Cuba: Viva la Revolución!

The view from the steps of the Plaza Mayor
in Trinidad, Cuba

As I write this, I'm slowly rocking back and forth in my chair on the terrace of our casa particular in the enchanting town of Trinidad, Cuba. It's the last day of my visit and I've just spent the best part of an hour indulging in my favourite pastime: people watching.

As I sat on the steps of the Plaza Mayor squinting against the sun, watching scores of French retirees take photos and gawk at the colonial architecture that surrounds them, it occurred to me that I haven't felt so at peace in a very, very long time.

Here in Cuba they have turned idle people watching into a national sport. They congregate in doorways, sit on the steps of buildings, gather at bus stops and lean against fences in every village, city or town you pass through. Like the countless cats and scruffy mongrels that trawl the streets seeking respite from the sun, the Cuban people survey everything that passes them by with an idle curiosity. Women gossip animatedly amongst themselves, men yell greetings to one another as they cross the street, children shout over a game of marbles... all under the watchful eye of their voyeuristic neighbours.

Rethinking Work

My unhappiness at work troubled me a lot

In my very first blog entry I expressed some of the gnawing dissatisfaction I'd been feeling over the past year or two in regards to my employment. To be honest, in recent years there's been times where it has escalated from mere dissatisfaction to complete resentment towards my job, my colleagues and the entire industry. It has perplexed and troubled me a lot because in most instances, these feelings are completely unjustified.

The majority of jobs I've had over the last few years have been great. Most colleagues I've worked with have been wonderful (there's been a few that have been painful, but they have been in the minority) and I've been fortunate enough to have a steady stream of work come my way, often without having to look for it.

So it seemed like some cruel joke that just as I was entering my thirties the career that I'd worked so hard for suddenly felt like a prison sentence.

Europe Costs: The Final Figures

Well it's almost been a month between posts, but we have been exceptionally busy... As I write this, I'm sitting under a circling fan in our 1 bedroom apartment on Calle 102 Norte, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. That's right - after an incredible 9 months of traveling, volunteering, sightseeing and partying throughout Europe; it was time to move on.

We loved Europe, but it was time to move on

As beautiful as the European winters can be, we were both craving some sun on our skin and some cool sea breezes. But more importantly, we knew that Europe alone could easily provide enough to see and do for an entire year - so if we didn't move on we could quite possibly exhaust our budget (and ourselves).

We had also used all of the time our Schengen Visas would allow, which meant that even if we had wanted to re-enter Europe we would need to travel via non-Schengen countries until May 2014 at the earliest.

So the decision was made to hightail it to Mexico, largely because this provided us with a cheap way to enter Central America from the UK (by flying into Mexico and traveling overland) and if we departed the UK in early March, we avoided the subsequent Spring Break mayhem (which is not only popular amongst American college students apparently).

We scored a great deal on flights thanks to Thomas Cook Airlines (one of the primary carriers for flights between the UK, Mexico and The Caribbean) and on the 4th March 2014 - exactly 9 months from when we first arrived in Europe - we departed for the sun-drenched shores of Cancun, Mexico.

One of the first things I did before our departure from the UK was to reconcile all of our spending in Europe over the past 9 months. As I'd been dutifully logging all expenses in a calendar this was a relatively easy task, as I simply added up the total spent in all the countries that we visited.

So - which were the cheapest countries in Europe, and how much did we average per day?

Budgeting in Bonnie Scotland

Urquhart Castle with views over Loch Ness

So we've just concluded our jaunt through the Republic of Ireland and the UK with two whirlwind weeks in bonnie Scotland; a land renowned for rolling green hills, kilt-wearing bagpipers and crumbling castle ruins. Whilst no cheaper than its Irish or British neighbours (we still averaged about AUD$50/ day each) it nonetheless offered plenty for a budget traveler to see and do, with spectacular coastlines and a vibrant cultural scene accessible to all.

Having said that, it did help to do our homework. Because a bit of research can translate into big savings, particularly in regards to transport and accommodation. That doesn't mean you have to book every detail of your trip in advance (especially in winter, when you may have to deal with unforeseen weather conditions), but just a little foresight and planning will make a real difference to your spending.

So here are my tips for getting aboot the majestic Scotland or the picturesque Emerald Isle on the cheap: