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.
It’s our last day in Habana, our check out and taxi arrival is supposed to be at 10am. Beatriz, our lovely host meets us at the airbnb and watches us do our last minute packing from the couch. I leave two dresses for her, and two Yankee fitteds for Jovani. I thank them for being so amazing, and stick the post it on the items, leaving them where she can clearly find them. It’s 10:20am now and our taxi still hasn’t arrived. Olivia says she confirmed the reservation, but we’re stuck waiting. We find the house number for the second spot we’re staying at, and give them a call. They didn’t know we confirmed the taxi. Beatriz asks them to head out this way right now, we’re waiting and she has other apartments that she needs to be at. I apologize for the inconvenience and she insists its no trouble. The cab should be here at 1pm, and since we have plenty of time to kill, we decide to go for a walk and roam the neighborhood for a while. We had yet to do that since we arrived, and have been taking taxis everywhere.
The streets are beautiful, I love the colorful houses and the rustic feel to most of it. The island is poor, but many of the houses start to look more modern. We go into a restaurant and order some food, it’s almost 1pm and we don’t want to miss this ride. I ask for a to go box and dash out. Our driver is waiting for us in front of the house. We hand Beatriz the keys and hop on. I’m not feeling too well today, this migraine is killing me. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I haven’t been drinking much water. I fall asleep on Tanya’s lap and two hours later I open my eyes. We’re officially in Matanzas. Matanzas is a major industrial town with an import port for exporting sugar. Their mostly known for their many bridges, and they were many!
Our second airbnb host was sweet, while we wait at the restaurant that’s in her backyard, we pull out our takeout boxes and start to eat. My pescado was delicious, and not salty which is just what my doctor recommends I start doing. She brings us a frothy coconut juice and its delicious. Tanya goes off chasing a hawk that keeps flying above us. I named him Henry, while Luna, the cute little puppy that roams the backyard makes his way towards us. He is so damn cute and not shy when it comes to being held. He just lays there waiting for you to pet him.
Since Tanya never made her flight last night, it was time to celebrate her birthday in style today… and all she wanted to to was go to the infamous Tropicana!
