North America – Quest for More :: Radek Okienczuk

The east side of Cuba

We arrive to Santiago de Cuba. The surroundings look as if destroyed by a hurricane. Actually (and sadly) this is the case. Uprooted trees and broken rooftops form the suburb landscape of this second largest city on the island. To prevent cholera outbreak, there is triple chlorine disinfection carried out in front of each premises.…

Mechanic in the jungle and Cuban cowboys

We spend the night in a tent by rocky coast. Early in the morning I notice a few people with flippers and diving mask on. They are langouste hunters. The idea for special breakfast comes by itself. Arriving to a nearby town I talk to cook in one of the food stands. He turns out…

Weird things going on Cuba

Classic old-timer One of the most popular dishes in Cuba is pan con hamburguesa, which in other words, is kind of a hamburger. The preparation process involves making it ready first and then heating the entire thing in the toaster, in a way that the meat always stays cold, almost as if it was taken…

Cuba, how is it possible?

We arrive to town of Hershey on our bikes. Here we get to know Ula, a Polish woman who has lived over 30 years in Cuba. What brings her here? Back in the seventies there were many Cuban students in Poland. Usually those students, on contrary to the regulations of their studies, happened to socialize…

Cubanacan, the island you don’t know

I exchange two hundred euros for peso cubano and I get two hefty handful of money, probably weighing about one kilo. In my mind there is a thought: Am I able to spend it during the next month? The two different currencies in circulation in Cuba is just one of countless, sometimes absurd, surprises waiting for…

Tobago, the spirit of the Caribbean

Grocery store in Plymouth, Tobago Arrival to Tobago proved to be fairly simple. At first, I did not believe that my luggage would so easily find its way along an intricate route. I grab my backpack shortly after leaving the plane. The immigration officer asks, “Do you have a return ticket?”, my straightforward answer –…

British Columbia, the outdoor paradise

British Columbia Downhill in Whistler A journey to the south-western Canada. Province of British Columbia is considered to be one of the most beautiful places of the globe. Its wild nature, rainforests, mild climate, ocean coastline, plethora of mountain hiking trails and ideal spots for winter sports do the job. A low impact of destructive…

Canadian cuisine made in Asia

Canadian cuisine made in Asia Spices and herbs in Chinatown Vancouver has lots of shops, restaurants and bars, as in every big city. Both small groceries and giant shopping malls. A few decades ago wealthy Asians from Hong Kong started to buy Vancouver apartments in excessive amounts. Their investment contributed to a real estate boom.…

Vancouver, probably the best city in the world

Vancouver Canada Place, Vancouver Vancouver, a city said to be the best place to live in the world. To which extend it may be true? I made a decision to find it out on my own. The first steps in Canada are not the easiest. The very first welcoming gesture is a detailed security check…

Arizona, Nevada and endless desert

Vegetation on the Mojave Desert Weather anomalies. Beautiful, wild and uninhibited nature. Scorching hot deserts. Strictly monochromatic scenery. People and surroundings born in the wild west. Arizona and Nevada. The two states, which despite the common border, currency and language are so much unlike California that it’s easier to talk about differences than similarities. We’ll…

Feel California Summer

Surfers in Huntington Beach Sometimes all you need is a good place to rest and spend some time with not much of wandering around. California sounds perfect. Now that I found a cheap flights the opportunity at fingertips. There remains only the task to find a good company for such a trip. In fact it…

X-Games 13th edition

Stylish Lazy Boy On Saturday, August 8 2007 is the X-Games 13 competition. This is the most prestigious extreme sports event in the world. Being able to see the X-Games means for me the same as it would be to watch live the final of the World Cup for football fans. X-Games has an unique…

After a long period of silence…

Riding beach cruiser … Events of recent months have gained staggering momentum. All the time things keep happening. A new situations are positively shocking and unforgettable, yet some not very desirable also inevitably happen. Both things I have been expecting for a long time and those which I would never expect to happen. Almost every…

Mexican Operation Tequila

Mexican Operation Tequila Mexican folklore I always dreamed of a hot day in a Mexican park, sitting under a tree with a bottle of tequila in my hand and sipping it in absolutely the laziest way until late evening. .At first glance, Tijuana, a Mexican border town near San Diego, is a terrible tourist imitation…

American Dream in New York City

Times Square by night This is my first trip to the USA. There are five of us to go. The trip will be both full of valuable experiences and shocking confrontations. Especially from the perspective of a person who previously lived in Europe only. New York is the most multicultural urban area in the world. …

A rollercoaster accelerating to 200 km/h in 3.4 seconds

Six Flags amusement park, New Jersey. Two hour bus drive from New York. The main attraction is Kingda Ka, the recently opened rollercoaster. Application of the same mechanisms as those used to accelerate the fighter jet planes off the aircraft carriers (with limited runway length) succeeded in creating ultra fast and extraordinarily performing rollercoaster. Fully-loaded…

Atlantic City, the East Coast’s gambling capital

Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City Time for something a little bit different. Atlantic City is like a little Las Vegas on the east coast of USA. The city is located by the ocean. Except for a few liquor stores and a small amusement park the rest is only hotels and casinos. Names of the…