CUBA
Recently we went on a trip to Cuba and here's a picture of me looking very worried 'cause once more I was going to be dragged off to unknown territory and miss out on going to skool. Not that I minded that bit, but I was going to miss being with the family in the cupboard and I didn't have enough time to polish up my Spanish. However, I was really very excited 'cause I heard the place was full of old cars and lots of good looking people who liked to drink rum cocktails, so I kept my paws crossed in the hope that I hadn't been told a pack of lies.
Before we left Sydney, I went to the local souvenir shop and bought this bunch of koalas with the intention of making lots of pals as I gave them away. The koalas turned out to be a clinging lot and were always hanging off me. Maybe they thought I was a gum tree? They all looked the same so I named them all Kenny and crossed them off my list one by one as they were left behind.
We stopped off in Dubai on the way and I hung out in this trolley hoping to win a pile of buckaroos so I could bring back lots of presents for my mates. I also thought it would be good to have some extra cash as there were lots of refugees travelling in Europe and I could give them some pocket money as well as a koala.
Havana
By the time we arrived in Cuba, I was so exhausted as we had flown from Sydney to Amsterdam, where we spent one night, then on to Zurich and then to Havana. It was soooooo hot and humid and I just wanted to shave off all my fur. Here's a picture of me lying in the coolest spot in our casa particulare, which translates as a B & B. The baggage carousel in Havana had broken down and it took us three hours to retrieve our cases. I was beginning to think that we had arrived in hell, that is until I woke up the following day.
Our hosts Pedro and Yuya had a smashing house in Centro and our room was up a winding staircase which led up to this terrace. The next morning they had prepared a huge breakfast and we sat looking over to the Malecón where all the Cubans went walking at night in the cool breeze. The whole neighbourhood was falling down, but it was very interesting and there were lots of gas guzzlers in the street. As you can see in the next picture, the houses were painted lots of different colours and were really lovely. I kept looking up to make sure that a giant piece of plaster didn't fall off and land on my head.
We headed off along the Malecón to Habana Vieja in this taxi which is called a Coco. It was like travelling in a bubble on wheels. I was really excited as when people found out we were from Australia, they would yell out, "Skippy!" It turns out that many Cubans grew up watching the show on TV. How weird is that?
We stopped off at the Museo de la Revolution and visited the Hall of the Cretins where there were cartoon characters of Ronald Reagan and both the George Bush Presidents. The Cubans have a great sense of humour and here's a picture of one of the many plaques on display.
Apart from all the amazing architecture in Havana, there are so many amazing cars. This pink Cadillac was one of my favourites. Most of them are as old as MUM, but somehow they are much more preserved and sleek. Ouch! I just got a mighty clip around the ears. I wanted to hop in the back of this one and puff on a giant cigar, but MUM told me to act my age.
I found this picture of MUM doing exactly that!
I kept seeing images of this man painted on walls in Havana. DAD told me his name is Che Guevara and he was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary. He came from a wealthy family, but he was shocked at how many Cubans lived in poverty and set out to make things fair for everyone. What a man he was and he was smashing looking too! Unfortunately he was murdered by the CIA in 1967. I would have signed up and joined his band up in the mountains and not minded getting my paws grubby, as long as he shared his cigars with me. I noticed that his image is on t'shirts for sale at our local dollar shop in Sydney! I also learned about this man, Fidel Castro,who was Che's comrade. They fought the Revolution together and when we were in Cuba, everyone was celebrating Fidel's 89th birthday.
Another Havana identity is the author Ernest Hemmingway. He was famous for falling over in bars and here's a picture of me sitting at his favourite one in Havana, called Ambos Mundos. He wrote the famous classic, For Whom The Bell Tolls here and apparently the book was Che's bedtime reading when he was up in the mountains. I think that Hemmingway's favourite drink was probably rum, but as it was such a hot day, I was sipping Bucanero beers when MUM wasn't looking.
Wherever we go on our travels, we run across a memorial to the late Princess of Wales. Next time I run in to Prince Harry, I must ask him if he knows about this garden. I think not, somehow.
MATANZAS
After a few days, we decided to hit the road and hired this big Pontiac to make the road trip to Matanzas which is a lovely little town not that far from Havana. I felt like a mobster perched up in my seat waving at everyone as we whizzed past. The only problem was I kept slipping off the plastic sheeting that Luis had put over the seats to preserve them. I suggested MUM used the same material on her face, but she was not amused.
On the way to Matanzas, we stopped off for a few Bucaneros and listened to this great band playing at the pit stop. I thought they were the Buena Vista Social Club, but MUM said they were too young.
On the way to Matanzas, we stopped off for a few Bucaneros and listened to this great band playing at the pit stop. I thought they were the Buena Vista Social Club, but MUM said they were too young.
Santa Clara
Then we hailed this pink taxi to travel to Santa Clara. MUM sat in the back squashed between two good looking Cuban brothers who lived in Fort Lauderdale. They were on holiday visiting their childhood friends. MUM told them to imagine they were sitting next to a gorgeous nineteen year-old blonde. They both murmured, "we are trying". I could not stop laughing except I went really quiet when we nearly got side-swiped by a tourist bus that turned in front of us from the outside lane. My grubby fur went a shade whiter after that experience, so that saved me from having a bath and losing more fur off my ears.
Santa Clara was liberated from the Batista regime in December 1958. We hailed this horse and cart - driven by a really weird man in a cowboy hat - who took us to see the monuments to Che Comandante that were scattered all over the town. It was unbelievably hot and I felt sorry for the horse. I bought him a bottle of water, but I think he would have preferred a Bucanero.
Here is a picture of one of my favourite Che monuments. I wish I was the one being carried on his shoulder.
Here is a picture of one of my favourite Che monuments. I wish I was the one being carried on his shoulder.
trinidad
In the main square there was this huge cake which was made to celebrate Fidel's birthday. It was brightly coloured like the houses. Everyone was lining up to have a piece, but I decided not to as it had been sitting in the boiling sun for a while and may have given me a tummy-ache. I tried to get MUM to have a slab, but she wasn't in the mood for taking any risks either.
All the local restaurants were very popular. I am not sure where this alligator came from, but he was eager to get up the stairs out of the heat and enjoy a loooooong lunch. No-one seemed to take any notice of him and he was real slow, so maybe he had been trying to get up the stairs for some time.
This man was very friendly and he told us how he fought in the war in Angola.
He was 91 years old and kept asking DAD how old MUM was. Maybe he thought she was girlfriend material. I didn't notice if his eyesight was a bit wonky. He loved to puff away on big fat cigars and used to sit in a doorway and watch the world go by.
He was 91 years old and kept asking DAD how old MUM was. Maybe he thought she was girlfriend material. I didn't notice if his eyesight was a bit wonky. He loved to puff away on big fat cigars and used to sit in a doorway and watch the world go by.
I loved these two old buzzards. They had been shopping and I wasn't sure if the chicken was for dinner or just a pet. It was sitting happily on the man's hat and didn't seem to mind if they stopped and yakked to tourists who all wanted to take a photo and then gave them money. I think I should try the same technique. I should have kept that Gypsy's budgie that landed on my head in Siracuse last year.
It wasn't just the colourful buildings in Trinidad which caught my eye. These two beautiful local girls were walking along with their umbrella up even though there was no chance of rain. I thought they were so organised and wondered if they wore their sunglasses when it was raining in anticipation of the sun coming out.
They were on their way to the steps on Plaza Mayor to listen to music which was played there every afternoon. Once it got going, everyone would get up and dance. I took a sneaky photo of this painting in one of the souvenir shops and every time I look at it, I am reminded of all the cool people who live there.
They were on their way to the steps on Plaza Mayor to listen to music which was played there every afternoon. Once it got going, everyone would get up and dance. I took a sneaky photo of this painting in one of the souvenir shops and every time I look at it, I am reminded of all the cool people who live there.
cienfuegos
After Trinidad, we caught another bus to Cienfuegos, which is a beautiful city that is considered Cuba's Gallic heart. Well, that's what our guide book says! It has access to free wi-fi in the Parque José Martí. I mention this 'cause technology in Cuba is still pretty scarce and we realised why the park was always full of people sitting looking at their mobiles and not talking to one another. I know that happens on trains in Sydney, but this was different. Across the park is the fine Museo Provincial where I saw this painting of a young boy praying to a chicken cube. How weird is this?
Oh Happy Day! Today is August 15, 2015 - my 8th birthday - and we are heading off along the Paseo del Prado (the longest street of its kind in Cuba) to Punta Gorda to catch a boat trip which is going to sail around the Bahia de Cienfuegos. I am so excited as there is a cool breeze ruffling my fur and I am not being dragged around another goddam church or museum.
This is when all hell broke loose...
When the Captain on the boat heard it was my birthday, he slipped me a double shot Mojito. MUM thought I was slurping lime juice and ordered me another one. She was feeling guilty as she'd forgotten to buy me a present.
I was in seventh heaven as I was surrounded by blue water, blue skies and Salsa music. Not to mention some good lookers on board.
I was in seventh heaven as I was surrounded by blue water, blue skies and Salsa music. Not to mention some good lookers on board.
I borrowed MUM's camera to record the evening. Imagine her surprise when she discovered this photo of my new friends celebrating along with me. She was not amused, especially as there were many more which had to be deleted for fear of reprisals. This one is a bit blurry, but then so is my memory of the night.
I had a massive hangover. Here is a picture of me trying to piece together what actually happened. I blame MUM 'cause if she kept a closer eye on me I wouldn't get up to so much mischief. I am thinking of entering re-hab, like Amy Winehouse should have. But her song keeps going around my head saying,"no, no,no".
I lay real low for the rest of the journey back to Havana. Every time I listen to my Benny Moré album I feel really sick as it reminds me of Mojitos. However, MUM forgave me and bought me Conchita (pictured here), my belated birthday pressie. She is one helluva lady, but her constant smoking is driving us nuts as the cupboard now stinks of cigar smoke. Still, she reminds me of Cuba and I am just so happy I saw it before the plane loads of Yanquis arrive and try and change things. There are a number of koalas who are happily clipped on to horses's ears, bottles of rum and being used as earrings. One got away, but that's another story...