Back in the USSA

[Joel Olson]

I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.

[tim]

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.

Ah ha, you lucky dog! Send me the URL!

[High Miles]

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.
<

Which oneof these days ?

[Joel Olson]

Post by High Miles

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.
<

Which oneof these days ?

There are a couple albums with my Facebook page - landscapes in
the tobacco-growing and topographically unusual Vinales region;
and one of cars, but FB is not kind to the unusual shapes that result
when you crop out the non-car parts of the picture, so a better one
will get to the Flickr part soon, maybe by Monday

try www.flickr.com/photos/toorist

Here is the story of our trip:
http://www.usgo.org/news/2013/03/traveling-board-u-s-cuba-friendship-match-a-rare-opportunity/

[tim]

Post by Joel Olson

Post by High Miles

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.
<

Which oneof these days ?

There are a couple albums with my Facebook page - landscapes in
the tobacco-growing and topographically unusual Vinales region;
and one of cars, but FB is not kind to the unusual shapes that result
when you crop out the non-car parts of the picture, so a better one
will get to the Flickr part soon, maybe by Monday
try www.flickr.com/photos/toorist
http://www.usgo.org/news/2013/03/traveling-board-u-s-cuba-friendship-match-a-rare-opportunity/

Looks like you all had a wonderful time. The gentleman with the beard and
glasses sure has a nize shirt. How was the food?

[Joel Olson]

Post by tim

Post by Joel Olson

Post by High Miles

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.
<

Which oneof these days ?

There are a couple albums with my Facebook page - landscapes in
the tobacco-growing and topographically unusual Vinales region;
and one of cars, but FB is not kind to the unusual shapes that result
when you crop out the non-car parts of the picture, so a better one
will get to the Flickr part soon, maybe by Monday
try www.flickr.com/photos/toorist
http://www.usgo.org/news/2013/03/traveling-board-u-s-cuba-friendship-match-a-rare-opportunity/

Looks like you all had a wonderful time. The gentleman with the beard and
glasses sure has a nize shirt. How was the food?

Generally, excellent. There are good & popular state-owned restaurants,
and Cuba also allows privately owned restaurants, so many Cubans are going
into business and competing. So. Lunch & dinner every day a new place, all
very good. Not much beef (and that tough), but mucho fish & seafood. All
tasty, but hardly any pepper (even the table shakers were cut with salt).
Two local kinds of beer, yellow & amber, but at many dinner places, a mojito
was brought automatically. They are all very proud of their rum.

Dual currency systems - prices on most things are very low for the government
currency - similar incomes for nearly everyone; the second is the cvc
(pronounced Kuk) - Cuban convertible currency (with an 85% rake-off for the
state) and prices very similar to those in the US. A "dollar" tip in that is
about
a month's pay in the normal. But Cuba is working toward a world money system,
and there are ways to get some kuks from the tourists. A gigantic art market,
for instance.

Oh yes - the hotel breakfasts. 8 kinds of fruit juice (estimated), 5 kinds of
bread
and rolls at the toaster stations, 4 kinds of cheese & some cold cuts (including
the
very thinly sliced ham) and that's just as you walk in. Something like 5 or 6
stations with elaborate displays of fruits, gradually working through all the
possibilities down to 3 or 4 breakfast meats to go with the eggs, or rice, or
black
beans or potatoes or pancakes, or spring rolls or things I couldn't name with
tasty insides. Cuban coffee comes with cream already in it - if you want it
black,
have to order Cafe Americano.

I didn't have any, but my impression is that their soft drinks are mostly fruit
flavors, but do include knock-off colas.

[tim]

Post by Joel Olson

Post by tim

Post by Joel Olson

Post by High Miles

Post by Joel Olson
I'll have pix up at Flickr, one of these days, from the trip to
play go in Cuba.
<

Which oneof these days ?

There are a couple albums with my Facebook page - landscapes in
the tobacco-growing and topographically unusual Vinales region;
and one of cars, but FB is not kind to the unusual shapes that result
when you crop out the non-car parts of the picture, so a better one
will get to the Flickr part soon, maybe by Monday
try www.flickr.com/photos/toorist
http://www.usgo.org/news/2013/03/traveling-board-u-s-cuba-friendship-match-a-rare-opportunity/

Looks like you all had a wonderful time. The gentleman with the beard
and glasses sure has a nize shirt. How was the food?

Generally, excellent. There are good & popular state-owned restaurants,
and Cuba also allows privately owned restaurants, so many Cubans are going
into business and competing. So. Lunch & dinner every day a new place, all
very good. Not much beef (and that tough), but mucho fish & seafood. All
tasty, but hardly any pepper (even the table shakers were cut with salt).
Two local kinds of beer, yellow & amber, but at many dinner places, a mojito
was brought automatically. They are all very proud of their rum.
Dual currency systems - prices on most things are very low for the government
currency - similar incomes for nearly everyone; the second is the cvc
(pronounced Kuk) - Cuban convertible currency (with an 85% rake-off for the
state) and prices very similar to those in the US. A "dollar" tip in that
is about
a month's pay in the normal. But Cuba is working toward a world money system,
and there are ways to get some kuks from the tourists. A gigantic art market,
for instance.
Oh yes - the hotel breakfasts. 8 kinds of fruit juice (estimated), 5 kinds
of bread
and rolls at the toaster stations, 4 kinds of cheese & some cold cuts
(including the
very thinly sliced ham) and that's just as you walk in. Something like 5 or 6
stations with elaborate displays of fruits, gradually working through all the
possibilities down to 3 or 4 breakfast meats to go with the eggs, or rice,
or black
beans or potatoes or pancakes, or spring rolls or things I couldn't name with
tasty insides. Cuban coffee comes with cream already in it - if you want
it black,
have to order Cafe Americano.
I didn't have any, but my impression is that their soft drinks are mostly fruit
flavors, but do include knock-off colas.

Well, that made me hungry!