I know many people have been already, lucky them! And like most destinations that I have seen on my timeline from social media of places that many have visited (Dubai, Thailand, etc), I do feel like this is one of those places, I MUST go and see for myself. I am also hoping that the post following this one, will give insight on my visit, as there have been many rules changed for visiting Cuba, coming from the USA. However, I have seen many people make it, so fingers crossed!
Going here, has given me more anxiety, than any other place I have visited. Why?
I keep reading and hearing about the amount of available resources that one in the USA takes for granted, such as running water and toilet paper!
The currency exchange and how to go about it.
The lack of cellular service, for us with phones from the USA, as well as lack of WiFi accessibility.
The documents and requirements that need to be met in order to qualify to travel to the country, from the USA.
Speaking very little Spanish.
Just so you know, I was born and raised and still live in the Bronx, NY, and grew up with MANY Latinx people, so my Spanglish was awesome back in the day. My Godfather is Puerto Rican :-).
I got even better with my Spanish once I went to high school, in the Latin capital of New York City, Washington Heights. I took Spanish for 3 years and passed my Regents exam with an 80. Not bad for someone who never spoke Spanish!
When I went to college, I was no longer surrounded by my Latin counterparts, so I lost some knowledge of the language hence why, I am definitely nervous about going to Cuba. I now listen for key words and use context clues lol.
I do not know much about Cuba. I just really learned a little more about the country, once my president Barack Obama, allowed travel to the country.
I was always informed that some of the best doctors were from Cuba.
I have a neighbor whose mom and dad were kicked out of the country, during the waves of exiled Cubans to the USA began, when Fidel came into power.
Same neighbor, was the first Black/Afro Cuban I ever met and knew. There was a time I was only exposed to Black/Afro Puerto Rican's (another neighbor) and learned in high school, of Black/Afro Dominicans.
Let me just note, as this is a conversation that has taken place many times: I and many of us growing up from the 80's in NYC public school, sadly did not learn about slaves being sent to Latin countries. I did not learn the difference and the existence of Black people in Latin countries, until I reached high school, thanks to the mix of friends I had gained, and the discussions we had. College, I met my first Black/Afro Central American friend, who informed me of how her people ended up in Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. They are Garifuna and she's from Guatemala (see my blog post on my Guatemala trip to her island).
It is because of this, I am excited for this visit. I am excited to hear from the Cuban people themselves about their lives in their country. I am more excited to learn more about the Afro Cuban culture within this country, as I also learned, they were not widely accepted. I'm sure my neighbor knows about her parents country, but I kinda want to tell her what I saw and spill more tea lol.
I am also excited about just seeing the architecture and the time warp of the country. When looking for airbnb's to stay in, some of them were decorated with a combo of vintage and modern furniture, which gave this chic feel. Just all around dope. Some of them are located on the personal property of families that live in another part of the house (Casa Particulars), and some are located in buildings that look terrible on the outside (from photos we saw online) but inside were modern condo apartments! It's crazy and I can't wait.
It's a chill day for us. Adjusting to time change and having had partied late, we were tired!
We finally get to see what the breakfast spread is and boy oh boy...was it wonderful! Each station has a chef ready to make your egg any style, fry your bacon any style (I like mine crispy), and pancakes made that looked more like Crepes, as well as some items available buffet style, for your picking. There was always an abundance of peeled and sliced fruit, 4 different kinds of fresh squeezed juices, and home made baked goods (I buttered my Croissant).
Seated in the same spot as dinner by the pool, we were now enjoying the bright view of the beach in the distance, tall trees, with low tide beginning, as the break in the waves, seemed to be about a half a mile out already. The water still blue and green.
Because some of us were still tired, we decided to go back to bed for a nap, especially me. However, my bff decided to take herself on a tour of the beach and the hotel grounds. Let me just say, she got the best photos!
Sunday 2pm Zanzibar, 7am NYC Photo shoot Fresh
If you saw my post on my Instagram, you saw that my Aunt gave me a camera of hers for use, since I wanted to snap way better photos for this trip. I am not one who likes to be in front of the camera, I rather try and catch natural moments however, when you have friends with you who love to take a picture, a photo shoot happens almost all the time. I texted them asking them to wake up so we can freshen up and take pictures before the sun goes down. With the beach and parts of the hotel as our backdrop, we were watched as we posed off LOL!
Dinner finally rolled around and me, per say, was excited to be eating again, since dinner would entail local food cuisine. Per usual, I was fulfilled with my dish. Nothing beats fresh veggies that are sauteed just right! While eating, we had a performance taking place by the pool, from a local band, that showed traditional dancing and music.
We finally went to bed to prepare for the next day's adventure
Monday 7am Zanzibar, 12am NYC Prison Island Tour
The fact that we had to be up so early just to enjoy this tour for the full day, was beyond us. Of course we went to bed late, only to wake early for our pick up from Azizi. We drove roughly 45 minutes to Stone Town, where we would get our own private boat to Prison Island. Before boarding our boat, we of course took photos along the way, every chance we could get.
We even got a tour of one of the newly built hotel in the city and a chance to see one of its luxury rooms.
Saying "Ndizi" to smile which means Banana in Swahili
It's finally time for us to get on our boat but, not without being harassed to buy some items from the local peddlers on the beach, one of whom did not take no for an answer!
Our "captain" of our little speed boat, didn't smile much.
We couldn't understand. We even tried cracking a few jokes with him but no smile. We later found out, he didn't understand English that well, because we were speaking too fast for him. Once our jokes were translated and we spoke slower, he smiled and even laughed.
We hop off the boat and proceed to make our way to our Prison Island tour. Please note, humidity at this time is about 100% with clouds.
I couldn't understand why! But, it worked to our benefit, as it was better than having the sun beaming directly on us, while on this island with very few trees.
Prison Island was not actually and island that held prisoners. It was originally a place where rebellious slaves were held (Prison Island). It later was used as a quarantine for those infected with Yellow Fever.
Without having had done a lot more research, to our surprise after paying our entry fee, we came upon a mini forest that is covered by...TORTOISES! Just these slow, old, giant Tortoises, hanging out with the occasional Peacock roaming around them.
It was just something so weird and fascinating to see at the same time. The tortoises were a gift from the British governor of Seychelles (another African country/island) in 1919. We were able to walk among them, feed them, and even got followed by a few who wanted more food. They make you nervous, as you may think they would pop their heads out and bite you, but that was not the case.
We continued to tour the island, which now has a hotel and restaurant on it. Some of the old prison cells for the slaves have now been turned into lounge areas, still with remnants of the in-ground hooks that they chained the slaves to.
Just sad to see. We journey out to a ledge where, unwanted slaves were tossed to the low tide below, on the coral. Silence falls over us.
We return to our boat to continue with our tour, by snorkeling nearby. The coral and starfish we saw, were amazing. Not too many fish were around to catch on film, but plenty clear ocean blue and green water to just relax in.
Song: Temper by Skales
The sun slowly began to come out and my friend began to tell us about the time she tried to bring a Starfish home for her mom...from Jamaica.
Monday 3pm Zanzibar, 8am NYC Stone Town
We return to the mainland, with time to freshen up, change, and explore Stone Town a bit more. The inner workings of Stone Town was awesome. Something you see in movies. Locals all around us, tiny "streets" where people still rode their mopeds, speeding pass those walking in the tiny space (which later became annoying as hell) was unique.
Shop owners could smell tourist on us from a mile away, as well as, we clearly didn't look local LOL. But we were often mistaken for being from South Africa.
They also didn't know what we were from the hustling capital of the world, New York City, BORN AND RAISED, so as they threw their prices out, we threw ours out. A battle that had to be seen in person, which was quite funny to say the least. We always won :-)
There were very few tourists in the area where we were, which I liked. I loved that we were among some of the living spaces of the local people who, well word on the street is, gentrification is hitting them as well so many are being pushed out that area. Sad, but sounds all too familiar.
Monday 5pm Zanzibar, 10am NYC Local Market and East African Slave Trade Museum
We proceed to the local market, the "Fish Market". BOY...OH BOY! You know how you see documentaries that are shown on television, that show the busy markets in developing countries. Can I tell you, we were in the thick of it. So think and trying to keep up, that I tried my best to get some of it on film, without risking getting robbed or lost from my crew.
It wasn't just fish being sold, it was all food items you would buy in your local grocery, but on the street sidewalk on the ground, or in a cart. Fruits looking so fresh and ripe, veggies looking like they weren't injected with any hormones, just NICE!
Fish Market
Spices, Teas, Oils, Fresh Veggies
The market was roughly a 2 block walk from the East African Slave Trade Museum.
I'll admit, I never knew much about a slave trade taking place in East Africa. I was only familiar with the West African slave trade, as its where my descendants come from.
The museum contains photos and stories pertaining to how the people who were freed, later changed their names and religions, to not be associated to their slave descendants, as well as to not be a target for possible mistreatment due to their previous status.
Because the museum is located in the actual spot of where the trading took place, we were able to step inside 2 of the small chambers where slaves were held.
There is also a church in place of where slaves were auctioned off, right at the pulpit of where a church now stands in place.
When whipped during the auction, a step up, symbolized the increase in cost for a particular slave, a step down meant a decrease in pricing as well as, possible next steps for this slave to be deemed unusable and possibly killed.
Monday 7pm Zanzibar, 12pm NYC
We finally said it was time to go home. Most of the streets in Stone Town are not well lit, unless its in areas where big events are taking place like, local food vendors in the square selling food or nearby restaurants that are open right on the water, which is also frequented by kids after school who just jump in the ocean, in their school clothes, for a cool down.
However, I also didn't realize how closer we were to the ferry that comes from mainland Tanzania. It was because of this, we ended up in jam packed traffic as well as a police detail that just seemed to be rolling through the dark streets, going nowhere honestly. I was just happy to be able to nap in the car and hurry back for dinner at the hotel..which per usual, was phenomenal.
We decide that our following day, was going to be another chill day.
If your interested in visiting Africa or any other parts of the world, and want to get booked (payment plan options available), along with further information, e-mail me at ChristinaCtravels@gmail.com
