Havana, last stop

In Havana, we actually got to know ourselves quite well. We treated ourselves to a private room at the hostel at the end. On the one hand, because there was a huge mess with all the packing, and on the other hand, just to enjoy a little.

In the evening, we briefly stopped at a large hotel where we had Wi-Fi. To plan everything for the upcoming return trip. On the way there, we bumped into someone talking about a 'live concert blablabla'. We told him that we didn't have time, but asked if he knew where we could find good internet. He said he was on a break anyway and he would join us. We went to a hotel together and had a Cuba Libre and talked a bit. Then we found out that we actually know some people in Switzerland through mutual connections. After 2 hours, he managed to get us two tickets for the live show, what a surprise. In the evening, we went to the show. Some of you probably know it. 'Buena Vista Social Club'. We went there and naturally received a welcome drink, a Cuba Libre. We were then led to our table inside a very typical Cuban bar/restaurant. The show started and we were getting goosebumps. Some 90-year-old men and women sang incredibly well.

Cool music was playing and the Cuba Libre in our hand made it perfect. (The statement where we ended up came from a Cuban after asking about water and he said they only drink rum and cannot get any water, which I can now understand slowly). At our table, there was also a couple from Buenos Aires. We started talking to them and were surprised how well we could communicate with them.

On the way back to the hostel, Muriel really wanted to have another one. It was quite late and this time I had to support her a little while walking up the stairs :-P. Then she wanted to go to a gallery, and in the morning, for about an hour it seemed, we talked about some pictures and I could convince her not to take the 4 x 4 meter painting home (especially not for 2,000 francs).

The next day we walked around a bit, had a nice meal, and then looked for Muriel's favorite cat in the park. Fun fact, we ran into the Swiss couple again, whom we had already met twice in Cuba. We all laughed a lot. Then we went to have one more drink together and talked about our vacation. On the way back to the hostel, we bought some souvenirs. Rum, t-shirts, postcards, cigars, and other things were on our shopping list. I must say, I think there is nothing more difficult than buying cigars in Havana. You have to be very careful not to buy counterfeit cigars (inferior tobacco wrapped in banana leaves). In the end, we had everything except the cigar. The one in our hostel said that someone who lives in the same building sells them. So we waited for her in the living room. She came with the best cigar and sold it for a bargain price. I didn't trust those things and just let her do it. Because if I give a cigar expert a counterfeit, the goal is not achieved. But then in a famous, big hotel, we still managed to get a good cigar in an official tobacco shop.

The last day came and in the evening we had the return flight. Everything actually went very fast and we were already sitting on the plane. When we stood at the baggage carousel in Zurich, we were as nervous as we were when we left. Finally, we saw our family again. And when we went through customs and saw our family (with a welcome sign), we were overjoyed. Finally, Swiss ground under our feet again.

That was it, 7 months, 11 countries, met so many amazing people (and animals), about 25,000 km on the road, 18,000 km by plane, and over 5,000 hours spent with the best woman in the world. It was truly incredible, better than I could have imagined.