My Recent Trip - Pt. 2: Cuba
Part 1 - Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-1-mexico/700444917008613
Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/
Postlude: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-postlude/700500773669694/
All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos
and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80
There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater
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I left Mexico City for Havana, Cuba on August 8, 2018. Yet again I used Airbnb. I lived in Vedado my whole stay, but I lived in two different houses. The first house was near Fabrica de Arte and Parque Lennon. I used the park near Hotel Cohiba for internet. The Cubans were quite nice, and they showed me the ropes. They taught me how to use Zapya for bluetooth file sharing, and in addition, they assisted me in making videos. The second house was near Hotel Presidente and Habana Libre. I played soccer in the local parks. I befriended a group of kids through soccer, and they assisted me in finding my own soccer ball in Havana. I paid them some money, and in exchange, they, in a group, led me to what appeared to be a tiny mall attached to Habana Libre. There, I purchased my green soccer ball, which was of pretty high quality (much better than the red ball I would later purchase in Canada, but we’ll touch upon that in Pt. 3). Hotel Presidente was my go-to internet spot. I befriended the staff there, and I juggled my soccer ball to entertain them. Using internet here cost 2 dollars an hour, but unlike the park ($1 an hour) where I could only use my phone, here, I could use their computers. Mucho más fácil jaja.
Oh yeah, using internet in Cuba generally costs money. People pay money to buy cards that specify login credentials to use internet for a specified amount of time. I would buy card after card haha.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/655622051490900/
I quickly developed a reputation for my soccer-playing in the area. Neighborhood kids would ask me to juggle in front of them. One day, very close to the end of my stay, I had my umbrella (in case of rain), and I juggled with the umbrella in front of a bus full of people. Multiple people on the bus whipped out their phones and took videos. About 10 minutes later, a pedestrian took a video with my phone of me doing the same, and I uploaded it to Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/672660563120382/
One difference I noticed in Cuba compared to the U.S. (and a lesser degree Mexico) is the people’s excitement whenever I played soccer. They REALLY liked it when I played soccer in Cuba. After seeing me play, people would treat me like their best buddy. Americans just don’t care or at times even get annoyed with me. And Americans NEVER take videos unless I explicitly request for them. Cubans took videos without asking for their own personal usage.
In Havana, I have a larger reputation for soccer than chess. In Boston, I have a larger reputation for chess than soccer. I did however play some chess during my stay in Havana. At first, I only played people in the street.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648528982200207/
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648542085532230/
Part 3 - Canada: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-pt-3-canada/700499207003184/
Postlude: https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-farrell/my-recent-trip-postlude/700500773669694/
All the videos taken during my trip are hosted here: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos
and here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzLV5qxkOHGnTe4ewA77IZLcpKSbG7p80
There are 18 videos or more as of this moment: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=701632450223193&set=a.271130169940092&type=1&theater
================================================================
I left Mexico City for Havana, Cuba on August 8, 2018. Yet again I used Airbnb. I lived in Vedado my whole stay, but I lived in two different houses. The first house was near Fabrica de Arte and Parque Lennon. I used the park near Hotel Cohiba for internet. The Cubans were quite nice, and they showed me the ropes. They taught me how to use Zapya for bluetooth file sharing, and in addition, they assisted me in making videos. The second house was near Hotel Presidente and Habana Libre. I played soccer in the local parks. I befriended a group of kids through soccer, and they assisted me in finding my own soccer ball in Havana. I paid them some money, and in exchange, they, in a group, led me to what appeared to be a tiny mall attached to Habana Libre. There, I purchased my green soccer ball, which was of pretty high quality (much better than the red ball I would later purchase in Canada, but we’ll touch upon that in Pt. 3). Hotel Presidente was my go-to internet spot. I befriended the staff there, and I juggled my soccer ball to entertain them. Using internet here cost 2 dollars an hour, but unlike the park ($1 an hour) where I could only use my phone, here, I could use their computers. Mucho más fácil jaja.
Oh yeah, using internet in Cuba generally costs money. People pay money to buy cards that specify login credentials to use internet for a specified amount of time. I would buy card after card haha.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/655622051490900/
I quickly developed a reputation for my soccer-playing in the area. Neighborhood kids would ask me to juggle in front of them. One day, very close to the end of my stay, I had my umbrella (in case of rain), and I juggled with the umbrella in front of a bus full of people. Multiple people on the bus whipped out their phones and took videos. About 10 minutes later, a pedestrian took a video with my phone of me doing the same, and I uploaded it to Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/672660563120382/
One difference I noticed in Cuba compared to the U.S. (and a lesser degree Mexico) is the people’s excitement whenever I played soccer. They REALLY liked it when I played soccer in Cuba. After seeing me play, people would treat me like their best buddy. Americans just don’t care or at times even get annoyed with me. And Americans NEVER take videos unless I explicitly request for them. Cubans took videos without asking for their own personal usage.
In Havana, I have a larger reputation for soccer than chess. In Boston, I have a larger reputation for chess than soccer. I did however play some chess during my stay in Havana. At first, I only played people in the street.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648528982200207/
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/648542085532230/
Soon later, I went to Club Capablanca and played a strong player there (2157). We played a few matches. I won the first and lost the rest. The videos on Facebook are of the second match.
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654622764924162/
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654900718229700
I lost a bit more weight in Cuba, especially during the period I was sick (gastroenteritis).
On my way out of Cuba, airport security took my green ball from me. I was told I was not allowed to bring the ball on the plane. I took a picture for my Facebook of the last time I saw my ball.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=673909612995477&set=pb.100011293339179.-2207520000.1536680411.&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654622764924162/
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.farrell.9699/videos/654900718229700
I lost a bit more weight in Cuba, especially during the period I was sick (gastroenteritis).
On my way out of Cuba, airport security took my green ball from me. I was told I was not allowed to bring the ball on the plane. I took a picture for my Facebook of the last time I saw my ball.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=673909612995477&set=pb.100011293339179.-2207520000.1536680411.&type=3&theater
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