November 27 - Cuba
It was already 5:50 when we landed at the Jose Marti La Habana International Airport in the Cuban capital, Havana. Cuba is a communist country in the western world, a headache for America right under its nose. Immigration is a headache for me and them as well. I do not have a return ticket or a hotel reservation. At the end the interview from Nassau earns me entrance to Cuba. Somehow my bicycle didn't come through. I was again stopped at customs. They made me wait for 15 minutes. I later realised they were expecting a bribe. I did not see any reason to bribe them and showed them today's Nassau Garden newspaper. They were surprised and amazed. Finally I came out of the airport. The city was 26 kms away. Taxis conducted by the government have same rates, 18 dollars to get to the city. Drivers are allowed to drive alternate days only, two drivers for one taxi. Rahul, the taxi driver, started talking to me about girls. He told me that he has four girlfriends besides his wife. He said he could arrange for girls if I wanted. I am more anxious about finding a place for the night. Hotel Lido, a popular inexpensive hotel in Old Havana, didn't have any rooms. Many private homes also provide lodging services in Cuba. After enquiring in three places, I found one in Vedado; 25 dollars for a night. The owner Rafael took me to a restaurant to have dinner. There's a bell on the door in the restaurant. The door would open only after you give them your name. Mostly there were foreigners in the restaurant filled with cigarette smoke. Everyone is smoking this white filterless cigarette, must be a popular one here. Young Cuban girls can be seen with aged foreigners. Perhaps that was what Rahul was telling me about. I came back directly to my room after dinner. There is an old radio on the table, possibly older than Fidel Castro himself!