Category: Culture

Local culture and traditions

Long Layover in Dubai

If you’re flying Europe or the US east coast to Asia, the Middle East, or Africa, there’s a chance that you’ll have the opportunity to fly Emirates Airlines. If you can, try to get flights with a long layover in Dubai so you can get a taste of this incredible city. Emirates Airline Emirates Airlines …

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What to Do at Playa Larga Cuba – the Bay of Pigs

The bus ride to Playa Larga was relatively uneventful.  We had one stop in the town of Giron, famous in the Bay of Pigs incident.  It was completely dark by the time we arrived in Playa Larga and we had no idea where to find Otto’s House, our casa for the next 3 days.  Some …

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Central Cuba Cities (Destination: Trinidad and Cienfuegos)

Vinales to Trinidad Bus I was sad to leave Vinales but we had reservations for the bus and a casa in Trinidad.  We boarded our bus at 7:00 and were excited when we left at 7:05 – nearly on time so we exclaimed “Yay!”  We road thru the countryside and were nearly to the highway …

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How to Get From Havana to Vinales and What to Do in Vinales

How to Get From Havana to Vinales Our Casa owner in Havana had arranged our taxi collectivo ride to Vinales, several hours west of Havana.  A big gray tank of a 1950’s vehicle picked us up and took us and 8 other passengers to Vinales for $20 per person.  The driver joked that it’s name …

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El Captitlo (Destination: Havana)

We spent 2 nights in Havana, Cuba at the beginning and 2 in the end of our 14 days in Cuba.  Check out this 3-Day Itinerary of Havana. The immigration queues were pretty long when we arrived and the line for currency exchange looked even longer.  The taxi driver sent by our guesthouse looked a …

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Airbnb – A win-win for Cuba & Tourists

If you would like a $40 discount on your first Airbnb stay, please click HERE.  (full disclosure: I get a $20 credit) My friend and I traveled in Cuba in November 2017 on an independent people to people tour.  As  President Obama had lifted many of the restrictions, and direct flights from the US had …

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Cuba Currency for Travelers (A Tale of Two Currencies)

One of the most unique things about Cuba and something I’ve never experienced in my many other years of travel, is a country with two of their own currencies.  Sure, there’s the occasional country where they have their own, but US dollars are a second currency, especially used for larger transactions and tourism.  The following …

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Cuba

I had the fortunate chance to visit Cuba with a friend on an independent people to people tour in November 2016. General tips & stories: General Travel Tips for Cuba A Tale of Two Currencies Airbnb – A win-win for Cuba & Tourists Disconectado (Disconnected) Destination guides: Havana (El Captitlo) Vinales (Country Roads Take Me Home) Trinidad …

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