I believe in collecting stamps, not things. I’ve always had a reverent appreciation for life and its fragility. Ever since I made it through my risky and invasive procedure in March, living my truth, has taken on new and multi-dimensional meanings. I love to travel! I hope to visit at least four countries this year. Last month I spent ten days in Cuba.  I’ve already made plans for the next three.

I was somewhat mentally and physically prepared for Cuba. No blog post, google search, or friend’s account, compares to a first-hand experience of this highly clichéd country. Cuba has its drawbacks, probably more so than any other country you will ever visit. You need patience, and a lot of it. You will leave (I hope) humbled, grateful, and changed. I’ve heard firsthand stories of visitors feeling utter sadness, which spoiled their trip. Rubbish. Well, I guess that is their experience, and I can’t make light of it. However, you come away from Cuba; it will and should change some part of you. I can almost guarantee, you won’t visit another country like this one!

To experience the real feel of the place, and mingle with the locals, we used Airbnb’s. I was so glad we chose this route. Our first stop was Havana, then Trinidad, and finally the picturesque city of Vinales. One blog post can’t begin to encapsulate my experiences, the people I met, the things I saw, and oh, the food I ate. In the next few months, I’ll post a guide to visiting the country. If you need any tips/advice on travelling to Cuba beforehand, (especially as an American citizen) please use the Contact Me page above, and I’ll be happy to help. I mentioned American, because of the US-Cuba relations, however, the majority of the advice is for everyone. At the time of this post, we wait for word on whether or not Donald Trump will dismantle yet another Obama policy regarding Cuba.

For now, to the wonderfully kind, gracious, hardworking, and warm-hearted people of this nation, THANK YOU! Cuba, you swept me off my feet. I saw a lot, but I’ve barely scratched the surface. You have developed to the beat of your own drum, at a slightly slower and irregular pace, and this is totally fine. I know the daily challenges of your life, slightly permeates into the tourist experience, but I remain grateful for the obvious sacrifices you made, to make sure my stay was memorable. From the Statue of Christ, Old Havana street dance off contests, horse carriage city tour, sugar mills plantation, Playa Ancon, Palenque Caves and its original slave artifacts, Bay of Pigs memorabilia, to the prehistoric murals, and dozens of other experiences, I was lucky to have, how can I ever thank you?!

If you’ve thought about visiting this ever evolving country, stop thinking, just go!

Until the next post,

Best,

Juan