly through the classrooms of my Spanish school in Ecuador, Samba’d the streets of Brazil, and weaved some Tango amongst raucous laughter in Buenos Aires. I’ll still be the worst dancer on that floor, but damn I’ll have fun whilst I’m at it.
Roger fueling up for the dance floor
I want to talk to the kids. On my first visit, I had only 10 hours of Spanish lessons under my belt. Enough to exchange pleasantries, have a vague idea of what was on menus, and know how to count, but not much else. Since then, I’ve studied at night school in Sydney once a week for 18 months, done a week of intensive private tuition in Cuenca, and survived 4 months in South America. I still can’t keep up nearly enough to chime in on the fast paced conversations of fluent adults, but I’d say I probably now at least have the language skills of a 5 year old. And what a perfect age group to chat to in a country that has changed so much and will change so much in their lifetimes. What do they love? What do they dream about? If they could have one thing, what would it be? Of course this would all be worded far simpler in Spanish… because my Spanish is simple… but I am excited to find out the answers from the Cubans of tomorrow and to share them.
Kids will be kids
Take me out to the ball game…take me out with the crowd. Baseball in Cuba is almost as legendary as the cigars. Banned after the first war of independence against the Spanish, many say that the defiant resurgence of the sport lead to it gaining an even deeper significance, and becoming almost symbolic of freedom itself. Unfortunately my experience of baseball in Cuba was limited to watching a very drawn out game on a little old tele in Baracoa – ironically cheering on a team named Granma as I rocked back and forth in my rocking chair…like a grandma. Even the father of the house fell asleep, but I diligently remained awake and alert… waiting for the good bit. I feel certain there is so much more to it than this. I want to experience the passion, the crowd, the freedom, the Cuban substitute for hotdawgs… clearly I need to go back to Cuba to see the real baseball.
How will the Cuban game match up to this SF Giants thriller? Will the winning run be caught by a lady jumping out of a boat in the ocean? Will I pour mustard all over myself again? Time will tell..
www.cubahaschanged.com So apparently Cuba has the internet now. Or more accurately, it seems more Cubans have access to the internet now than ever before. I think they’re still without the luxuries of a mobile data network (thus relegating smart phones to glorified camera status), but from what I’ve been reading on some blogs, blogs written by Cubans from Cuba, things are really opening up. And what a fascinating development to go and discover, analyse, and post on the internet about. The internet is a phenomenon that has arguably changed our world more profoundly than anything in the last 100 years. But change has happened so rapidly and each development has melded so seamlessly into the next, that rarely do we have the chance to stop and reflect on it all. A trip to Cuba presents such an incredible opportunity to hit rewind and pause for a little while. To really have a good look at what has changed between my visits, what the impacts of that change have been, and ponder where it will go from here.
Sometimes it’s nice to not keep up with the pace…
Did someone say diving!? I’ve been to many of what are considered the world’s best dive sights. And snorkled. From the Great Barrier Reef in my backyard, to the stunning archipelago of Fernando de Noronha Brazil, to the wildlife frenzy that is the Galapagos, I’ve repeatedly thought: one day I’ll learn to dive. That day is finally coming. I’m learning to dive this summer, and it really would be a super treat to be able to return to one of the countries I’ve wished I could dive, and actually dive there!
The snorkle action was pretty awesome… but the time has come to go a little deeper!
The book. I have this little green book full of thoughts, observations, ideas and learnings from my last trip to Cuba. Sitting next to Roger on the flight back from Baracoa he was nudging me incessantly: “Why are you writing so much? What are you writing about?” he begged. Back then I was writing for myself. Mesmorised by what was such a different country to explore, by what felt like the most incredible time travel experience since Doc Emmet Brown’s Delorean, I was determined to capture it then and there. To not ever forget what it was like. I had this sense, more so than in any other country I’ve visited, that what I was seeing was temporary, that before too much longer it was going to change markedly. It’s the only travel diary I’ve ever successfully maintained from the first to the last day of a trip (usually despite best intentions they cease about a third of the way in), so there must be something in that. Returning to Cuba and blogging about it, truly feels like the perfect excuse to re-open the old notes, and finally share them.
An untold story
I studied economics and finance. (Forgive me, but) I work in Banking. I got my first proper paid job (delivering advertising material) at 8. It doesn’t get much more capitalist than that. And yet, in August I went to a week-long festival in the desert where there was officially no currency, and I fell in love with it. I love testing the realms of what works and what doesn’t in any system. How people behave differently when you change the rules of the game. I think Cuba is on the precipice of the some fascinating changes in how their economy, and indeed their society, actually works. More and more businesses are being privatised, yet certain aspects of the socialist regime remain – perhaps most visible (and controversial) being the ration system. Can you really have “free enterprise” when you have such rigid controls on the supply inputs? Is there a happy medium that can be achieved, or does it need to be all or nothing? I would relish the opportunity to return to Cuba to further explore these ideas.
A different world
I want to make this interactive – In the spirit of this being an adventure that I’ll blog about on behalf of Cuban adventures, should I win the prize, I’d like to open it up to anyone who has participated in the voting to nominate a particular challenge/activity/social experiment that they’d like me to undertake whilst I’m there. It’ll then be put to popular vote to determine the best suggestion – and provided it’s even remotely feasible (i.e. not something the Castro’s are going to lock me up for), I will commit to doing it and blogging about it. So if you can’t make it to Cuba just yet, but there’s something you’re dying to know about or experience vicariously, this would be your chance…
Stilts on cobblestones… no small challenge!
I get to choose a blogging partner! What a simultaneously amazing honour and gut-wrenching decision that will be. So many of my adventures I’ve gone on alone because friends couldn’t afford to join me. And yet a partner in crime can truly enrich an experience and bring out the best. I’m beyond excited to be able to grant one of my incredible friends the chance to join this adventure at no cost to them. And I can guarantee blog readers will enjoy this choice too.
Wanted: Someone to put in the window…
I love a good video diary. I mean who doesn’t? If I win, there’ll be some (hopefully hilarious) video content on here too.
Vox pop in these streets anyone?
So that’s it. Just 10 of a myriad of reasons why I’d love to return to Cuba next year…. So don’t try to hold me back. There aint nothing you can say. Snake eyes on a pair of dice, And we got to go today!
Musings of a Suerte Aussie Chica 