Day 1 – Cuba Havana Airport to Varadero
After a delay at Istanbul we arrived late at Havana. For some reason I packed some dried fruit – more as snack for daytrips for Mexico, I should have known better or at least checked my Eyewitness Guide Cuba – no fruit/veg/meat products allowed into Cuba.
Dutifully I filled in the customs form – declaring the fruit – no use getting into trouble. No-one seemed interested in my declaration form and the lady looked at my securely locked case and shook her head – nope, you can go through. So much for stressing about them going through all my stuff… mountain – molehill, I know, but I detest the official part of customs, I always draw attention and because of that I look nervous, which draws attention – vicious cycle I know. C’est la vie.
Seconds after my customs dismissal I saw my name on the cardboard – my driver was right outside the door, waiting despite the almost 2 hours delay – luggage took long to arrive and immigration and security isnt fast. He had to wait another 30 minutes as I joined the line for forex to get CUC – only available in Cuba and cash required to pay him for the journey. Its hot and sticky – welcome to Cuba, just as I remember it.
Another thing that caught my eye at the airport – short short skirts with patterned stockings, including fishnets – TO WORK? With the public? Got it flaunt it, much?
Just my luck – my very friendly driver speaks poquito english and me… well poquito Spanish (despite my very good intentions of learning the languange the last year – not much happened) Well its a 2 hour journey and we got along, sharing a love of the local music and shaking our heads at the ‘loco’ local drivers ignoring roadsigns left right and centre. We saw a few drivers being pulled off for speeding violations – The fine isnt that bad – 40 CUC, but they have a points system and its BRUTAL – 3 speeding fines and you lose your license – FOREVER – no waiting period – no re-applications – FINI!!!! He laughed when I said its like Baseball – three strikes and you’re out…
The countryside is green and beautiful, I searched for pictures on the internet before I went, but there was none available, despite that I remember it being so green and lush. I took a few pictures and we played name the classic car maker as the cars came by. As we get closer to Varadero there are many signs of the new petrolium based industry in the area – I know its required for the economy, but visually it spoils the countryside – progress at what cost?
I’ll be seeing my driver again in a few days time as he is also picking me up in Varadero and driving me to the airport in his yellow audi taxi.
The hotel is beautiful and extensive – I have a butler assigned to me – WTF??? He asked me if he could unpack my case for me – NO – thank you… I’ll be allright. Communication being sketchy the lines that connect the banking machines are down, so no card transactions possible without copious phone calls – there goes almost all my cash to pay for the hotel – I was bargaining on using the pre-loaded debit card for that. Luckily my cash was sufficient, but I will need to get more before Saturday and my trip to the airport.
Contemplated a shower, but decided that swimming would also suffice. Lunch and then went to look at the ocean and it did not just stay with a look – I ended up taking a swim in the turquoise crystal clear warm water before showering off the sand and parking at the poolbar (in the shade) and having a mojito and a diet coke – not together – obviously.
Then the lack of sleep caught up with me and I ‘tested out’ my bed around 16:00 – when I woke up it was 02:00. Aw well, lunch was too much and the 24 hour snack bar seemed to far, so I just turned around and slept on 🙂
This morning the plan was to do breakfast and then go the the lobby bar, get internet token, update my fitbitt app so that my device can realize its in Cuba and sync with the watch for local time. For some reason internet connection is required for this. Having accomplished this and uploaded a few pics on facebook I returned to the room to drop off the tablet (which could not connect to wifi anyways). I saw something at the shop and investigated – ended up buying a pair of flipflops – here the card works – strange, but true.
As I walked out the heavens opened up around the main building – streaming with rain and people giggling everywhere. Good thing I went back, else I would have been on a open top bus on my way to Varadero by then. At least I could go get my umbrella in the room – and boy was it handy.
The open top bus was crowded as everyone bunched up in the small area at the bottom to avoid the rain. I got off at the recommended stop – It’s Varadero’s version of a small mall, mostly geared at tourists with small shops for curios to designer clothing, a few restaurants, a small supermarket, pharmacy and a bank. The main attraction (the reason I’m there) the ATM is offline due to communication issues. The only alternative – the bank, which with my luck just closed for 1 hour for lunch.
I walked around and passed the time untill the bank opened again and I got some funds, enough to get me through to second day in Havana. Hopefully I’ll get an ATM there for the rest. Walked around the market and did some shopping – including a small bag that will fit my cellphone and room keycard for days I dont want to carry a bag with me around the resorts.
Wish I could say the trip back was uneventful, the bus stopped some way from the hotel and walking back I did not see a piece of metal sticking out the sidewalk, stubbed my toes and was quite worried that I may have sprained my toe in the process. It hurt quite badly, but after getting to the room and putting on chinese spray it seems like the worst is over and nothing seems broken. Trying to keep off the foot and will see how it goes tomorrow morning.
Its still raining on and off and its rather cool – wearing sneakers, jeans and a hoodie tonight. Sitting with a glass of bubbly at the lobby bar after a supper of salmon, lobster and they handed out sangria welcome drinks. Apparently its the managers cocktail party in the Jazz bar tonight, but I’ll skip on that one.
The plan is to have another drink of some kind, then coffee and retire to my room. Hopefully I can get the tablet to connect and publish this post.
Having accomplished the mission for the day – get CUC’s, tomorrow is a clean slate with no mission. Will see what the day brings. Treadmill with my “injured” foot is off the cards, best not tempt fate 😛 The hotel gave me a room with a balcony looking out right at the gym. So far only the ladies seem to be working out… just my luck…
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