These are days for improvising

6:00 am on Saturday (yep, first of March 😁)

The weather’s cool and, with no electricity again this morning, the plan is to hop on the bike for a ride. I was thinking, if things were different here, I’d go all the way to Artemisa to visit my gran and my aunts. No idea how things are over there, since I haven’t managed to call them. I’ll try as soon as I get some coverage outside this blackout area.

It’s about 60 km to Artemisa, not that much really. I could even stay over and come back in a couple of days—or the next. But it’s quite a long way to go on the road, on my own, and that’s not safe. I wish I could say otherwise… I just hope this reality changes one day in my life.

Still, I could do that same distance right here in Havana if I rode to Old Havana three times. I reckon it’d take me longer, with all the traffic and lights in the city. The pace would be different… but I could plan it out and see how I manage.

I’ve got these biscuits my mum sent me a few days back, along with some things my sister sent too… birthday presents started rolling in from the very first of March 😁. Honestly, the biscuits are such a treat in the mornings, dunking them in coffee. And when I grab a couple, I wonder which animals will pop up.

The cover photo for this post I snapped yesterday. Funny thing is, that same morning I dreamt I was on my bike and bumped into an old uni mate. I was so happy I forgot about the bike (me, who’s glued to it!) and went off to chat with her. I saw her just as I knew her back then. I suppose she has changed; we all do.

Weird to dream of Jenny Carralero! Didn’t even know where she was… turns out she’s in Madrid, with a Domestika page 😄. Perhaps I went to the future! Who knows? I hadn’t been thinking about her these days, but she showed up right in my dream.

At one point I looked around and couldn’t spot the bike, and I got stressed out. In the dream it felt like real anguish. Then a guy called me over and showed me he’d locked it up with three others. I was so relieved to see it safe. I thanked him loads and then went off to fetch the cow… hahaha… yes, ridiculous. I had a cow with me. In the dream I laughed at myself, calling it over, but it wouldn’t budge. That’s why I chuckled when I pulled out these two biscuits from the packet.

Time to head off… catch you later. I’ll jot a few notes as I go, you know, the usual. I want to join in the #SundayChitChat. No telling when this post will go live… maybe from some pretty spot in town. I don’t want to plan too much. These are days for improvising. What’s really on my mind now is the food in the fridges. You buy it with such effort, only for it to go off…😔

A few hours later...

Imagine you’re at a cycling event or race—what’s most important to you: crossing the line first, being among the first, or…? Finish the thought with a bit of rambling.

We’d also love you to share a motivational cycling phrase and a personal story about speed… speed can be fast or slow. The choice is yours.

I don't think I'll be participating in such a competitive race, ha ha ha... But the truth is that triathlons appeal to me. So I'm not ruling anything out. I don't even know where the road will take me, I just know that whatever you focus your attention on is where all your energy goes, and from there to participating in a triathlon event, it's not such a big leap, right? And I don't think I care about finishing among the first, I just care about finishing. That would be very rewarding for me, for my self-confidence. Like the little challenges I allow myself to take on when I get on my bike.

After all, cycling isn't a journey, but rather a series of moments that change your life.

We all have moments of collapse... And we also have choices: we get up or we stay there lying down. And I believe that every time I go out cycling, it's material that I put into this improved version of myself.

And speaking of collapses... I passed by ISDI, well, ISDI no longer exists. The Higher Institute of Industrial Design is now a sad sight.

The building had been experiencing structural problems for years and was never restored, despite being a school, and part of the façade had already collapsed... A further collapse was the last straw, and it was completely demolished.

As I write this, I am sitting in a park in Plaza de Armas.

I attended a book presentation. No, I did not buy it because the subject matter did not catch my attention. Every Saturday at 11 am, books are presented here. And you can have your copy signed by the author.

Then I saw the members of Gigantería Habana, a street theatre group with a very interesting history.

I'll stay here for a few minutes, take some photos, and then go home. By 2:00 pm, I should be walking through the door.

I brought a snack I made myself: coconut, passion fruit and pineapple pudding. It's time to recharge my batteries.

🤓

Ahhh, I remembered the story about speed... Well, I think I basically always go very slowly with everything. Getting dressed, getting ready to go out, housework... Everything... Or almost everything, so as not to generalise. Every now and then I reach my goal.