The Longest Day

Feliz Navidad Chris y Prospero Año Nuevo. You are indeed a lucky person to live in such a beautiful environment, and how fortunate you are to spend your summer holidays in such a great location and get to call it, at the same time, home. I must confess that white Chritmases make a lot more sense. Christmas carols for one thing start to make a lot more sense. I have been ice skating and skiing over here. Yet the Kiwi in me has a soft spot for summer Christmases: blooming pohutukawa, lazing on the beach, running and cycling in the hills, long summer days and warm nights.

I am spending Christmas Day in Habana, though you may know it as Havana. I have always wanted to come here and consider myself fortunate to have experienced it before Fidel moves to greener pastures. It is an intoxicating city. It reminds me of New Orleans. There is music everywhere and people dancing. And my goodness can they dance. Not having any dancing ability whatsoever, it is an amazing experience to watch them dance and see how naturally it comes to them.

The thing you notice about Habana is that everything is run-down. The buildings are impressive but almost inariably delapidated. At night the streets are very dark as there is hardly any road lighting. Everyone earns the same wage, whether they are a surgeon or a raod cleaner. There is socialist propaganda everywhere and yet everyone is trying to survive through illegal means. People selling Havana cigars are everywhere. Most clubs charge 10 pesos (about twenty dollars) for entry but thereafter it is an open bar. I have drunk so much rum I think it is taking over my bloodstream. It is quite sad to see these gorgeous and often young girls offering their services just so that they can survive. The 10 pesos cover charge is a month´s wages for them. No one is allowed to leave the island, and though education and health are free, education is not a gateway to higher wages and medicine is in short supply. It seems spiteful on the part of the States to maintain their trade blockade, but when has US foreign policy ever been based on justice? It really does make you appreciate what you have yet, at the same time, one is struck by the thought that this way of life is the same for everyone over here and they know of no other way. All the smiles you encounter are not just forced for the tourist dollar. There is joy on the faces and music forms such a big part of that joy. It´s intoxicating to walk down the streets and watch these great big cars from the 50s on their last legs splutter by, people hanging from balconies, and music coming from all around. You find yourself not so much walking down the street as swaying.

So all the very best for your holidays Chris and I wish you continued success in 2006. (Well done on your promotion by the way)

PS As a meat eater, I like the analogy with religion. Ours is not to reason why... There is too much judging in the world and not enough accepting, but yet I still struggle as to see how anyone can enjoy the music of Michael Bolton. Some mysteries in life will forever remain unsolved. One answer remains the best to all such personal questions (even for the great mulleted one I guess): I enjoy it. Where´s the harm in that?

I'm like a moth to the flame with your blog ... I adore the landscapes you write of.

Thanks :)

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You can also read my old journal that I wrote in 2001 when I threw everything up in the air and did a road trip of New Zealand to help me make some decisions.

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