Who is Online

We have 39 guests and no members online

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. 

 

image038

 

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. 

 

image039

 

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. 

 

image040

 

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.

 

image041
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.

 

 

No comments

Travel

India

October 2009

 

 

 

 

In summary

 

India was amazing. It was just as I had been told, read, seen on TV and so on but quite different to what I expected; a physical experience (noise, reactions of and interactions with people, smells and other sensations) rather than an intellectual appreciation.

Read more: India

Fiction, Recollections & News

Nepal

Nepal Earthquake

 

The World is shocked by the growing death toll, that has now passed 5,000 as a result of the recent earthquake in Nepal.

The epicentre was close to Pokhara the country's second largest city with a population just over a quarter of a million.  Just how many of the deaths occurred there is not yet clear.

Read more: Nepal

Opinions and Philosophy

The Origin of Life - according to God

 

 

 

Back in April 2013 I had another visit from our neighbourhood Jehovah's Witnesses,  a pretty young woman and her husband, recently married.   Like Daniel (mentioned elsewhere on this website) before them, they had brought copies of The Watchtower and Awake; which I agreed to read if they were prepared to read my paper: The Prospect of Eternal Life.

I keep a couple of copies of The Prospect of Eternal Life for just such occasions and have also given a copy to the local Anglican minister and to various other active proselytisers in the area; with similar conditions.  Of course I know it will not change their position but I do like to have the debate and amazingly so do they; it beats the usual reception they get; and they get some practice in trying to convert un-believers. 

When the couple asked my position I quickly summarised that in The Prospect of Eternal Life

Read more: The Origin of Life - according to God

Terms of Use

Terms of Use                                                                    Copyright