So, after nine months, two days and approximately nine hours we have returned to the UK. We have successfully circumnavigated the world, survived 23 flights and explored eight countries. We have eaten insects, climbed mountains and talked about our bowels daily. Greg's fear of flying is now somewhat under control...we think becoming a gold member of Singapore Airways frequent flyer club has helped. Claire has the tan of a lifetime and no longer reflects all natur...

The final stage of our adventure was upon us as we boarded our bus headed for Varadero. We knew this was the most touristy area of Cuba, but with our only aim being relaxation, we saw no problem with this. We stepped onto the bus, complete with Thomas Cook sign at the front and assessed the other passengers. A variety of ages and outfits, but all had that air about them...that they were on a package holiday. Varadero is somewhere that has lost or maybe never ha...

The second day of our tour was a day trip to the countryside town of Vinales. The journey was about three hours, during which our guide Rene talked constantly. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how much you enjoy three hour lectures (Rene used to be a teacher) on Cuban history, our sleep pattern had not really improved since we arrived and so we managed to pass out for the majority of the journey. Vinales is what we imagined a traditional Latin America...

The last stage of our tour saw us returning to Havana for one final night. On the way we stopped off in Santa Clara and the Che monument and museum to learn a little more about the Cuban hero from Argentina. We wondered what he would think if he saw modern day Cuba. The monument itself was impressive and the museum was the same as most museums in Cuba (totally in Spanish and displaying numerous nik naks). Fortunately our guide translated the story and made it as ...

We travelled to Trinidad via the Bay of Pigs/Playa Giron, where the famous attempt to overthrow the revolution took place. We had a quick swim in a watering hole and the sea which was beautifully clear before doing a circuit of the museum to get to grips with the very poorly translated story. We've decided that after our two museum experiences we are more confused than before about the revolution and Cuban history...partly due to the majority of information being...