{"id":1244,"date":"2011-10-29T18:28:27","date_gmt":"2011-10-29T23:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/?p=1244"},"modified":"2015-05-20T08:45:25","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T15:45:25","slug":"on-the-road-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/on-the-road-again\/","title":{"rendered":"On the road again&#8230; Travel from Panama to Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On Tom&#8217;s birthday (October 27th) we got to return to his Costa Rican birth-place on a twelve hour &#8220;en transito&#8221; visa en route to Cuba. We left our tropical island 3-month home behind us for a last couple of weeks of sunshine with Tom&#8217;s father in Cuba before heading to winter in the &#8220;father-land.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig1\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-5ac3fad5223f634a342cdc0fcbabbe65 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig1-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329159701_f6c6f05d92_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329159701_f6c6f05d92_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7783\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7783<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329928136_e62a9dfb68_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329928136_e62a9dfb68_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7831\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7831<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>Nostalgia and excitement were battling it out inside of us as we left behind the dogs and new friends we had grown to love, Tom&#8217;s bird, and our first home together.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig2\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-70672bec929313f3b748f4f403144a20 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig2-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329082641_edb1a97b9e_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329082641_edb1a97b9e_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7732\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7732<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329847006_eefe3980f1_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329847006_eefe3980f1_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1396\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1396<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329900844_d8c3ceac44_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329900844_d8c3ceac44_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7767\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7767<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6014681374_91dc9ac85b_o-980x430.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6014681374_91dc9ac85b_o-980x430.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"Pano\" width=\"1823\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">Pano<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329808788_1f5e427d67_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329808788_1f5e427d67_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7700\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7700<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329816978_5d6e6708c0_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329816978_5d6e6708c0_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1383\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1383<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329128601_4be1760d61_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329128601_4be1760d61_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1430\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1430<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>As we flew into Cuba excitement\u00a0definitely\u00a0emerged victorious, though we loved our time in Bocas it sure felt good to be off exploring and experiencing new things once again.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig3\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-40c7820b12b84d263475f8c080529f30 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig3-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329178621_af071fa6ae_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329178621_af071fa6ae_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7848\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7848<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329179473_840032c452_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329179473_840032c452_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7850\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7850<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>People are always talking about how &#8220;time has stopped&#8221; for Cuba. Referencing the iconic classic cars, art deco buildings being taken over by vines and an\u00a0apparently\u00a0simpler way of life.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig4\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-06f766f1312c90910e445b938b7993e0 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig4-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329937148_475d926a96_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329937148_475d926a96_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7864\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7864<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329944404_05b0fc8a3b_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329944404_05b0fc8a3b_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7870\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7870<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329202989_19c539deb6_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329202989_19c539deb6_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7880\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7880<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>There is a feeling of a time-warp for the traveler as well due to the basically non-existence of internet and public telephone service. We did not realize just how effortless technology has made traveling in the last five years. Need a place to eat? Just pull up some travel blogs for\u00a0recommendations. Need a room in the next city you are going? Find a hostel online and then call them through skype on your laptop using the wifi at your hostel. In Cuba there is no jumping online to buy plane, train, or bus tickets. There is no using skype or google voice to call somewhere to ask for directions. There is no shooting off e-mails to several different hostels, and then comparing them via online reviews. We also did not realize how much all of those \u201c\u00a0conveniences\u201d serve to keep you separate from the people who live in the country you are exploring.\u00a0 In Cuba you either sign up with a tour group that shuttles you from one resort to another or you spend a whole lot of time talking to Cubans. Chatting seems to be up there with baseball as a National Cuban sport so that works out well when traveling with Michael, Tom&#8217;s gregarious and fluent-in-Spanish Dad.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig5\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-7f0e1a84ddc0380c337cecdf923284d1 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig5-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329991054_80268774d8_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329991054_80268774d8_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7912\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7912<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330242138_ae97b5e1f3_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330242138_ae97b5e1f3_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7951\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7951<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330259210_439cb0356c_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330259210_439cb0356c_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1562\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1562<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>Traveling in Cuba is a little bit different than traveling anywhere else we have been. It\u2019s like traveling is supposed to be. It\u2019s like traveling in a movie, where everything is safe and everyone you meet is happy you are there, and instantly envelops you into the warm folds of their family. Everything you do is arranged through someone\u2019s friend, cousin or neighbor and that gives you a friendly introduction and a common connection.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"size-large\" href='http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAP\/\/\/wAAACwAAAAAAQABAEACAkQBADs=\" data-lazy-src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-735x980.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8012\" alt=\"IMG 1535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-735x980.jpg 735w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-216x288.jpg 216w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-735x980.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8012\" alt=\"IMG 1535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-735x980.jpg 735w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-216x288.jpg 216w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329451391_50686c9667_o.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You stay with families and eat with families, they make sure you have a good time and are well fed.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig6\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-aed423dd280f261d4c8ad3dbae4f5ebb jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig6-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330316290_f09d4d2435_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330316290_f09d4d2435_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 8025\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 8025<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329568171_dfb74be1e2_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329568171_dfb74be1e2_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 8026\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 8026<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>The whole lovely package is made complete by a feeling of safety that we have not felt in other places. Not that we have spent much time feeling unsafe, but Cuba feels unusually safe.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"size-large\" href='http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAP\/\/\/wAAACwAAAAAAQABAEACAkQBADs=\" data-lazy-src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-735x980.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8015\" alt=\"IMG 7953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-735x980.jpg 735w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-216x288.jpg 216w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o.jpg 1368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"735\" height=\"980\" src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-735x980.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8015\" alt=\"IMG 7953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-735x980.jpg 735w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-216x288.jpg 216w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329492215_4f16329b29_o.jpg 1368w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Even better, for the first time we are a novelty as US citizens. Cubans have not been exposed to the\u00a0barrage\u00a0of US television and commercialism that the rest of the world has, which means they aren&#8217;t sick of us and our boring accents right off the bat.<\/p>\n<p>Our first night in Vinales we were invited to the 24<sup>th<\/sup> birthday party of our hosts&#8217; daughter. Before the party we ate lunch with the birthday girl\u2019s aunt, and her grandfather showed us how he makes cigars with the tobacco from the pinar del rio region- which according to him is the most legit of all tobacco anywhere.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig7\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-6bc01b587613577f93ad09b2da34a475 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig7-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329522853_ff36edff71_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329522853_ff36edff71_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1587\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1587<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329511363_659e4d799d_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329511363_659e4d799d_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1569\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1569<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/6330256834_41b2721b0a_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F03%2F6330256834_41b2721b0a_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1560\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1560<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330251372_08c36a9786_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330251372_08c36a9786_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1556\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1556<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>Upon trying to pay for the cigars he rolled us he fought with us like a a favorite Aunt over whether or not we could contribute to a dinner bill. Finally just leaving some money on the table we assured him that we would bring the rum to that night&#8217;s party.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"size-large\" href='http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o.jpg'><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"980\" height=\"735\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODdhAQABAPAAAP\/\/\/wAAACwAAAAAAQABAEACAkQBADs=\" data-lazy-src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-980x735.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8019\" alt=\"IMG 1580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-288x216.jpg 288w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"980\" height=\"735\" src=\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-980x735.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large aligncenter wp-image-8019\" alt=\"IMG 1580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-288x216.jpg 288w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330271534_dd7755e96c_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The birthday party had everything a party should, from elaborately decorated birthday cakes to singing, dancing, laughing and drinking.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig8\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-3b2ee228e3cbafbc324887a939b63428 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig8-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330320642_d50dc25e78_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330320642_d50dc25e78_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 8028\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 8028<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330323200_0dd4d50331_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330323200_0dd4d50331_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 8034\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 8034<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n<p>We were accepted into the party without a raised eyebrow, and after no time were joking with neighbors and dangling 4 year olds on our knees. I didn\u2019t even realize until I was falling asleep that the only thing I did not see was a single gift- though I wouldn\u2019t say it was missing. As one guy told us (later in Trinidad) \u201cCubans don\u2019t have many stores or malls. We don\u2019t have much money, or really anything to buy if we did have money, so instead of shopping we have parties. We dance, we sing and we drink.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dancing, singing and drinking? I\u2019ll take that over shopping any day!<\/p>\n<p>There are some little things about Cuba that are so different they make you pause. Immigration forms bear the tell-tale purple font of a &#8220;dittoed&#8221; form. People in stores laugh incredulously if you ask for a bag when making some purchases. They kindly and patiently explain to you (as if to a very young and incredibly stupid child) that you can carry something in each hand and put your bar of soap in your pocket. I actually saw a woman open up her purse to dump in some raw hamburger meat for carrying. If the bakery has some cakes to sell you see people walking home precariously balancing a full-on-frosted-cake in their hands or on a wad of newspaper.<\/p>\n<p>There is no waste here. Everything looks as though it has been used all the way up, and then carefully washed and used again. There is no trash on the streets- it is one of the cleanest places we have ever seen, and there is basically no crime. The bugs are also conspicuous by their absence. The locals attribute it to government-run fumigations to make sure that people don\u2019t get any insect borne- diseases. Coming from a place where dengue and Leishmaniasis are common and malaryia is always at the edge of your worries, that was quite a relief!<\/p>\n<p>The Cubans themselves are by far the friendliest people we have ever met anywhere. We were surprised that any country could wrangle that title away from the Colombians (who were outlandishly nice as well) but I think the Cubans did it! A taxi driver who took us to Ernest Hemingway&#8217;s finca outside of Havana mentioned that we were near his house. I jokingly asked if we were going to stop by to meet the family. The next thing we knew we were in his home looking at baby pictures while he insisted he needed to make us coffee.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s the kind of nice that almost makes us wary and distrustful until we realize that people are just that nice there. If you have a band-aid strangers stop you on the street to make sure you are all right and give you a hug and kiss. Cuban children are coddled and loved by every adult they come into contact with- which I think causes them to grow up into the kind, loving, confident people that most Cubans seem to be. \u00a0Basically everyone in Cuba seems like they are family, and treat travelers like family they just haven&#8217;t met yet.<\/p>\n<p>When I thought of Cuba before this trip I thought of steamy dance clubs, bars clouded with cigar smoke, communism and classic cars. I did not think of the bucolic farmland scenes, cleanliness, safety, art and insane\u00a0friendliness\u00a0of the people that seems to make up the majority of Cuba.<\/p>\n<div id=\"jig9\" class=\"justified-image-grid jig-85c8bca2f90cbc4f987f5e490e4a36e0 jig-preset-global\"><div class=\"jig-clearfix\"><\/div><noscript id=\"jig9-html\" class=\"justified-image-grid-html\" data-lazy-src=\"skiplazyload\" data-src=\"skipunveillazyload\"><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329516525_ae635dac5f_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329516525_ae635dac5f_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1572\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1572<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329525067_629b3577a1_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329525067_629b3577a1_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1591\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 1591<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329461163_d4a8501973_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329461163_d4a8501973_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7933\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7933<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329458375_66a410a304_o-980x735.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329458375_66a410a304_o-980x735.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7929\" width=\"1066\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7929<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6330308660_8c655238a3_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6330308660_8c655238a3_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 8019\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 8019<br\/><\/p><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/6329536757_970198f43b_o-735x980.jpg\"><img src=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/justified-image-grid\/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Ftillthemoneyrunsout.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F05%2F6329536757_970198f43b_o-735x980.jpg&amp;h=800&amp;q=90&amp;f=.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 7980\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><p class=\"jig-HTMLdescription\">IMG 7980<br\/><\/p><\/li><\/ul><\/noscript><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Tom&#8217;s birthday (October 27th) we got to return to his Costa Rican birth-place on a twelve hour &#8220;en transito&#8221; visa en route to Cuba. We left our tropical island 3-month home behind us&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n<title>Travel From Panama to Cuba<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A travel blog post about leaving our housesit in Bocas del Toro to travel from Panama to Cuba.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Travel From Panama to Cuba\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A travel blog post about leaving our housesit in Bocas del Toro to travel from Panama to Cuba.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Till The Money Runs Out\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tillthemoneyrunsout\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tillthemoneyrunsout\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-10-29T23:28:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-05-20T15:45:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/6329564637_466bd2e75c_b.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"540\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jenny\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/\",\"name\":\"Till The Money Runs Out\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/6329564637_466bd2e75c_b.jpg\",\"width\":720,\"height\":540},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/\",\"name\":\"Travel From Panama to Cuba\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2011-10-29T23:28:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-05-20T15:45:25+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b1c24e22dfef5988a8dd3292fff56b80\"},\"description\":\"A travel blog post about leaving our housesit in Bocas del Toro to travel from Panama to Cuba.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/104.236.190.132\/on-the-road-again\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/#\/schema\/person\/b1c24e22dfef5988a8dd3292fff56b80\",\"name\":\"Jenny\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63226915c1c14cb9269a03d0c0cde014?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Jenny\"},\"description\":\"I think of California as officially \\\"home\\\" but can usually be found a lot closer to the equatorial belt. After finishing a Masters program in 2011 I found myself trying to decide between a couple of different high-powered career options. I decided I wasn't quite ready to \\\"grow up\\\" and went with an entirely different plan which involved selling off everything I owned with my partner Tom and buying a one-way ticket to Colombia. Our plan was to travel \\\"Till The Money Ran Out\\\" and then go home to start our grown-up lives. Instead, we started our own app development company on the road and have been criss-crossing the globe, traveling, working, eating spicy food and refusing to \\\"grow up\\\" ever since. You can find me on Twitter, Google+, Facebook or send me a message using our About Us page.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tillthemoneyrunsout\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tillthemoney\"]}]}<\/script>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1244"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8029,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1244\/revisions\/8029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tillthemoneyrunsout.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}