DELIGHTFUL MONTH OF TRAVEL. JULY 2019

It is 31 July 2019 and I recollect pleasantly what a wonderful month of travel it has been for me

Began the month of July in La Havana being well looked after by my sister and then 

Miami, thanks to J and J 

Barcelona, thanks to L and A

A first time visit to Vienna, thanks to BB

Quiberon, France and as always LGBS

A delightful as well as delicious time in Fort Cochin in the company of my good friends RN and MP. I have to thank the staff at Bristow’s Bungalow for making the four day stay there very agreeable.

I welcomed some new friends and had to let go of some acquaintances who were too much of a drain. But was a good month to help people in many countries and on line!

It was full of challenges to the mind and intellect: architecture, food, cultural conflicts all the while accumulating so much knowledge.

So much contrast, between the West and the East; between enslaved minds and free minds, migration and personal sorrows.

The strength of affections that stand the test of time and those frivolous ones that flit away into oblivion.

Two sisters one in Havana and another in Miami

France with its love and hate relationship with my heart

Vienna was a total surprise, the ambiance, the gothic architecture and pleasantness of people. It felt like Europe that I remembered as a student.

How can Hotels become homes? For me, the list is slowly growing. Double Tree by Hilton in KL, Marriott Marquis in Doha, Qatar.. and just now, four days at Bristow’s Bungalow in Fort Cochin facing the Arabian Sea. I know all the staff at this hotel by name and sometimes the families as well. They treat me much more than a guest..and show genuine concern and shower me with food as well as gifts.. as has happened in the other two hotels mentioned..

My two delightful friends in Fort Cochin, one of whom took me to the backwaters to witness the trials of the snake boat race to be held on the 10th august, the other jovial gent with whom i had a lovely dinner at the Grand Hotel. Both of them are fervently pro-Israeli and we can make plans to include Israel in our future rendezvous’

Time to return to the passions of Cuba, where friendships have a deeper meaning than many other countries because of our peculiar situation.

On my long flight home, I would enjoy ruminating about the delights of the past month and look forward to an equally delicious month of travel and encounter and food to come

40 HOURS IN LA HABANA

I had made short visits to La Habana previously, notably a 36 hour visit from Buenos Aires, longer journey than sojourn and this time I did a 40 hours visit to La Habana. before going to Barcelona
I did not expect a 1954 Chevrolet to pick me up and what more, it was air conditioned..

When I got home, my landlady had already bought the vegetables that I like and had started preparing my lunch.

The Cuban Yogurt is delicious not to mention very poor free of chemicals 

I accomplished what I had come to do and had a wonderful sleep, thanks to my Cuban sister who is also my landlady

after breakfast on day 2, this time with some good cuban cheese as well as pieces of lobster, it was time to go to the airport and my faithful friend the driver arrived on time.

American Airlines flight to Miami, just 40 minutes, before you know you are landing.

Miami has instituted face recognition technology on arrival and i went and faced a machine and pressed the button and outcame a welcome to the USA and i was out of the door 

The Uber driver arrived promptly, and I listened sympathetically the usual tragic stories of hard work, irregular meals, double jobs and menial jobs of . recent migrants. He had trained at IT person and now works as a Uber driver in Miami. Very nice guy to chat with and soon I was home at my sister's.

MY LIFE IN HAVANA

TURNING THE TABLES OF FRAUDSTERS . THIS TIME A LYFT DRIVER AT MIAMI AIRPORT

 I had arrived on a flight from Havana to Miami International Airport and cleared the customs and immigration in record time. (I have Special Entry)
I requested an Lyft driver and he immediately answered my request.

 I knew something was amiss, when his car was stationary on the GPS.

 Minutes went by, and the driver, Daciel by name driving a Mercedes Benz C Class was not budging from his position.

 This is a well known fraud practised by Uber and Lyft drivers, they know that the recently arrived International arrival, want to reach his destination soon. By not answering the call and not moving his car, the person who requests cancels the ride and Daciel would collect his 5 dollar fee. and wait to entrap another Lyft requesting passenger.

 I called him several times and send him texts to tell him where I am and that I am waiting for him. Still no movement from Daciel. He never answered his call, but I could see that the ringing would stop and silence would follow.

 Now it occured to me to turn the table on him. I called him and let the call open, as he was not answering thus blocking his incoming calls. He will not be able to answer another Lyft request

 Forty minutes after I had requested the car and having watched him not moving, I think he got the gist, I was not going to release my call to him.

 Then I saw him moving and coming towards the airport

 I did not cancel my ride and I could see him coming to the spot where i was supposed to meet me a full 44 minutes after I had requested a LYFT ride.

 To add insult to injury, LYFT informed me that the ride was cancelled and I would be charged 5.00

So for LYFT to know this fraud committed by one of their drivers. I am sure I was not the first one that Daciel the LYFT driver had cheated, adding to the reputation of MIAMI as the FRAUD capital of USA.
If LYFT was decent, they would reimburse the 5.00 charged for Daciel arriving 41 plus minutes late and cancelling the request which was made all that time ago and compensate me for the time and anguish.
I will write to LYFT and if I don't get a satisfactory answer, I will delete their app from my cell phone and request my friends do the same
Golden days of share rides seem to be over!