Lost Boys & Co.

Lost Boys & Co... P laces where a lot of people stop:  #1  La Bodequita del Medio.  This is where Hemingway was a regular.  Kinda like Brothers, except everyone has written their names on every bit of available wall, furniture and fixture space.  It's about 15' wide on the street side and keeps expanding as you walk back to the inner restaurant and bar.   A tad smoky this morning from the fires raging in Rancho Cucamonga, but about 15 miles visibility anyway.  Winds were howling offshore at about 12kts and the sea surface was a tad rippled.  The air was a warm 69.5˚ and the water was warming up at the buoy to 59.2˚.  High tide was at 11:14am +4.1' and low tide will be at 4:23pm +1.5'.  We have a SW swell out of 225˚ at 3.0' and it's 2' to 3'. #2. The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral of Havana and just happens to be where Ivan's father was married (at least once!)  A remarkable colonial...

Lost Boys & Co... A fter Donald saw this pic of LoLa and Andrew he called her and asked her not to take pictures with the employees of his cigar company.  She told him to go to hell.  This was Andrew and he was the night watchman at a cigar company.  For his work he makes $16 a month.  He gets free medical, free education and a place to live, but since $16 (Cuban) still doesn't go very far, he sells cigars on the black  market.  A box of Cuban's goes for $40 and beats working nights... A bit of wafflation on the water this morning, with 17 miles visibility and partly cloudy skies.  Winds were out of the NNE at 5.4kts and the sea surface was slightly bumped.  The air temperature was 63.3˚ and the water dropped a few to 59.5˚.  High tide was at 10:29am +4.3' and low tide will be at 3:49pm +1.1'.  We have a diminishing swell from the SSW 227˚ at 3.6' and it was 3'.  Maybe it'll be a bit cleaner mañana... J on Mangiagli was on as...

Lost Boys & Co... C an you imagine running into one of these babies?  (photo #1)  Jonny Mangiagli saw it first and yelled to the Professor.  It was as big as a football and the tentacles were 10' to 15' long.  The stat that put an end to our surf session this day:  70% of the people stung have fatal events!  We ended up seeing 4 on the beach.  Known as a "Barquita Portugesa" the photo doesn't do it justice... U nusually clear skies and 20+miles visibility.  Winds were offshore by 4.3kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature was 60.3˚ and the water was 57.7˚ at the buoy, but much warmer inshore.  High tide is at 9:44am +4.5' and low tide will be at 3:15pm +0.8'.  We have a SSW swell out of 195˚ at 4.6' and it was a solid 4'. B ecause everything we know is wrong, we were worried about the Communists.  Should'a been worried about the Nazi's.  (Floor tile detail from house in Guanabo. A bsolutely the best ...

Lost Boys & Co... P hoto #1:  The Professor walked on to the beach and said, "I thought this would all be in black and white!" P artly cloudy skies this morning and 15 miles visibility.  Winds were offshore by 5.5kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temp was 57.0˚ and the water was 61.5˚ and you'll do just fine without booties.  High tide is at 7:13am +4.6' and low tide will follow at 1:23pm +0.1'.  We have a WSW swell out of 250˚ at 3.6' and that's just about it in the surfline... P hoto #2:  Yes!, there are surfers in Cuba and you can see they are properly equipped in the board and apparel departments.  The only difference is that on a crowded day there are 5 guys in the water (FIVE!)   These guys were getting out of the water when we showed up and they hung around just to watch the visitors.  Or maybe to watch Jonny shred...  L to R:  The Professor, Ché, Roberto, Jorgé and Jonny Mangiagli.  H appy hour tonigh...

Lost Boys & Co... W hat started out as a surf trip rapidly devolved into an eating trip with a surfing problem.  In photo #1 our beyond classy hostess was Nali Farrah, originally from Palestine.  She was the mom of the two brothers in whose homes we stayed.  She had two cooks, but make no mistake about who ran the kitchen.  This was a lunch of stewed chicken (with onion, garlic and black olives,) yucca, potatoes, egg bread and the ubiquitous tomato, cabbage, bell pepper salad (shown in photo #2.) B eautiful spring morning here in the So. Bay, with 20 miles visibility and clear skies.  Winds were off by 4.2kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temp was 60.5˚ and the water was 61.3˚.  High tide was at 6:10am +4.5' and low tide is at 12:38pm 0.0'.  We have a WSW swell out of 252˚ at 3.6' and there are some nicely crafted 3' to 4'ers... W e were there for 4 nights and two of the nights we had lobster.  The north-western part of the i...

Lost Boys & Co... W hat do we really know about Cuba that the "Buena Vista Social Club" didn't tell us.  Well, for starters, they have a shitload of pre 1960's cars.  They also have a ton of Russian vehicles that might be the consistently worst running vehicles in which we have ever driven.  Lots of "Detroit Iron," including Chevy's, Fords, Caddy's, Buicks, Olds, Studebakers, Kaisers, Chryslers, Dodges, Plymouths, you-name-it and it was rolling.  Most of the gas guzzlers have been switched to diesel, because it's cheaper, but they still look good!  Lots are taxis and rentals, because that's how the owners pay for them.  We're thinking at least 50% of the vehicles we saw were these classics! H azy sun this morning with 20 miles visibility.  Winds were out of the east by 5.5kts and the sea surface was smooth.  The air temperature was 58.6˚ and the water was 61.3˚.  Low tide was at 1137am 0.0' and high tide will be at 6:30pm +4.5...

Lost Boys & Co... T here are probably a lot of ways to get to Cuba, but these guys did it the right way.  They surfed over...  We have in order of appearance:  (The aptly named) Ché, Jon Mangiagli and the Professor.  You see Ché sneaking in low from the corner and claiming the beach and everything you could see from there for El Salvador.  This is a place called Guanabo and it happens to be the very place where Ivan's dad had his beach house pre-revolution.  White sands, azure water and blue skies.  If you could see past these guys across the water you just might glimpse Florida... O vercast this morning and 10 miles visibility.  Winds were on from the start to 4.3kts mid-morning and a roughed up sea surface.  The air temperature was 61.3˚ and the water was 61.0˚.  Low tide was at 10:47am 0.0' and high tide will be at 5:44pm +4.0'.  We have a WSW swell out of 251˚ at 3.3' and it was 2' to 4', but poor shape at most spots. M ea...