Last month we took a break from house sitting in order to visit Cuba.
Vanessa and I have both had Cuba on our travel list for a long time, and as we are currently based in Mexico, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take time out, and enjoy some travel adventures.
Cuba certainly didn’t let us down in terms of adventure, and we had some amazing experiences. Some were great, some were challenging, some were downright disappointing!
We were looking forward to meeting up again with Jane and Duncan, who produce baby boomer travel and house sitting website ToTravelToo.com – we first met up with them in Ajijic in Mexico.
Here’s Duncan enjoying a touristy snapshot moment in scenic Cienfuegos:
For me the cars are the most amazing thing about the country. There are thousands of old 1950s American cars varying from absolutely pristine condition, to “barely-held-together-but-still-running-somehow”
One of my major highlights was being allowed by a taxi driver to drive a 1954 Chevvy from Santa Clara to Remedios, a journey of about 50 kilometres. Only a cigar in my mouth could have made me feel more Cuban!
Vanessa’s highlights included climbing to the top of one of the ricketiest church towers we have ever seen in historic Camaguey, and looking out through the face of the clock across the whole city. She also enjoyed eating lobster and prawns on an almost daily basis at very affordable prices!
We enjoyed the challenges of figuring out two different currencies, of limited internet access, and travel timetables that could confuse a rocket scientist.
But we were a little disillusioned by the growing greed for tourist money that seems to be dividing the country deeply into the “haves” and have-nots”.
We’ll be telling you more about travelling to Cuba in next month’s magazine, and we’ll probably post a few articles on the HouseSittingMagazine.com website too, so check in there occasionally too.
Now we’re back in Mexico, in San Miguel de Allende, for a third sit at the same property, looking after our six cats once again.
This is our final sit here for the foreseeable future, and we are certainly going to miss it. It really is beginning to feel like home.
Ian and Vanessa
(currently house sitting for a third time in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico)
Here’s Vanessa, about to take a truly traditional taxi ride from Trinidad to Cienfuegos, Cuba.