...snippets of a country...

...we landed with more cash in our back-pockets than either of us would have preferred, from Heathrow via Madrid to a land of thresholds. To a land where we soon learnt that just enough is well, just enough. Just enough food in the shops. Just enough of a towel in your room. Just enough humidity for the perfect cigar. And just enough black beans and rice. It took us a bit of time to find our lift at an airport surprisingly reminiscent of Bombay before we stepped out into the warm night air, where there seemed to be a severe lack of lighting. Well, just enough perhaps. I guess it seemed just as you imagine a  communist country might appear or if you were starring in a 1950s Cold War spy novel. Our taxi headed off: we were heading into Havana, Cuba.

There were few cars on the road until we got into the city itself where we increasingly saw the fabled 1950s – beautiful -American cars prowling the streets: that roar. They just don't make engines like that anymore! Our hotel was typical of Cuban gorgeous faded elegance with colonades and extensive sitting areas; we stayed on the 6th floor, where Al Capone preferred to reside and party. Luckily they ‘d cleared up after he left.

Jeez, it was sometime like 0500 UK time. Collecting a ‘sin gas’ 2l bottle of water from the 24h bar which was settling down to some hard, hard rum drinking we headed for bed. Time for sleep…

Back tomorrow:

• More tales from the land that time forgot: Cuba
• What have the lads from Liverpool been up to? and
• 25 Reasons Why 2009 is going to be your Best Year Yet