One can’t help but turn into a junior political science nerd while in Cuba. I’ll skip the analysis on the pros and cons of their particular flavour of socialism. However, it was interesting to see the various ways it impacted or complicated my Cuban week. I’m not entirely certain that I ever understood how things work in Cuba, or how much of what I was told was accurate. All I really knew for certain was that Cuba was not quite like other places, but it was still great.

Throughout Cuba there is an evident police and military presence. From the extensive customs process at the airport to the young national service police hanging out in Havana parks you were always within a stones throw of some authority or another. Consequently, it felt like the safest place I’ve ever been. Which was great as long as I was obeying the law. Even driving through the remote country side there were frequent roadside police checkpoints. A local told me that 60% of Cubans were either police, military, or informants, but I don’t know how accurate that statement is. I even learned that hospitality industry workers can’t be too friendly with visitors or they’ll invariably be reported for having suspicious relations with foreigners. It’s all a bit weird and clandestine, but it shouldn’t really be a factor for most visitors.

There was a distinct similarity in most Cuban menus. Unless you were somewhere terribly fancy you would have the same dining choices everywhere you went. It was quickly clear that the average menu was made up of variations on a base set of ingredients. Ham sandwich, egg sandwich, cheese sandwich, ham and cheese sandwich, egg and cheese sandwich, and so on. You get the idea.

Everywhere was clean, orderly, and pleasant. Part of my impression here might be because I was living in Haiti when I took my trip to Cuba, and nearly nothing in Haiti is clean, orderly or pleasant. Havana especially was a beautiful city with plenty of parks, great architecture and lots of public spaces. The entire country was really pretty though. I also noticed that everywhere in Cuba there were always people out and about. Much more than any place I’ve ever seen, there were hordes of pedestrians and bicyclists around. Maybe some positive cultural side effect from not having good TV channels?

The only complaint I can think of about Cuba is the absurd currency system. Cuba has two currencies, which is obviously one too many. I won’t even try to explain the system here because I don’t think any human understands all the specifics of which money can be spent on what and by whom. Unless you’re a masochist, just buy the tourist currency and forget that anything else exists. It’s only once you try and game the system that you realize how weird it is. Which I of course did right away and consequently got to spend the rest of my time trying to figure out exactly how it all worked.

Cuba was definitely a fascinating and beautiful place to check out. The people are super nice, and it was easily one of the most unique experiences I’ve had in the Caribbean or Central America. Here’s more pictures than you really want to see from my trip. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you.

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//shawn

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Cuba Is So Very Cuban is a post from: Rerunaround

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// shawn

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Random Léogâne, Haiti Photos is a post from: Rerunaround

If I had to describe Haiti in one sentence; it’s just like some mad snow globe maker took equal parts people, cement, and mosquitoes, put it all in the oven, then shook the hell out of it. The devastation here is really amazing. Everywhere I look there are collapsed buildings and houses. There are shacks sitting in the streets made of out everything possible. Wherever there used to be a courtyard or field there’s now hundreds and hundreds of people trying to live in tents and under tarps. In this heat the middle of those packed solid tent cities must be pure hell. The streets are packed all day with people looking for work or running kids. I can’t imagine how they have the energy to run in this heat, but it’s really nice to see them having a good time. Despite all the suffering, the Haitians I have met so far have been quite nice. I suppose it says a lot about these people that they can be subjected to such catastrophe and still keep going.

The group I’m working with here is Hands On Disaster Response. We have a cool little base here in Léogâne built out of an old disco. We have  a lot of projects on the go all the time, but the one I started on was building some outdoor showers at a local hospital/clinic. Other projects are things like clearing rubble, transporting and organizing relief supplies, building fences and buildings, and so on. The projects change all the time, so the variety is fantastic. It seems like there are about three dozen folks here and everyone has been really nice. I suppose jerks aren’t drawn to travel really far to horrible conditions in order to volunteer.

So far I’m really happy with HODR and the projects here. I could do with a little less heat, humidity and mosquitoes, but such is life. Anyways, I’ll work on getting some good pictures soon — I feel bad taking pictures of people because it feels like the rest of the world just likes to gawk at the suffering. You know, like those jerks who slow down to stare at car crashes. If there’s anything you would like to know about Haiti, HODR, Heat, Humidity, Helicopters (you get to see some awesome UN and various military helicopters here), just holler.

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// shawn

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- First Impressions Of Volunteering In Haiti is a post from: Rerunaround

It’s so warm and sunny today that the closest thing to snow here is the layer of cherry blossoms lining the sidewalks. I had taken completely for granted that I was walking around clean, safe downtown streets. Passing great architecture, interesting shops, and several tempting little cafes. I got to further considering the amazing amount of activities in this region and all the great spots to see. Just in this small, yet beautiful, corner of the world there’s more things I want to do than I can comfortably list.

To illustrate my original point a little bit, here’s what Victoria looks like from that random spot where I paused to let the photographer get his shot. Taking this hasty photo gave me something to do while I waited. It’s by no means the most picturesque spot in town. In fact, it’s a bit average. Which is what I find really exceptional.

No, I’m not canceling my future trips to instead stay here and partake in the myriad local experiences. I am however clear in my mind that as I continue to travel around, I’m not looking for something better, but am instead simply looking around.

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// shawn

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Is The Grass Greener? is a post from: Rerunaround

I’ll take this claim one step further and officially predict that Newfoundland is going to become an increasingly popular global tourism destination over the next few years. You might as well start talking about it now so your water cooler buddies think you’re cutting edge. You’ll agree with me in the next three minutes, just you watch.

Ok, start your three minutes now, and hit play.

We regularly get a series of ads like this on TV here in Canada. I promise you they look so much better than these low quality youtube videos, but they’re all I can find online. Are those not some stunning places though? The amazing shoreline cliffs and wind blasted vistas absolutely make me want to go visit. Standing in those places, amongst such powerful surroundings must be quite literally, awesome.

Plus, how can you not appreciate a place that uses, “For the traveller, not the tourist” in their tourism ad?

There are several other videos in this series also if you’re curious to see more. Here are just a few. I recommend each and every one of them. Eric Harry composed the music in the videos, and it happens to be his youtube channel that has the best posting of the videos that I can find. So that’s why they start with, “the music I wrote for…” in the title.

This next one is especially nice at capturing that Newfie attitude.

Ok one last one about the vikings. It’s cute too because you can see Candice* as a wee lass.

Well, what did you think? Was I right? Are you going? Writing it down on your little list now? I totally told you so.

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// shawn

* Yes, I’m lying, that isn’t actually Candice. You wouldn’t have known any better if I hadn’t confessed though!

ps: Whoever is responsible for not having these videos available online in HD should seriously be fed to the puffins.

pps: I need to hurry up and leave for Asia. I just posted about a place I bloody well want to go to. That’s not even a real thing posting wish list places like that. 3 weeks until I leave … hang in there.

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Newfoundland, It’s For The Travellers, Not The Tourists is a post from: Rerunaround