Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World – “Cuba”

Andrew’s off to Cuba to see what bizarre things await. And I’m sure as usual; Andrew will find some very strange things to eat. After a short background on Cuba, he heads off to a local artist and the starts to discuss all the vintage autos that are driving around. A really interesting fact I didn’t know about, was how citizens are not allowed to buy new vehicles… and the US doesn’t import them anyway since the embargo started back in the late 60’s. Since there are no new cars, there’s a huge amount of vintage automobiles on the road many of which are well kept with parts from many different cars. To see more of Havana, Andrew rents a ’57 Olds convertible to cruise around in. With a guide he visits many of the local sites.

Onto the local food. Hoodia tree rats and a pig look like their on the menu. The next day Andrew samples the roast pork, and the tree rat (no thanks, not for me), which Andrew says is ferociously gamey.

Along with the strange food comes a local martial arts expert. After showing off the ability to bend a steel rod with his throat, balance on a spear, the most amazing thing was being able to drive a nail into a piece of wood with his bare hand.

Next up was the thing most people relate to Cuba. Cigars. The Viñales Valley region of Cuba has some of the richest soil, perfect of growing tobacco. Andrews get a first hand lesson in cutting and organizing tobacco leafs for drying; curing the leafs, rolling and smoking some hand rolled cigars from last years crop.

Checking out a local ritual is another of Andrews regular things. A part of the show I would have to pass on if I was host. This time it’s the Santeria religion. A religion practiced by 1 of 3 Cubans. Getting rubbed with a live pigeon and then spit on with purified water. The pigeon is sacrificed and then everyone is rubbed with flour. What?… no thanks to any of the above. Then its time to sacrifice a rooster and drip the blood all over your head. WTF? What’s the fascination with sacrifice and blood everywhere. Time to skip onto the next thing.

Back to Havana and the Hotel Nacional, where famous movie stars of the past once visited. Then off to Trinidad for some music and dancing.

The last stop is to the beach, the Bay of Pigs and some local islands of the southern coast. With a tour guide and a boat, they go fishing for some spiny rock lobsters on the beautiful reef. After catching a few it’s meal time. They start heading back with a cigar in hand, and the boat motor kicks the bucket. They float around a little while after phoning in for help. A short while later a tour boat passes by and tows them in.

Check out Andrew’s complete travel guide to Cuba.