• Spam, and Other Drugs

    “We’re here for just two and a half weeks, and then I have to go back to the Netherlands for a battle of the bands. My band qualified for a competition, and I play bass,” Ophir beamed. “Jealous!” I announced. I turned to the other tall blonde guy sitting next to Ophir on the bunk…

  • Two Currencies, Two Worlds

    I relieved myself for what was maybe the fifth time in a week. I’d never needed to pee in Cuba; any liquid entering my body immediately came out on my skin in my body’s pitiful attempt at staying cool. One soap dispenser was stocked, miraculously, and smelled strongly of gummy bears. I looked at the…

  • On Cuba

    Going on overseas adventures has sort of become second nature to me in the past four years of on-and-off full-time travel, and several American friends told me Cuba had been great, if not a bit expensive. While nervous, I was excited. Cuba hadn’t been (legally) open to American tourists since 1963 as part of the…