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[The Return] Back to work after a world tour
that’s it! After 11 months of mopping, you have to get back to workat some point.We decided, after the world tour, to become full time freelance while traveling, it has a name Digital NomadMy former colleagues are super nice and sent me some docs to catch up on 1 year of changes and novelties – in my job (SEA – Online Advertising), everything changes very quickly. I started my service at the client’s place on Tuesday. The Saturday before, I went back to work (launching a campaign for a friend), just to find my reflexes and “get up to date”. It’s reassuring to realize that you haven’t lost your reflexes,…
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How do nomad workers make a living?
Even if the phenomenon remains marginal, nomad workers are much more numerous than you might think Here are some examples of nomad workers who inspired us Jonathan is a jeweler. He is currently traveling in North America with an old (city) bus and a minivan. Extremely gifted, he has done everything himself: from car interiors to the making of certain tools related to jewelry making. Jonathan sells his jewelry on Etsy : https://www.youtube.com/user/JewelryRvMe Ariane is a model and works in duo with a photographer. Together, they travel the world and sell their photos on istock. Her photos are selling really well: http: //www.glamour.com/story/the-most-famous-model-in-the-w Tim Ferris is famous for his book…
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The first two weeks after a round-the-world trip
First week The return to France was much smoother than I thought, even if we felt a bit like savages. After 2 nights in an ibis hotel, we received the keys to our temporary Parisian apartment, the one we will call home for a month (I already told you how I found it). The apartment is very small but well arranged, we even have a dishwasher. We were even able to invite friends to come and eat. And it feels so good to find a fast Internet connection ! I’m jet-lagged for 10 days (I fall asleep around 3am and wake up at 11am), while JB had to adapt very…
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Final assessment: after 11 months around the world, nothing will be the same as before
We left on June 7, 2016 and completed our (first) round-the-world tour on April 29, 2017. It is time to make the final assessment of this extraordinary journey Abstract 21 countries crossed (including 3 in express mode – the time of a long stopover of 2-3 days) 11 months of travel 2 travelbags of 7.3kg and 13kg 2 smartphones and 1 GoPro Total budget of 45 000€ for two, ALL included (including 16 000€ just for transportation) 3.5 months of preparation 5 years of savings 1 sabbatical taken + 1 resignation Reminder of the “objectives As with every major project, we have set (explicitly or implicitly) objectives for this trip,…
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Our addresses of special casas in Cuba: Havana, Cienfuegos, Vinales, Varadero, Playa Giron, Playa Larga, Trinidad, Matanzas
Here are the addresses of our special casas in Cuba. We do not recommend them all, so please read the “our opinion” section at the bottom of each casa. To learn more about casas particulares, how to find them, how it works, read our guide here. Havana: CASA CRISTO 461 Address : Calle Teniente Rey (Brasil) , Number 461, Entre Calles: Cristo y Bernaza Habana Vieja, CubaPropietario:Nancy y FidelTelefono:(+53) 7 8628227Movil: (+53) 5 249 5549Price :35CUC/night, doubleroomPossiblereservationvia :http://www.casahavanaparticular.com/havana-casa-particular-old-havana-habana-vieja-cristo-461.htmPaiement on site. Our opinion: Central location, hot water, nice view from our private balcony. English speaking owner. But owner not very friendly (or shy?). We have to ring every time to enter.…
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The 14 most popular scams in Cuba
Cuba is among the top 5 of our favorite countries around the world. However, with the economic difficulties linked to the American embargo, the locals see tourists as a gold mine. In all the countries we went to, we paid the “tourist price” willingly. But where we usually pay 1.5, 2 or 3 times more, it isn’t uncommon in Cuba to pay 10 or 20 times more than the local rate. Even for “rich Europeans”, this quickly represents substantial amounts. Fortunately, Cuba has other charms to compensate for the inconveniences Here I will list the most popular “scams” in Cuba (some of them aren’t really “scams” but things to watch…
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Money, currency, exchange offices, budget: everything you need to know before going to Cuba
What currencies should I take before going to Cuba? The euro, the pound sterling, the Canadian dollar… but not the US dollar which suffers a 10% penalty when exchanging. Americans are still hated here. Besides, American tourists say they are Canadian. Are credit/debit cards accepted? Yes in some restaurants, especially in Havana, but not in the special casas that will represent a big part of your budget in Cuba. Distributors are more and more numerous, especially in Havana. The exchange rate for distributors is the same as that applied in exchange offices. I withdrew money once in Cuba (and had a heart attack because the screen stayed unchanged for 20…
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Internet access in Cuba, getting connected, phone card and other telecommunication info
Internet in Cuba … ahhhhh you feel projected back to the time of AOL, where you had to save every minute, where you downloaded your email, logged out, wrote the answer, and reconnected just to send it. What you need to know is : (1) Forget 3G, it doesn’t exist ! Update 2020: yes there is! 3G exists and even 4G, but only locals have access to it for the moment(2) forget about unlimited Internet(3) be patient There are three ways to connect to Cuba : (1) Go to a hotel and pay for a 4.5 CUC/h wired connection at the business center at that hotel(2) Buy a 1.5CUC/h Wi-Fi…
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How do I find and book a Casa Particular in Cuba?
How to find accommodation in Cuba? If the hotels exist, they aren’t numerous and are very expensive On a trip to Cuba, it is best, like everyone else, to go to special casas, which are like hotels, but run by private individuals. For the moment, apart from hotels and special casas, the government does not allow other types of accommodation (couchsurfing, home exchange etc.) There is no site that lists all the casas in Cuba. To find good casas, you can : Buy the Lonely Planet guide for Cuba Go to TripAdvisor and look at the top rated accommodations in the city Read blogs/travel diaries of other travelers. Among others,…
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Where to eat in Cuba: state restaurants, private restaurants or casas
Having lived in Vietnam at the time of communism, when every family had a food book, I thought that in Cuba we also risked starving to death. But no! I offer you this guide in the form of Questions/Answers to reassure even the most greedy among you. Will I starve to death? Gone are the days when each person is entitled to x bananas and x apples. If food is still not plentiful, it can be bought at the supermarket or on the street, where vegetable vendors park their carts full of fruit/salad/onions. Cuba now has the right to import food and medicine. One can even drink Coca-Cola imported from…
