It´s holiday-time and what I always find very important: Give nice tips.This was Varadero/Cuba.
The first time we went we could bring American 1-$-notes and we did something like this (Ingo had to teach me):
The people depend on this and made with love they remember (I kept two on our fridge).
Which is good. See, I´m no lady. I wasn´t used to a handbag. Our safe was broken, so I had all our belongings in my bag, money, passports, camera and we left for the restaurant - without the bag.
Self-service, we sit and Ingo.... where is the bag?
I "ran" (in high heels aka slow) and... gone.
I was devastated!
The barkeeper gave a loud whistle and held it up - he remembered me from two years ago due to the origami-tips and saved it all!
Our "maid" who never had anything to do in our room left the cutest creatures and letters, the cook... oh, my... he gave me a huge hug... a waiter gave me a self made music-CD...
This is also very important: Cuba of course has loads of fresh fish and I... sadly don´t like fish.
The cook/chef had his wok right at the entrance, everybody passed by and despite I only got eggs and the one-time suckling pig I always said hello, good-bye and gave him a tip.
Whilst we enjoy food he stands there for HOURS and works! Do not forget that, greet! Tip! Even if you do not take anything - this is a human being.
See... others bought expensive stuff, maybe not even Cuban. We took the money for tipping.
(Well, I lie! Two small items I bought, from the local market - will show on SITAR).
And then. No more American dollars, which we could bring from Germany - Pesos Convertibles!
Ingo and I went to the bank together - big mistake - I was banned to the bench, but later allowed to help explain we need NOTES not coins and showed with a fiver from Europe.
We were allowed to the teller together with a smile from then on.
Be nice, take your wee time to make such tips and make people smile.
She at first thought we are newlyweds cause we sleep in one bed. We don´t leave our clothes on the floor, don´t need towels all the time and the sand from our feet stays downstairs, yet...
She had to stay 20 minutes in our room!
We sometimes met and with English/French/Spanish/hands we talked.
We swam in the ocean instead!
Take your time if you go on holidays and produce nice tips.
It´s a give and take - make happy, be happy, show respect, get help, hugs and cute stuff!
I mean... Midiala even took a newspaper so my shoes don´t touch the bed!
Henry 🦁
Happy holidays! I sure am thankful for Ingo teaching me and others loving what we did.
