Ojibear

Sounds like a wild time.

The Canadian dollar is tanking, but I got 71 cents on the US dollar (71 CUCs per 100CDN). I went to a swanking hotel (The National Hotel) where I was told I could exchange Canadian dollars, but, as it turned for guests only. The good thing was I meet a nice handsome German guy who was staying there who graciously exchanged the money for me, although they gave him a big hassle. What a guy! lol

Yoel kissed but not with much enthusiasm. The other fellow was much more romantic, but he is not professional rent boy. I gave him some money as gift. I think Yoel is probably bi, leaning towards straight.

I found a place a couple of days before I left where I could buy cold drinks a couple of doors down from my flat. Duh! lol I tried to be scrupulous about the water situation but I goofed up by drinking fresh juice on the last day.

"no hell" is a Canadian expression which means "no good". I found the food bland and overcooked. But the Cubans have lived on rations for years which isn't conducive to "haute cuisine". My flat was minimally equipped. Everything is old in Cuba. Everything worked. The shower was small and you could rest your chin on the sink when sitting on the toilet. Everything was clean. I was in Central Havana which is rougher part of Havana and kind of dirty (the streets). The vehicles are old and spewed dirty black smoke. Old Havana is much nicer, but I like Arian of Cafe Arian in Central who is a nice host. Havana makes you appreciate your home country where even the poor live better than some professionally educated people in Cuba.

I was in Havana from December 28th to January 4th. It was very hot and humid and this poor Canadian suffered. Fortunately I had good air conditioning in my flat but it curtailed any excursions except to to Mixte and Cafe Cantante for NYE. Mixte is a very nice club. Fantastic drag performers. I went there with Arian and Henry from the Casa and a straight couple from Zurich. I met young Felix who joined me at the end of the evening for a visit to my humble abode. He was a very smoochy, horny young Cuban. European looking and on the short side. 35CUCs. The major problem with Havana is access to potable water. I'm a big man and I drink a lot of water. Bottled water only comes in small plastic containers. You can't find any 2 liter bottles. I also find the food to be "no hell". I had a rendezvous with Yoel from PlanetRomeo. He's a very petit guy. European looking and a lovely pinga. A very sweet guy. Unfortunately my cellphone was stolen at Cafe Cantante NYE which begs the question why bring it in the first place... to take pictures. I don't think I'll even bring a phone on my next trip abroad, just bring a cheap digital camera. I also had problems finding a place to exchange money. All in all I'd give Havana a grade of C. I'm thinking of Rio or Porto Allegre next.

The hypocritical, puritanical government has no right poking their nose in people's bedrooms. What happens between consenting adults is their private business. This is a victimless "crime"!

Renting an apartment in Havana is very cheap (around 30 CUCs) a night. However, they are basic, but very clean. No vermin.

What's all the hullaballoo. He mean "recounting" and accidently wrote "recanting". A honest mistake.

ojibear@hotmail.com

I saw her movie "Trash" in London when I was 18. She was amazing!

I guess I meant "Let's get back to having fun!" What's more fun than making out with a handsome Brazilian dude! As well, not all of us have the financial wherewithal to travel to these places and enjoy some outrageously hot sex. I love hearing about Tomcal's adventures. He's inspired me to do the same.

You're so right! We're all here for the same reason, we all like handsome, hunky men. Drop the bitterness guys!

For those of you who are planning to go to Havana, Cuba - Arian - the proprietor of Casa Particular Arian, is the go-to person to vet any pinguero who catches your fancy. Most of Havana's finest pingueros have passed through his front door on the arm of guest of his Casa. So he knows which boys to avoid. Fortunately most of pingueros are nice guys. Casa Arian Address: Angeles #7 Altos, e/ Reina y Estrella, Centro Havana, Cuba Tel: +53 7 8673171 / +53 5 2708914 Generally speaking in your home community or abroad get to know the guy first (at least a little bit), no matter how delicious he may be. Trust your instincts and don't take any chances. BTW leaving for Havana in 29 sleeps!!

I booked my apartment already through Arian of Casa Arian. So I'll have a lot of privacy. I've lined up a couple of fellas already through GayRomeo. Not pingueros per se, but definitely hot hombres.

I'm returning to Havana for a week. December 28 - January 4. Looking forward to NYE in Havana. I wonder who I'll be kissing at midnight?

I watched "Radiant Sea" recently. It's a German movie. It's a love story about 2 sailors (1 German, 1 French). Very atmospheric. Very handsome actors and some passionate love making.

The Courtyard Marriott on Yonge is a 3 minute walk down Alexander Street to the village. It's gay friendly.

The porn industry has the capability of chewing you up and spitting you out. Very sad video!

I found it ontologically dull! lol

Whatever happened to civility in politics?

Could This Be the End of Gallavich? I'm a fan of the Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich love story on Shameless US. These star-crossed lovers have had a tough go of it, but are deeply in love. Everything has conspired to break this couple up. It looks like Ian's bipolar diagnosis could be the final nail in the coffin. It's a one-of-kind story arc on cable TV and it's the reason why I tune in every week. I'm praying that the story does not come to an end. The characters are young and cute and they are not your typical queeny bar twinks. Canadian actor Noel Fisher plays Mickey and has a unique sex appeal. Cameron Monaghan is the twinkier of the two and is a ginger. They have a great chemistry. Any of you guys like this series?

Before I went to Cuba I was warned repeatedly not to fall for romance scans and sure enough one of the first pingueros I met there said, "Te amo". I looked at him and chuckled, and he laughed back. As much as it's nice to dream; what would an extremely handsome young Cuban want with an old fossil like me. I know it's blunt, but better to be realistic. This one gentleman from Europe I met in Havana was falling in love with a young Cuban guy and insisted he "wasn't paying for it." I kept my cynical thoughts to myself, but the guy was over 30 years older than his boy. It's a story so old that it should have been set to music long ago!

A note about credit cards. You can use Visa at most bank machines. My Visa card is with a Canadian bank, so I'm not sure if American Visa cards will work in Cuba. Cuban banks are hell on earth. I felt sorry for the Cubans who have to use them on a regular basis. I used Cadeca in old Havana (http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g147271-d149029-i97633790-Old_Havana-Havana_Cuba.html) to exchange money (I used Mastercard). However, for Americans hoping to go there I am not sure if the Cuban banks accept American currency. I would check with other Americans who have traveled there and see what they did. You don't want to get stuck down there with no cash. I'm not sure if there is an American embassy there. If not, I'm pretty sure the Canadian or Australian embassy would help you.

The guys at Humboldt 52 and Las Vegas were mostly mulatto. On average they're about 5'10" to 6'. There were tall muscular guys to be had. The pinguero I picked up at Humbolt was about 6 foot, 160 lb, lean muscular with about 9 thick inches. He was activo. He did everything with gusto including kissing. I didn't see any heavily muscled guys, but they are all fit and go to the gym. You'll have fun.