This year, instead of gifts for each other, my parents decided that we’d all go to Cuba as a family, on their tab!

Cool!

We went for a week, arriving back in Toronto on the 25th of December, effectively missing all the great Canadian Christmas spirit. I was a little sad about that. The Cubans hardly celebrate at all.

The trip was fine I guess, the weather in Cuba is beautiful and the beach and pool and resort was very nice. But I just don’t think I’m much of a beach-resort type of traveller. I found it difficult to relax at times and I was bored for most of the trip even with my books and music I brought along.

Being with my family is also pretty difficult. I don’t live with my family anymore, but my parents don’t seem to realize that. They treat me the same as always which is pretty infuriating and quite embarrassing at times. I don’t think I’ll take them up on a free trip offer ever again :S My mom’s so hard to get along with, we’re constantly butting heads and it sort of ruined the vacation a bit.

But there were some good things, too. I got a great tan, did some swimming and kayaking, and we did a daytrip into Havana which was fairly nice. I would have preferred to wander around a little more by myself (or at least be allowed to stop and look at the things I wanted to see) and do my usual type of adventure travelling, but we were with a group so it kind of sucked. The poverty of some of the people was a little shocking though. I know that Cuba is almost a 3rd world country, but it doesn’t really hit you until you’re there among the people. There are so many beggars, and some of them are very insistent, it made my visit to the market quite unpleasent, but very real at the same time.

This poverty was even present at our resort–the food selection and quality was terrible. We knew ahead of time that Cuba is known for its bad food… but still! Haha I found it a little funny that no matter what you ate (be it meat, pastries, fresh fruit or cooked dishes) nothing they served had any flavour whatsoever. My dad and I have a theory that the earth is so overworked in the country that the lack of minerals, etc. in the soil are why even their in-season fruits and eggs even have no flavour.

We also did a jeep safari tour which I thought was pretty cool. We got into a caravan of jeeps and did some offroading for a couple of hours, stopping at a papaya field to pee (there’s no bathrooms around!) and then stopping at a cool cave to go swimming. That was my favourite part–it was an incredible cave complete with stalactites that had filled with freshwater. You could go swimming and it was the perfect temperature and just felt so GOOD! to be in the water… I really loved it! After that we tried to go snorkling but the waves were too rough, so we were sent into a town for some Cuban coffee and cigars. Not too bad. I prefer having things to do rather than sitting around on my duff all day.

Bottom line, the trip was ok but I think it would have been better if it had just been me and a boyfriend (*sigh* IF I ever get one…) and if I had brought more money. Cuba is much more expensive than you think due to the 2 types of currency. The tourist peso is worth about 1.35 CAD!

I don’t think I’m really into these vacations anyway… I came away with a great tan, but also with a few extra pounds since all you are encouraged to do is sit around, gorge yourself at the buffet and drink cheap and poorly made cheap drinks all day. If you like those types of vacations then all the power to you! I just prefer to travel somewhere and immerse myself in the culture and do activities and excursions instead.

I think my next trip will be a little more adventurous, or at least a little more exciting and educational. It’ll be an experience!

Oh, before I forget, yes, I DID buy the cheap rum, as well as a bottle of native creme de cacao and a bunch of pottery-type things and jewelery that I bartered for at the market. Who knew toothpaste could get you a shotglass?

Our flight was also delayed which was fantastic (can you hear my voice dripping with sarcasm?) so we didn’t get home until 4am Christmas morning.