Revolution Square and Scuba Diving

Yesterday I took my first of four classes towards getting an IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers) Open Water Diver certification. They also have one of the worst website designs of modern times, something straight out of 1996. The only scuba diving experience I've had prior to this was a lesson in Okinawa they we had at the base swimming pool. We skipped the pool this time and went straight to the ocean since Cuba doesn't really have an abundance of pools deep enough to do this sort of thing in. I had a pretty good time and I have the second lesson today when I get off work. Here's a picture of the two other guys that are taking lessons with me. Man, did they give us some ridiculous gear to wear. I felt like I was ready to rumble for the WWE or something in those wetsuits.


The day before that I went with two other guys on a short bike tour of Havana. We peddled a couple miles southeast to Revolution Square and made a loop through the city. That's Jose Marti memorial building you see behind me and the other guy doing the bike salute.


We also went by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior with the outline of Che Guevara on it.


There's a few other sites to see around Havana and at least one museum that I know of that Cubans will permit us to visit. I'll have to plan some routes out so I can go see those soon. Unfortunately anything outside of the city is off limits to us, but I don't know that there's much anyways besides a few tourists resorts. For those of you wondering what it's like to be a diplomat in Cuba, read this. Much of this I wouldn't have told you had you asked me, but since this article is just floating around in public domain I don't see any harm in pointing it out for you.

And for this weekend I have my trip to Miami to see my girlfriend, Andrea. This week has been in stark contrast of last weekend as far as having anything to do goes. Also, doesn't look like I'm going to get come home for another Christmas. Maybe I'll have a turn of luck next year.

The pictures are up and I'll do another post sometime this weekend, enjoy...