Worst sleep of my life. This pain is annoying and uncomfortable. Instead of going to the beach, the girls opted to go to the Malecon again. They worked out, got a tan, while I woke up at 10am again. We had a full day planned of actually hitting all the touristy stops. So far, our escaped have been pretty much living like the locals do, soaking in their culture, speaking to the people, giving back to the people. Today we will walk.
Tanya was our tour guide, and led the way to to all the infamous spots like El Museo de la Revolución, El Museo de Bellas Artes. I was excited when I got to visit el Mucseo de () Which is the museum of Santeria. Im very careful with messing with all those energies, I don’t want evil spirits headed my way, but I´ve always been very intrigued and curious about the culture. I like reading about all the gods, what their purpose was and is, an even learning about their practices. Two of the gods that stood out to me the most was probably Ochun and Ochumbe. Ochun over looks on people, taking care of them, she’s also the goddess you pray to when in need of fertility. Ochumbe I have never heard off until today. I found interesting that she lives 6 months female and then 6 months male. I have to do some reading on these, but how cool is that? I´ll admit, I was a little nervous to go in. I didn’t want to disrespect any part of the exhibit, so I made sure to throw my shawl on, remove my sunglasses, and I kept my hands in pockets at all times. I was definitely more into it than the others.
The museum of bellas artes, is a fine arts museum. If you had to compare it to any other in NYC it would probably be the MOMA. There were two museums, one universal and solely with cuban artists. We decided to visit the exhibit with only cuban artists. I mean, that’s why we´re here right? We told our selves we would only stay for 30 minutes, we had a tight schedule today, but an hour later we were still roaming the installations picking out favorites. I wish we could have taken pictures though. (Shrugs shoulders)
We walked through a sketchy neighborhood and found the old trains we were looking for. They were right in the middle of the street, in a small triangle park. They were pretty gorgeous. I thought I was going to bump into a red bird, the ones I was used to when I was little girl on the 2 and 5 line in the Bronx, but I was wrong. These trains were from like 1920 and huge! 
Coco Chanel recently had a fashion shoes in 2016, the first one Cub has had in many years. Tanya ended up doing a little catwalk in the park where it was held. One of the cops was enjoying her little spin and smirked when she passed by.
We’ve been walking since 11am, we’re finally taken at break at about 5pm. I was starving and we haven’t eaten yet. I ordered a fish with white rice. I’ve been ordering a lot of seafood this trip, super proud of myself. Tanya was leading us to the Malecon. According to her it was only a 15 minute walk. We were suffering for an extra hour. We finally got to where we wanted to go, and I have to say it was worth it.
El Hotel Nacional was stunning. T was so eager to be there. Fred Astaire, Carmen Miranda, Lucky Luchiano and many mobsters, have had meetings in this hotel and the infamous shoot out(look up story here) we ordered some cigars and puffed in the garden.
I find it funny, about 5 years I had made a bucket list, smoke a cuban cigar in cuba was actually on my list… scratch that off! I find myself scratching off many things in my bucket list lately, maybe I should re-share that with you guys. I know I did a long time ago.
We tried to find a cab and it seems that whenever we don’t need one, they’re everywhere. The taxi cab drivers harassing us to get inside. Now that we need one, its obsolete. The roads seems to be closed due to a salsa festival that’s going on. We find a cab and as soon as we get home we rush and get ready. It’s our last night in Cuba, it’s time to have dinner and celebrate. We meet up with the rest of Olivias family and there’s a guy giving a performance. He has a nice set of pipes on him, and is absolutely hilarious. His little dance kills me. His friend joins him on the mic and they give us a show I wont forget.
I order two Cuba Libres and tell the waiter to send the drinks over to them on my behalf. One of the singers thanks me. When I go off to the bathroom with the girls, because you know.. we can never go alone. We´re taking pictures while we wait on the line. The kitchen is right next to us, and one of the cooks is over looking through a window, smiling at us. He jokingly asks to take a picture as well, and me being as crazy as I am say yes. 
It’s completely harmless, why not… Tanya starts cracking up because it looks like a couple picture. When I look at it, she’s not wrong…ugh. I´m so not ready to be looking like a couple with anybody. I go use the bathroom and I hear her telling someone in her broken ass Spanish … numero, para amiga americana? Oh heeeeell fucking no. I know she’s not pimping me out right now. I don’t even know where to put my face right now, I’m still hiding in the bathroom. According to her she’s looking out for my woman needs. I’m not ready… I know I’m not ready.
The girls wake up early again, and I hear them working out on the roof. We have this beautiful little terrace we haven’t put to use yet. I guess I should say I haven put to use yet. I know I should be working out with them, but this is my vacation, and if I don’t have to work, I´m sleeping in late. I was up by 10am… that was my late wake up -___-
Olivia´s main purpose for this trip was to go to the tobacco fields and the rum factory. Since we couldn’t arrange a trip to Vinales, yet another city, we found an alternative. Alexis, our cab driver, stopped by a hotel so we can buy day passes at a hotel, since we wouldn’t be able to buy tickets at the spot we were headed to. 
Our tour guide was a super sassy and a beautiful cuban dressed in khaki, she puffed on a cigar while she spoke and gave us the run down of how cigars are made. When we arrived on the second floor, you could see their office spaces. Tables after tables, after tables. Workers, all busy making their section of their cigar. The workers were amused by the tourist as well, and kept looking at us, some of the guys were pretty damn cute, and they kept smiling at us, flirting. 
Cubans are hustlers man. When we walked outside, there were so many factory workers who were off duty, who chilling in front of the factory, asking tourists if they wanted to buy boxes of their cigars instead of getting it at the gift shop. I personally wanted my box sealed for travel, so I opted out of that option. I decided to get 3 bottles of rum as well, one for my boss, one for my dad, and the other for my aunt. I purchased some cigars, but I didn’t get anything too crazy. 
I already ran out of money and had to change some more American cash at the hotel. The bell hop who was helping me kept saying I was beautiful and he wouldn’t be against finding someone like me to marry his 25 year old son. I knew it was for papers, I said thank you and walked away. 
We roamed a lot.. the bottom of my dress was ruined and it didn’t bother me that much. The streets are filthy and my toes were worse. We walked aimlessly into Chinatown and entered a Chinese restaurant. I ordered a dish filled with fish and lobster. It was sooo good, the amount was a little too generous compared to the small portions I’ve been getting used to.
We walked some more, and i switch lenses so I can get some detailed shots of the people and the architecture. Even though some things were old and dusty, everything, absolutely everything had some kind of history to it. Tonight we were supposed to have dinner at La Floridita, but we walked in right now instead. The place was packed, this is definitely a tourist spot, we could barely move. When Krys and Julian found a table, the Chilean couple next to me gladly let me have their spare chair. I loved the live band that was playing. I wish there was enough space to dance. 
While walking towards our casa particular, we bumped into a few kids playing soccer in the street. Oli started with them, and because i had a few toys in my bag I started to give them away. I didn’t have much, but they were all shoving and trying to get their own. When we got to our casa, we grabbed the rest of the toys we had, and Olivia had a bunch. We walked three blocks up to where we saw them, and when they saw us they ran to us. They were so excited, and trying to grab everything they possibly could, Olivia gave away, coloring books, markers, crayons, nerf footballs, toy cars, paddle balls and candies. These boys were not about sharing. A little old abuela came walking towards us with a baby girl in hand and another little girl in hand. She asked if we had anything took give her for the girls. We all felt so bad, we’ve already given everything away. Krys wanted to stop by a candy store, and see if she could buy a whole bunch of candies for them, but there wasn’t one close. 
We went to hang out by The Malecon. While they all disputed what their plans were for the next day, I was busy playing with my camera making light trails with the fort-castle in the background. They wanted to go to the beach in the morning and I was perfectly fine staying in by myself. They all kept making plans and I just followed along with them, which is fine for the most part, but I know the next vacation I take will be a solo one. I wont have to please anyone but myself. I can roam the street I want to, plan my day the way I want to, eat where I want to, wake up and go to sleep when I want to. The girls stayed walking el malecon, enjoying the night. 
. I went home, took a wonderful shower and washed the pollution out of my hair. I stayed in a towel and just chilled in the balcony, with my wet hair, feet up, with a wonderful view, a great breeze, the quiet, all while drawing a commission piece for a client. About an hour later they came by, I threw the keys down for them and stayed up a little with them. I was having horrible back pains, sharp pains that would startle me ever time I turned.
Today is my sister’s birthday, I won’t be able to celebrate with her but I made sure to send her a message right before I boarded the plane. Today is also our last day in Matanzas. We have a late check out, so the girls went out for a run, while I enjoy the house to myself, the quiet and the need to not rush.Mitchell knocks on our door, he’s here and ready to drive us to Old Habana. He picks up my suitcase and throws it in the car. Instead of paying attention to the scenery, I start watching the episodes of The Office I downloaded before I arrived. Cuba is great, yet I’m already thinking of the next trip I want to have, by myself.
We arrive at our third casa particular. We’re right in the center of Old Havana, our place is a railroad apartment with dim lighting. I’m pretty tired.
Today we will be attempting to go to the Fabrica de Arte, once again. We tried to go before and it was closed, so we ended up going to La Casa de Música instead. Tonight we didn’t have the best of luck either. We met Rodney, another taxi driver who did his best to take us to a dancing spot but that didn’t work out. We ended up paying for a cab to take us there, and bring us right back. Wack. We stopped by a bar really close to our house and I ordered the infamous drink Cuba Libre. It was named after the slogan of the revolution since Fidel Castro used to drink it all the time. It´s basically a rum and coke with lime, Tanya had 2 mojitos, and Oli ordered herself a pina colada. 
We talked for a few hours, and like always I´m the first one who’s ready to call it a night. I´m getting so old man. We pass by the restaurant we were at earlier and the waiter, Jean Carlos asks us if we wanted to go to a bar and continue the night. We were really thinking about it, but changed our minds at last minute. Now, were currently upstairs, and the girls are still talking… I don’t know how they do it. How can you have so much to say? We planned our day for tomorrow and I´m ready to call it quits. I stayed up a bit to write and draw, until tomorrow. Night ya’ll.
I finally got to sleep in a bit today. The girls are already roaming around the house getting ready. They’ve planned a whole day I wasn’t even a part of. It’s alright… I ask what the plans are and we have a lot of walking to do today. I wasn’t too happy about that at first. I kept thinking about how I lost my camera and the memory card that was along there with it. It didn’t help that I couldn’t find my sunglasses either. My prescription sunglasses, the ones I wouldn’t be able to see without. I was cranky.
We found a park, and noticed everyone on their phones. Our host offered us a wifi card and we finally got to put it to use. Tanya finally had a chance to reach out to their boo, 4 days later, to let him know she was okay. Olivia messaged her mother, and when it was my turn to use the phone, I didn’t really have anyone to text. I decided to get on Google Maps instead and find some directions to where we were headed. If I needed to contact anybody, they could wait until I got back to the states. Anyone who is important knows where I am.
The sun was strong today. My shoulders felt the burn from yesterday’s beach day. The straps on my backpack kept digging into my skin and I felt every tug. I’m glad we hopped on a cab, since where we were headed was an hour of a walk. Our taxi driver was a bit wreck less and didn’t even know where he was going. He stopped about every 3 minutes to ask someone where 
This park is where the military parades where held back in the 1800s. When we arrived we walked into the gorgeous and ancient 
Another lady comes out and says her son is single as well and is looking through her purse to see if she can find a picture to show us. She doesn’t find any on her phone and manages to find an old passport looking style photo in one of her pockets. I told her, her was handsome, and joked around her, that next time three women passed by the farmacy she had to be better prepared, so he can run off ad marry one of them. She laughed and said, I was right.
I fell in love with all of the glass jars, all still containing original remedies, herbs,the French porcelain vases that were decorated by hand. She even mentioned that some of the small bottles that were used for elixirs, where made in New York. The botany, chemistry, medicine, pharmaceuticals and recipe books have all been preserved since 1964. It was simply ancient, and step back into time. I loved it.
A few cuadros (blocks) later, we walked into a 
Oh, these ladies were so damn sweet. We talked about Cuba and how much fun we were having so far. They asked what we had done so far and gave suggestions on what we should do next. We started to speak about music and how much Virma loved Marc Anthony. Glady’s mentioned that as soon as Tanya walked in, she reminded her of a poem, 
They asked what we did for a living, and we explained how we were teachers, writers, artists and helped our community of the hungry and homeless. They were surprised and gave us compliments on how were were so young and beautiful and were doing great things.
Right across the street, was 
. Finding food is a bit difficult in Cuba. Almost everything is little things to peck at for the moment. Finding somewhere with hot food was a tough one but we found a spot and sat down. The cafeteria was small, dark with only a window illuminating the restaurant. We had the place to ourselves and we sat right by the window. Next thing we know some guy is peeking in through the window with his face all up in the glass, mouthing something to us. We have no idea what hes saying but we say thank you so he can walk away. He doesn’t. He walks in instead and starts talking to us. Or food is already on the table, and he’s standing there talking to us. Making small talk about his family who lives in Jersey. I engage and then tell him it was nice talking to him but we wanted to get our meal. He says no problem and walks away.