Jakub Korab

I finally went for lessons last weekend at Dollymount Beach in Dublin. Winds were around 15-20 knots, onshore, sun was shining. Perfect conditions. It was unreal! You just don’t appreciate wind until you get out on one of these things. The kites themselves are huge. We were flying 11m ones, and the force you get being pulled by these things is awesome! After two days of lessons, I even managed to stand up and go in the direction I was after

I would definitely recommend lessons to anyone who intends to get out there. It’s a difficult thing to master on your own, and you need to make sure you know how to do it safely. Safety is the name of the game. It great fun, and you’ll get more out of it someone lays the groundwork for you. Spending a few hundred on lessons may seem like a lot, but it’s cheaper than buying all the gear (which is pretty expensive) and then deciding it’s not for you. Lessons also allow you to become a member of the Intl. Kiteboarding Organization, which gives you access to insurance – just in case you need to get rescued by helicopter or something

The technology is only quite new and the gear changes quite substantially from year to year. If you are going to do it, you need a 5 line kite with a quick release & chicken loop – features that are only 3 years old. These things allow you to release your kite in such a way that it loses all power and doesn’t fly away. I have heard horror stories of what can happen with kites, people getting dragged onto stuff etc. This sort of thing is far more likely to happen if you’re using old kites that you can’t de-power in case of an emergency. If you are getting lessons in dodgier parts of the world (the Caribbean comes to mind) DO NOT go out there unless you are sure that the gear is safe. Read up on it first.

If you like it, but are looking for something a bit cheaper, mountain boarding could be the way to go. You get pulled along the beach on a skateboard with large wheels, getting dragged by a power kite. I also did that one on the weekend. It’s great for when the wind is off-shore, and no water means it’s not quite as cold.

I’m definitely going to continue with it. It’s great fun, and a water sport that you can actually do in Ireland without traveling to the other side of the country. My plan for summer is worked out.

Anyone looking for lessons in Dublin, should definitely give the guys at Pure Magic a call. Great instructors, super clued-in and friendly.

After two weeks travelling around Cuba I have to say, it was amazing! Havana, Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Trinidad. I covered only about a quarter of the country by geography, but it just doesn’t seem enough. You could easily spend a month in the place. The people are fantastic, the country is safer than most places in even Europe, the food is good (especially the fruit :d).

There are a few well publicized scams that do the rounds (fake cigars sold by pretty much anyone who approaches you on the street, money exchanged for national peso instead of convertibles, getting taken to bars/restaurants/casas for commission), and there’s a bit of hassle which turns to a kind of background buzz after a while (annoying, but easily ignored), but anyone who does their homework should be able to handle it quite well. Staying in a casa particular is also much better value, more atmospheric and generally nicer than staying in a hotel (avoid the all-inclusives – the food, alcohol and service are pretty poor). A girl I met who was travelling solo also said that she was hassled far more often, so I’d probably suggest for girls to travel with someone else – otherwise tourist bars/hotels provide a welcome refuge, and you’re likely to meet other travelers there anyway who you’ll probably hang out with.

The landscape is amazing (especially in the mountains), the cities are beautiful, the weather’s great, the water’s warm – what more could you ask for? And if you’re up for some cohiba, mohito and salsa action there’s no better place in the world. I met some great people during my trip – both travelers and locals alike – who made this the best holiday I’ve ever had. I’ll be back.

Arrived in Havana a couple of days ago. It’s a really nice city. I had expected to be hassled pretty much everywhere, but it’s not like that at all. The people are really friendly, the food is good and the mojitos are sensational. Off to Santa Clara tomorrow if I can manage to communicate

After weeks of procrastinating, I finally booked a casa particular in Havana. So that’s now my first bit of accomodation sorted. Flights, tourist visa, accomodation, vaccines, a couple of salsa lessons up my sleeve and language lessons on the iPod. I am officially ready for cohibas, mohitos and a really great holiday.

I recommend casaparticular.org – you can search by city, book online and there’s photos of all the apartments along with a marker of the place on a map. Great to get your bearings.

As my first step, I set a goal to learn enough Spanish by the 20th of April to get by on my solo trip to Cuba. Holiday grade language is pretty straight forward, right? “Una cerveza por favor!”

I got a copy of Michel Thomas Spanish, and it’s going really well. The pace is pretty quick and I have had to do the same lessons a few times, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. I’ve done Pimsleur courses in the past and highly recommend them.

I’m looking forward to giving it a proper go once I get there. I fully expect to get a few laughs, but it’s amazing how much more helpful people are when you make the effort to speak to them in their native tongue. I picked up a few phrases in French before I went to Paris, and just that along with a smile and some creative sign language got me through just nicely.

Running with the bulls is possibly one of the most insane things you can do, and definitely right up there with the essential European experiences. My cousin did it a few years back, and I can’t be outdone