We depart Hotel Labranda Varadero at 12.04pm on Thursday 4 April - my last day in Cuba.
Manda’s side of the car has a working seatbelt and electric window. Neither works for me. Hey ho. We have got use to some things working some things not.
As soon as we get out of the hotel area we hit the real Cuba - old classic cars, horse and carts, buses, people standing on the side of the road. Aah I’ve missed this!
An hour into the journey the driver asks if we want to stop for water, coffee, bathroom etc - sure thing. I can get out of my side of the car but Manda can’t.
Just after two hours leaving Varadero we arrive home - La Habana and to our Casa. Walking in Mario greets us like family. We both feel like we are home after seeing him.
Manda’s taxi is coming in just under two hours, at 4pm, she wants to pick up a couple of things so we dump our bags, I change my shoes then we head out.
It’s HOT! Definitely hotter than it was at Varadero.
We wander towards the old town, looking at everything as we walk by trying to soak it all in before we both leave. This city is amazing.
My Mongolian Russian van drives by - I’ve loved seeing them on the roads.
Manda gets another lemonade and we head back to the apartment to relax on the balcony. It’s a view we will never tire off!
I take Manda down to her taxi - it’s been an absolutely fantastic 12 days in this amazing country! Of course there are tears saying goodbye.
I immediately head off towards the old town. With no fixed abode I just wander the streets. Even though I end up on streets I’ve never been on before it’s nice to actually have an idea where I am.
I decide to do as the locals do and sit in a square to access the internet. Within seconds of sitting down someone comes to ask if they can sit next to me - si si. I’m then asked if I want a WiFi card, no grazie.
Time to move as the rain drops are increasing. Buggar! The positive is the heat has dropped dramatically (but it’s still warm).
More wandering the streets - so much to see with every step I take.
I have a couple of aborted attempts at buying a WiFi card before having success. To be fair I’m not a guest at any of the hotels I tried but the third one was a winner.
I wander along the Malecon - purchase another bottle of rum (I need to spend my Cuban pesos on something.....) then stop off at one of the restaurants for a beer.
The man at the next table asks me how much I paid for my shoes; at the exact moment I go to do the currency conversion my phone dies. Thank goodness for an external battery! He’s Cuban and has recently got a pair like mine (converse sneakers) which his brother in Miami paid USD 120.....pricey!
I decide to head back to the Casa to pack before I go out for dinner. As I arrive at the Casa there is a couple waiting for a taxi. They are back in Habana for one night as well. We chat for a bit before their taxi arrives.
I notice the sky turning a shade of pink so head to the Malecon first. WOW the sun is setting. Amazing. I wasn’t expecting it as since the rain drops it has become quite cloudy.
I usually don’t like returning to the same place when on holiday but decided tonight was an exception as (1) it was SUPER tasty, (2) it was Cuban prices and (3) it was close to the Casa. None of the staff from last week were at the restaurant when I arrived which was a shame.
Un mojito and un agua con gas per favor.
I’m thinking the only thing missing from this restaurant is music, as it’s been in every other restaurant in Cuba. I turn around to see how many other people are here and notice the band setting up. Woo Hoo. Live music while drinking a mojito and eating in La Habana, what else does one want or need??!!
Dinner is delicious - shredded beef with rice and beans. Typical Cuban food.
My alarm is going at 4am tomorrow morning so I decline a second mojito. Instead I get the check then head home.
For whatever reason I can’t get onto the internet back at the Casa, sort of annoying but hey no. I enjoy the views from the balcony one last time. My 12 days in Cuba has basically come to an end. What an incredible experience it’s been. You need to put it on your “list” and come before it’s opened up more.
Friday 5 April I wake just after midnight then again at 3am. I doze for a bit then get up at 3.50am (alarm was going to go 10 minutes later).
I take one last look over the balcony with Mario – I’m going to miss this view. The street is nice and peaceful. A few minutes later a taxi arrives; Mario tells me to remain as is. Once the taxi driver opens the door they chat; ok we go down now.
The number of people on the streets at 4.30am is so much more than I expected. People going home? Going to work? Probably both and more! There are a couple of tri-cycles outside “bars”. My driver tells me it’s a city that doesn’t sleep, definitely got that right!
During my time in Cuba I’d seen a couple of road signs for the horse and cart, this morning is no exception. I ask the driver to stop so I can take a photo.
It’s a quick 30 minute ride to the airport. I really don’t want to get out of the car!
The check in line is LOOOOONG, thank goodness I checked in online so I can go down the bag drop line (where there is no one else). I’m asked for my Canadian eTA visa which I thankfully kept in my inbox. Within seconds I have my boarding pass.
I join the line for money exchange - I’m given some Canadian dollars then for some reason I’m told I need to exchange the remaining CUC he gives me back on the other side. Strange but hey ho; it’s less than CUC 4 so no issues if I don’t do it.
The fun begins at immigration. We seem to be in no rush but then again neither am I given I have a good hour and a half before I need to start to board.
I waste time getting onto the internet which at times is very patchy.
When they announce boarding I do my best to come with up a plan not to get on the plane….nothing sensible comes to mind unfortunately. I wait to the last moment before having to board. As I do I hand my Wifi card to the lady checking the passports. It’s no good to me know.
The pilot announces its 1 degrees in Toronto, wholly molley and bottles of Havana Rum! That’s going to be a huge shock to the system. Fingers crossed it warms up while we are in the air.
We pull back from the gate 15 minutes early at 6.45am. As we take off night is turning into day
Cuba you have been unreal. Muchas gracias. Hasta la próxima vez!!
No comments:
Post a Comment