1 August 2008 - Cuba trip-2nd

I decided to go the beach, so i woke up early and got ready. I had no idea where to take a bus, so i started asking for directions. Finally got some directions and went and stood at the waiting point with all the people. Bus came and almost did not get on due to buses being for the cuban people. I guess i could of been a big issue if he got busted but he was cool with it and let me ride the bus for cheap. Got to the beach.. "guardalavaca' which is pretty much a strip of hotels for tourists. i chlled and enjoyed the beautifil beaches. but i made a horrible msitake, no base tan, i got burned like i hae never ever been burned.

I met some girls at the beach, they seem to be pretty cool, it seem that they were looking for some tourist to make a buck. I told her, " i got no money, so if u are expecting me to give u some, sorry babe' she smiled and said she just wanted to talk. She explained me tons about the culture and cubans wanting to leave abroad. i guess that was her goal. Well at the end of the day i was tring to go back to town but all the buses available were for the workers of the hotels. I was stuck. thankfully the girl used her charm and good looks and convinced the driver to let me on. some money helped as well.

That was the last time i saw her. She called me before i left to wish me good luck. i should write her, she gave me her address.

Got back to the house where i was staying, i was baked, my face and body hurt. i took a shower and went to bed.

Next day , i was red like a tomato, hurting and just wanting to die. i pretty much stayed in and tried to take the pain. The son of the family where i was staying took me out sunday nite for a look at the city park and stuff. man, it was like going back in time to,,, the 40s. Live music, people at the parks, etc. some good looking girls. We went to a bar and finished the night off there. it was fun.

The next day i was going to Santiago de Cuba. The people at the house found me a place to stay in Santiago, which helped alot, cus i had no idea where to go when i got there. Carrying my backpack was a gruelling job due to the burns i got from my good friend the sun. i got to the bus terminal and waited for the bus. In cuba buses are free but you pretty much have to make a 2 week reservation, otherwise you have to pay and its knda pricey for a cuban, i think it was like 20 pesos converitbles.

The buses where pretty good. TV, air, washroom etc. the only thing that i was suffering the most was the food. I did not take lots of money for food and i was kinda suffering. i was weak but nothing to an extreme. on the bus i had some chocolate bars, which jsut gave me a bust in energy.

I got to the Santiago bust terminal @ 8:00 pm and there was someone waiting for m, u know VIP in Cuba, not even BUSh. Got to the house, talk to the people there and went to bed. I was dead tired