Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: Pedal Castro on 17 November, 2018, 08:32:52 pm

Title: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 17 November, 2018, 08:32:52 pm
Finally able to revisit Cuba after the 2012 tour that started my return to cycling. Planning on March next year.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 December, 2018, 03:18:25 pm
I've been thinking about Cuba this week too. Want to go before it gets paved over by McDonalds etc....
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 06 January, 2019, 10:03:05 pm
Anybody got any Cuba tips? Places we must see?
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 07 January, 2019, 06:42:26 am
I booked my flights yesterday, good price for first two weeks in March (£630pp) with bikes free as the one piece of hold luggage. Virgin would have been a bit more convenient as direct flights from Gatwick but rather more expensive for the date we needed.

What sort of places are you interested in? My 2011 tour is recorded here http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/cuba2011 (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/cuba2011). We were interested in the history of the revolution rather than the wildlife. We were lucky to be there for the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs fiasco celebrations.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Hot Flatus on 07 January, 2019, 06:47:55 am
Anybody got any Cuba tips? Places we must see?

All the bars in Havana with obese Americans pretending to be Ernest Hemingway.

The cemeteries in Havana.

Do a bit of diving in Pinar del Rio.

Can't remember anything else. Havana stole the show really.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Ham on 07 January, 2019, 07:47:35 am
Cuba, really. Vinales is worth having on your itinerary, stay away from Varadero, Trinidad is worth it even if it is on everyone's must see list, Cienfuegos is also worth dropping in on your way through.

Do remember, they don't have shops to speak of and for visitors wifi is limited to relatively few (but very busy) public wifi areas. The "take stuff like pencils" for the kiddies is an overworked meme, but has some (small) validity especially if you want to feel like a colonial overlord dispensing largesse. We took some pound shop tat but struggled to find appropriate times to use it - we ended up giving to grandma and the like in the homestays for the grandkids. They don't have a "disposable" culture (yet) which means that things like disposable cutlery, napkins etc are in very short supply. As is bog roll. See the first sentence, you will find it difficult to buy even with your hard currency (the CUC or "kook" as it is referred to).

Travelling through a magnificent country without a single advert in sight is worth it all.

(ETA- as you are going back, not much of that is a surprise. I suspect not that much has changed, except in Havana and Varadero)
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 07 January, 2019, 10:40:39 am
These guys let me rent a bike for a self-guided tour: https://www.wowcuba.com/bicycle-rentals/

One of the best holidays I've ever had.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 January, 2019, 08:45:41 pm

(ETA- as you are going back, not much of that is a surprise. I suspect not that much has changed, except in Havana and Varadero)


We're not going back though :)
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Ham on 07 January, 2019, 08:59:01 pm

(ETA- as you are going back, not much of that is a surprise. I suspect not that much has changed, except in Havana and Varadero)


We're not going back though :)

You'll be in for a surprise, then.

The good thing is, the Special Period is now long gone. Go, and go now. It's a fantastic place to visit.

Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 January, 2019, 09:14:24 pm
What's the special period? And what's wrong with Varadero?
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 January, 2019, 09:30:03 pm
Oh-oh, just read in Skedaddle's trip notes that GPS units are verboten and Skedaddle mandate magic hats. Pingu unimpressed.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Ham on 07 January, 2019, 10:13:56 pm
The Special Period was when the Russian support of the the Cuban economy got pulled almost overnight, causing catastrophic economic hardship and the already challenged infrastructure to crumble.

In recent years, Cuba has focussed on reaping the tourist dollar, and Varedero is where a lot of that happens. It's a long strip of land with back to back hotels, in the closest approximation (some of it quite close) to western style that you will find. Great beaches though, that's the "attraction".

GPS is no longer forbidden (AFAIK) and most cyclists I saw weren't helmeted.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 07 January, 2019, 10:25:56 pm
Sounds ghastly. It doesn't appear to be on the trip we're currently leaning towards though.
https://www.skedaddle.com/uk/adventures/holiday/Cycling_Adventures/Cuba_-_Cuban_Revolutions_-_Cycling_Holiday/1/view.rails
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Ham on 07 January, 2019, 10:30:04 pm
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLgRfbPsbHY/XDPRm8-vxnI/AAAAAAAC4Ac/LEsJLxb3R1ccDuEWSeDxV4BWXZpwHW69wCKgBGAs/s800/HAM80048.JPG)


(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2tBRnQKRN8s/XDPRmynPELI/AAAAAAAC4Ac/mdS6bW5XHlUNeYCAvLK8o3Y1DBe2b7UygCKgBGAs/s800/HAM80131.jpg)
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 08 January, 2019, 06:28:32 am
GPS units are forbidden but from my reading I think they only worry about serious surveying units. I didn't have a GPS in 2011 but this year I'll take my Garmin 130, eTrex, and GPS watch so I should be able to get at least one (probably all) through customs.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 22 January, 2019, 08:59:49 pm
Tour shirts designed  ;D

(http://www.nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba_front.png)

(http://www.nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba_rear.png)
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 31 January, 2019, 07:21:52 pm
I've been thinking about Cuba this week too. Want to go before it gets paved over by McDonalds etc....

When are you going?
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 01 February, 2019, 08:15:13 pm
Haven't booked anything yet but looking at a tour in November.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 13 February, 2019, 06:26:16 am
Cuba seems popular this year!
Prince Charles and Camilla Will Be the First Royals to Visit Cuba in More Than 50 Years (https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a26186050/prince-charles-camilla-parker-bowles-cuba-first-royal-family-visit/)]
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 04 April, 2019, 10:01:13 pm
So, I guess you've been now. How was it? Did you try taking a GPS?
We've just booked for November.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 04 April, 2019, 10:30:01 pm
So, I guess you've been now. How was it? Did you try taking a GPS?
We've just booked for November.

It was brill! I need to finish my journal write up and trip video. We stayed the first night in Havana old town then got a bus to Santa Clara from where we started the 8 day ride back to Havana, although we also got a bus from Matanzas to Havana on day 8.

Not counting phone and watch, I took 3 GPS bike computers and they all got through, one in hand luggage and two in the bike box.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 November, 2019, 06:09:05 pm
We are off on Saturday. Excited! Got a night in Varadero but it's only one... I noted they have a craft brewery there but it's a bit far away from our hotel. Oh well, 2 weeks drinking fizzy yellow cold and mojitos beckons. And cycling, obv.
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 21 November, 2019, 06:31:28 pm
You'll love it! Have you got nights planned or just winging it? Lots of cocktails other than mojitos, you need to try lots!!! ;D
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 21 November, 2019, 07:02:28 pm
We're on this tour
https://www.skedaddle.com/uk/adventures/holiday/Cycling_Adventures/Cuba_-_Cuban_Revolutions_-_Cycling_Holiday/1/view.rails
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 21 November, 2019, 07:19:36 pm
Cool. Not long in Havana but if you get a chance evening cocktails in the Hotel Nacional is not to be missed! https://www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com/
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pingu on 02 January, 2020, 12:52:31 am
A wee bit late, but our photies are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/the_pingus/collections/72157712131121201/
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 02 January, 2020, 06:42:31 am
 :thumbsup: Looks like you had a great time! Was the naked woman in high heels riding the cock in Matanzas? We found that worthy of a photo too  ;D
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 January, 2020, 10:31:24 pm
No that was in La Habana, opposite the microbrewery we didn't get a chance to go in :(
Title: Re: Back to Cuba
Post by: Pedal Castro on 17 January, 2020, 08:16:46 am
No that was in La Habana, opposite the microbrewery we didn't get a chance to go in :(

Ah, yes. You missed a treat as the beer was good! ;D

(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba/IMG_5209sm.JPG)
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba/IMG_5211.JPG)
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba/IMG_5212.JPG)
(http://nrtoone.com/allowhotlinking/cuba/IMG_5215.JPG)