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The Cars

The cars have become a Cuban icon.  Unlike the buildings they are owned and cared for.  Virtually none blow smoke and many have obvious new features; like disk brakes and mag-wheels. 

 

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The upholstery has generally been replaced at least once and I suspect that many of the engines may also have been updated. Some have bodywork that is the worse for wear while others have immaculate paintwork; but none that I saw was in ‘original condition’.  The owners are often Afro-Cuban and run a private enterprise cab service in competition with the government cabs. 

 

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The Government cabs are run a bit like a bus service with government drivers.  They are mainly Škodas but are not either new or in good condition.  I got the impression that the last purchase probably dated from the collapse of communism in the Czech Republic. There is a scale of fares based on distance and no meters.  $3 to $5 is typical around Havana; $20 out to the airport.  Tipping is not required.

There is also a system of Tourist buses.  These are very good air-conditioned Chinese built coaches but as is generally the case in Cuba not everything is working on them. 

 

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Again the staff are State employees; although they seem to be running a number of small commercial businesses ‘on the side’. These include roadside trading in meat and other rural products, presumably for restaurants or shops in town, as well as the transportation of ‘off the book’ passengers.

We made one long bus journey across and down the island to Trinidad where we stayed the night in a traditional house that has been converted to provide several large bedrooms; with en-suite bathrooms. The landlady-proprietor was enthusiastic but disappointed that we were not staying longer and wanted to eat out.  She turned the electricity in the rooms off during the day.  Ours contained a fridge used as a table that remained unplugged throughout our stay.

 

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Tinidad

 

It was very hot and when we finally turned on the ancient air-conditioner to cool the room down at night it didn’t work. There was exposed electrical wiring in the bathroom including an outlet in the shower!  But in Cuba ‘do it yourself’ is a way of life.  On the plus side we saw some for the countryside; passed through several other towns and had the best restaurant meal in Cuba at a charming converted house in Trinidad.

 

 

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Travel

Sri Lanka

 

 

 

In February 2023 we joined an organised tour to Sri Lanka. 

 

 

Beginning in the capital Colombo, on the west coast, our bus travelled anticlockwise, in a loop, initially along the coast; then up into the highlands; then north, as far as Sigiriya; before returning southwest to Colombo.

Read more: Sri Lanka

Fiction, Recollections & News

Announcing Leander

 

(Born Wednesday 14 May 2014 at 5:23 AM, 3.3 kg 53 cm)

 

Marvellous.  Emily, my eldest daughter, has given birth to my first natural Grandchild (I have three step-grandchildren).  She and Guido have named him Leander.  Mother and child are well.

Read more: Announcing Leander

Opinions and Philosophy

Medical fun and games

 

 

 

 

We all die of something.

After 70 it's less likely to be as a result of risky behaviour or suicide and more likely to be heart disease followed by a stroke or cancer. Unfortunately as we age, like a horse in a race coming up from behind, dementia begins to take a larger toll and pulmonary disease sees off many of the remainder. Heart failure is probably the least troublesome choice, if you had one, or suicide.

In 2020 COVID-19 has become a significant killer overseas but in Australia less than a thousand died and the risk from influenza, pneumonia and lower respiratory conditions had also fallen as there was less respiratory infection due to pandemic precautions and increased influenza immunisation. So overall, in Australia in 2020, deaths were below the annual norm.  Yet 2021 will bring a new story and we've already had a new COVID-19 hotspot closing borders again right before Christmas*.

So what will kill me?

Some years back, in October 2016, at the age of 71, my aorta began to show it's age and I dropped into the repair shop where a new heart valve - a pericardial bio-prosthesis - was fitted. See The Meaning of Death elsewhere on this website. This has reduced my chances of heart failure so now I need to fear cancer; and later, dementia.  

More fun and games.

Read more: Medical fun and games

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