I Went To Cuba Illegally - My Best Travel Experience

I wasn’t supposed to be there, but maybe that’s why it was so appealing to me.

My dad apparently couldn’t discipline the rebelliousness out of me as a child, because here I was, trying to be a functional adult in society, and yet still doing things just because someone told me that I couldn’t do them.

I prioritize traveling over paying for therapy to deal with my people-pleasing issues, so as a result, I normally follow the rules.

I just want to make everyone happy. The US, Russia, China, whoever. Let’s just all be happy.

But occasionally, the 4-year-old-temper-tantrum-naughty-chair-escaping-girl comes out in me, and I want to do something just because you said I couldn’t.

Stay in the naughty chair?

Nope. I’m going to my bedroom to play.

Oh, you’re gonna tie me down now??

Watch me get out of that one.

Oh, you’re going to lock me in my room now?

Good. That’s what I wanted in the first place. Sucker.

You can’t travel to Cuba if you’re a US Citizen.

Putting it on my bucket list.

And that’s how I ended up going to Cuba before it was legal.

Because Cuba just couldn’t possibly be as satisfying if it were legal to go there…right?

Cuba was amazing for so many reasons.

1. I wasn’t allowed to be there, and that made it sickly more satisfying for some reason.
2. The people were lovely. I made friends almost instantly, and ended up spending several nights laughing harder than I can remember.
3. Old cars and the best dancers in the world.

I don’t really have ANY pictures that prove that I went.

I only have a couple of generic photos that I could easily claim were Mexico if I got questioned by anyone at the airport.

Honestly, I was too scared to leave any trails of evidence behind that I had gone there (so naturally, I just post about it on the blockchain instead).

I went in the summer of 2012, and just one month before I went, someone had gotten arrested for going and on top of that, owed a $200,000 fine. Needless to say, I was pretty dang nervous about getting caught.

Here’s are some generic pictures that you should say is from Mexico if anyone asks:

Washing paper plates with a random Cuban kid I met, because you have to re-use that stuff there.

I had the best experience of going to a nursing home in Cuba "Mexico."

I like to do stuff like that occasionally.

When I stepped out of the car and in front of the nursing home…this beautiful, smiling lady was here to greet me.

For some reason, probably due to my lack of a filter, I blurted out: “Wow, you look sexy in those earrings! You’re going to get ALL the men in here!”

She just laughed, grabbed my arm, and we were inseparable after that.

She showed me her room. I made more inappropriate jokes that I can’t remember.

But I know the feeling I had…and I loved this woman.

She was my kind of crazy.

Speaking of crazy…

…the ending of my trip is nuts for about 3 different reasons.

I’m going to make a part 2 to this story, because I don’t have time to finish it now. I’m only posting it because the contest deadline is almost up and I don’t wanna miss it!

Otherwise I’d save this bad boy so I have something to post tomorrow.

But, I’m traveling again, and moving to a new city soon, so I guess catching bus/plane has to be top priority right now.

Yeah, I also have commitment issues... I can’t figure out where I want to live.

Thank you so much for hosting this contest for your birthday month @bigdeej ! And Happy birthday!!!!

It’s so awesome of you to celebrate by giving away something instead of receiving!

You can see the original contest post by @bigdeej here.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this story...

...which is all about the crazy thing I did with my Cuban contraband, and how I ended up with an Israeli girl in my bedroom, and some other things that I’ll mention later!

Love, @nomadicsoul

P.S. If you're the CIA or the FBI and you're reading this, this post is a myth. I did it for the likes.

This is for a contest entry, so I'd appreciate a comment! Thanks <3