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Post by chech on Jan 25, 2016 13:10:15 GMT
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Post by purvis on Jan 25, 2016 18:19:31 GMT
Chech: Just finished reading day 3. Very enlightening. Thanks Purvis
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Post by californian on Jan 25, 2016 23:04:50 GMT
A question Chech, what nationality is Alex? (did I missed that?) and what did you mean you gave the employees of the distillery some treats? What kind of treats? tips or?
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Post by chech on Jan 26, 2016 0:15:22 GMT
Alex is Cuban. He is wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs ball cap in some of the photos...when we asked about it, he said he wears what the boss tells him to wear. LOL After all, Gary is living in Toronto (the company owner I met on my arrial). We carried wrapped candies with us. I didn't have any at that point, but in the shop where they showed us the cigars (part of the factory), I saw that they had packages of biscuits. I bought two and went back into the factory to give it to the girls. On the way back, the girl sitting at the door looked at me as if to say "where's mine?" so Ihad to buy a third package.  |
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Post by chech on Jan 26, 2016 12:34:25 GMT
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Post by purvis on Jan 26, 2016 17:24:04 GMT
Chech: Looks like the cats eat very well in Cuba. Enjoying the history lesson. Purvis |
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Post by chech on Jan 27, 2016 13:11:00 GMT
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Post by plane2catch on Jan 27, 2016 17:44:36 GMT
What a lovely lunch locale. I'd want to have lunch there everyday. The presentation was beautiful. What did they serve? Having a hard time getting that picture of rice and chicken out of my mind which you posted on the first day. You said it tasted good but as for me my stomach turned when I saw the plate. It kind of reminded me of a day when I was on the Sinai peninsula and the only place we could find to eat was an outdoor shop with tables and a metal grill. We were served rice and chicken there. Five cats constantly circled our feet hoping for a hand out. I felt like screaming. I think I can handle one cat around the table but when you feel out numbered it was a little scary. So did you have any decent beef on the trip?
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Post by chech on Jan 28, 2016 13:11:47 GMT
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Post by californian on Jan 28, 2016 16:07:14 GMT
Great day 6, Chech, the pictures are excellent. I am still confused about the money exchange, how much did you exchange in total,in Canadian money? you went to the bank often and it seems banks are open very early in the morning?
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Post by chech on Jan 28, 2016 16:16:59 GMT
Yeah, the banks were open at 8 am in some locations. I changed money three times: $300 for 195 pesos (hotel) $300 for 208 pesos (bank) $200 for about 130 pesos. Americans got a better rate but not quite 1:1 I had about 30 pesos left at the end and tips took about 200 pesos so I only spent about 300 pesos.  |
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Post by californian on Jan 28, 2016 17:10:17 GMT
I wonder why the difference between US dollars and Canadian. Interesting, still don't understand it.
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Post by chech on Jan 28, 2016 19:32:25 GMT
The Canadian dollar is trading at 70 cents US. The peso is tied to the US dollar so we get a similar exchange.
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Post by californian on Jan 28, 2016 20:56:25 GMT
Is that true? I never check, it wasn't that long ago that they were about the same.
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Post by chech on Jan 28, 2016 21:10:07 GMT
Yeah. Our last government foolishly put too many of our economic eggs into the oil basket so our dollar is following the price of oil down.
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Post by chech on Jan 29, 2016 13:20:18 GMT
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Post by purvis on Jan 29, 2016 17:41:20 GMT
Chech: I'm surprised that you had such luck with the food. Fortunately I don't particularly like food so it didn't bother me that the food was not all that great.The two times I was in Cuba everyone else in our group of 70 complained constantly. Perhaps being at an all-inclusive hotel means you get what is available and a few years ago that meant not much choice. Purvis |
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Post by chech on Jan 29, 2016 18:45:21 GMT
Yeah, I'd say it's improved a bit in the last few years. At least on this tour, everyone arrived knowing they were in a third world nation and approached the meals the same way. We all expected bland basic meals and they weren't. I actually gained about 3 lbs on the tour. But have lost 6 in the last week thanks to this flu. |
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Post by chech on Jan 30, 2016 15:34:48 GMT
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Post by purvis on Jan 30, 2016 18:52:41 GMT
Chech: My son just got back last nite from Santa Clara and said the weather was not too great over his 10day vacation but the food had improved considerably since the last time he was there a couple of years ago. You're first person I know of who gained weight while in Cuba. Sorry to hear that once you got back you lost it plus some with a dose of flu. Enjoying your tour tale. Purvis
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Post by chech on Jan 31, 2016 12:46:39 GMT
Oh, I have no problem losing it. I'm back to where I need to be. My flu left me with a sinus infection now which isn't a big deal except that the tinnitus is really loud and driving me cracked! LOL Nice to know the food there is improving. Things are changing. Che Day is up! |
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Post by plane2catch on Jan 31, 2016 15:44:05 GMT
Thanks for sharing Chech. Love the detail of the sculpture and found it to be very unique. Kind of fun trying to locate the mini pictorials on Che. Looking forward to the Tropicana pics. That close up pic of the ice cream has left me with a craving.
Found the Montreal Canadian man's impression of Cuba interesting and at the same time cautionary. So glad to be living in the USA. I have always loved Canada since I was a child and visited both Montreal and Quebec. Looking into a road trip to Canada given the low gas prices and the current exchange rates.
Keeping an eye out on the 2016 Countdown thread, waiting for your post on Italy. |
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Post by purvis on Jan 31, 2016 17:27:27 GMT
Chech: Thanks for the info on Che Cuevara I could never figure out why there were books and posters of him at the resort I stayed in a few years ago. I knew he fought with Fidel but didn't know the extent of his involvement . I was surprised to hear that he was involved at the Bay of Pigs debacle. Thanks for the history lesson. Purvis |
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Post by californian on Jan 31, 2016 18:05:23 GMT
I hope nobody gets offended, but the saying is that Che hated capitalism, capitalism took his picture, printed millions of T-shirts and sold it to the morons, like I said, no offense intended. Never the less, Guevara was a ruthless assassin and left the economy of Cuba in ruins, especially the sugar crops. It's said that Fidel wanted Che out of the way and he sent him to Bolivia and ordered to be killed... just saying....
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Post by chech on Jan 31, 2016 18:12:40 GMT
As an individual, he was pretty brutal but his pop culture status is more due to his beginnings as someone who wanted to fight the oppression he witnessed throughout the Americas.
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Post by plane2catch on Jan 31, 2016 20:42:00 GMT
I hope nobody gets offended, but the saying is that Che hated capitalism, capitalism took his picture, printed millions of T-shirts and sold it to the morons, like I said, no offense intended. Never the less, Guevara was a ruthless assassin and left the economy of Cuba in ruins, especially the sugar crops. It's said that Fidel wanted Che out of the way and he sent him to Bolivia and ordered to be killed... just saying.... I wouldn't buy any T-Shirt of an Assassin. Martin Luther King yes, Che Guevara or Fidel no way in hell. The funny thing about opinions is that we all have them. Guess that is what makes the world so diverse. |
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Post by chech on Jan 31, 2016 21:23:36 GMT
No one is saying you have to buy the t-shirt. It's the kind of thing meant for freethinkers anyway.
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Post by Boop on Jan 31, 2016 21:35:39 GMT
LOL, what a strange coincidence....I have a t-shirt, although a little thread bare now, and the book "Che Guevera: A Revolutionary Life", treasured gifts from two who are dear to my heart.  |
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Post by Boop on Jan 31, 2016 23:28:37 GMT
Just caught up with your tale Chech........and I have to say, the "Che" day was my favourite day! Thanks for all the info, what a great read!!
Spectacular photos, as usual!!
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Post by chech on Feb 1, 2016 12:23:01 GMT
Glad you're caught up! Now...on to Day Ten. |
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