Cuba

I spent two weeks in Cuba, solo. I went not knowing anyone there, nor did I know of anyone who has been there. Well, I had my Spanish Phrases Lonely Planet and made sure I had enough 120 film for my Diana+.

During my two weeks there, I catch buses around the country and see the most amazing things.

If you've seen pictures of Havana or Cuba where 1950 Chevrolets parked down the street of the corner store where they still use antiquated cash registers, Cuba is exactly like that.

During my 2 weeks there, I learnt a few things:

1 - If you miss your flight, there is going to be a silver lining for that dark, grey cloud. I missed my flight and had to spend a night in Madrid, where I met Oskar and Irene, who took me out to a jazz club where we hung out with the musicians after us and the guitarist asked me if I play because he said I looked very earnestly at his playing. So I told him I play the piano and am learning the sax, and they start showering me with CDs and DVDs of the band. If this was in London, you would probably have to fork out 30 quid at the min. Oskar and Irene also took me to a Spanish club where they only play Spanish music and clubbers only dance flamenco or that violent hip shaking dance. Madrid is so awesome!

2 - Cubans can dance all night, every night. And they do this so f**king amazingly. I was told everyone learns dance at school. Like Phys Ed. When I was in Vinales, a little place I visited for 3 days, there was only 1 "club". Every night I went to that club. Every night I saw the same people there, dancing their hearts out till 3 in the morning. Then they'd do the same thing the next night. On my last night there I scored a percussion lesson with one of the guys I met there. (See note 4 below). That evening my percussion instructor and a group of 12 people came to talk to us (me and a few non-locals I met on a tour in Vinales); and it was a mixture of frantic hand movements, broken English, broken Spanish and very loud laughter.

3 - Cuban guys can shake their hips vigorously and not look ridiculous. Cubans also call what we call the running man, "disco dancing". I know this because I was told to show them some dance moves. So I did the running man and they said, Ah... deesko deesko!

4 - Everyone plays at least 1 if not 2 or 3 musical instruments.

5 - Their passion and intensity is to be envied. They dance like they are about to explode. I would say the O word, but I know my mom will be reading this.

I love Cuba.