Not sure if its jetlag or just my bioclock malfunctioning, but its 4:30am and I cant sleep. Its been a very long two days and I’m sure I’m gonna feel the impact of not sleeping now later today… C’est la vie!
Got up early Friday morning determined to see the sunrise from the beach. Had a very nice chat with Daymaris at reception – buying another wifi card before having a coffee at the lobby bar and promising Ana to show her the sunrise pics later.
The beach was dark and quiet with one or two other persons with the same intention… Safety fears were placated with the assurance that multiple security guards are stationed around the area covering the hotel’s beach strip.
Saw the weirdest thing – a lady walking along the beach with what looked like a dog trailing her, or what should have been a dog just at the water’s edge… but it was a cat. It was one of the hotel’s residential cats – there is a cat feeding station next to the beach restaurant. The kitty joined me for a cuddle, letting me pick him up before running off into the vegetation.
The weather being stormy the clouds formed dark bands and sunrise was rather ‘low key’. My Sony camera has a condensation spot on the lens somewhere (again) and I eventually gave up using it on this trip. Took most of the pics with the cellphone and will use the Pentax waterproof camera for the balance of the trip. It does not handle low light well – or it does, but you need to fiddle with the settings, quite a process as the menu is extensive – compensating for the lack of ‘button’ options to accomodate the waterproof requirements vs a normal compact camera. Win on the swings – loose on the roundabout?
Walked along the beach to get various angles and light variations and ended up walking 4 kms to the end of the cove. Along the way at certain points there were the most beautiful shells – just there on the sand or shallow water – some if you picked them up were still ‘occupied’ by either their original ‘owners’ or ‘squatting’ crabs. It became a treasure hunt – the sunrise forgotten – ADHD much? At some point washing off the sand from a particularly spectacular shell a wave caught me by surprise – drenched up to my knees – sneakers, socks and jeans. Small price to pay for a priceless experience – the clothing can be washed and will dry.
At the cove is the Paradiso hotel – not sure if that is the right name – did not google to confirm, just got the name from my hotel staff after asking about it. Not even sure if something got ‘lost in translation’… but the point is, it got severely damaged during Hurricane Irma – they are busy with a massive rebuilding exercise as they are on a rocky outcrop right at the water’s edge…. prime location for the last 40 odd years its been since a hurricane made landfall in Cuba, not so good when it does. Everywhere you see bent pieces of metalroofing and patches of thatch missing… a stern reminder that Royalton Hicacos got off lightly – some water damage and mould being the worst of it.
After washing off most of the sand at the shower points dotted along the resort and washing the clothing, I hung it out to dry on the balcony and went for breakfast at around 10.. cannot believe 5 hours passed during that little excursion – but then I could feel it on the sunburn on my face – did not put any sunblock on, was not intention to stay out in the sun, just take some pics and go back.
Attempted check-in for Mexico flight – various technical issues with the service providers website and apps accoss both Apple and Android platforms. Eventually got assistance via Facebookmessenger as the lady provided me the necessary details I could not access – technology is great – WHEN it works. She was a real star… Ironically – it turns out that online checkin is not available for AeroMexico Havana departures – what do you know… LOL!
This was several Wifi cards later – you buy ‘airtime’ in Cuba – get 60 minutes access – which does not have to be a single session, but only one device at a time – not multiple access. Waiting for an app to download and a non-responsive website just ‘eats up’ airtime – kinda weird in a world where these days its more about download speed and the amound of data you have access to than ‘how long’ like in the old landline modem days.
Decided to skip lunch – its only three hours till dinner service starts – big mistake…. Went to have a drink at the poolbar – one drink, one cola and then catch up with some zzz before dressing up for dinner and seeing what goes on at the night club for my last night, have been hanging out at the lobby bar in the evenings and should probably get in one night of dancing… that was the plan… and then the Canadians and Michael and Jose (the poolbar-bar staff) happened..
I had one Mojito – my go-to cocktail (made with light rum) and Michael decided that instead of my diet cola he’ll make me something – it was nameless, but muy forte (very strong) with lime juice, limes, sugar, lemonade and DARK rum.. note to self – avoid DARK rum. During that drink the four Canadians arrived – and sorry if you thought the Australians are the big party animals – you just have not met Canadians at an all-inclusive resort. We started chatting, I tried for another Cola – which at least I got to balance out that killer drink. Agreed to a last drink – a Jose special – which the canadians ended up drinking 3 of… A mixture looking much like a Chocolate Don Pedro – lovely presentation… deceptively innocently tasting – Coconut liquer, Chocolate liquer, Coffee liquer, Coconut milk and pina-colada slushy mix. Wish i had the camera with me to take a pic.
Thanks to my anti-depressant (which works wonderfully, but has this ONE side effect) I am very sensitive to alcohol – that second glass of wine now feels like a second bottle. I could already not feel my hands, feet or face – not good. Does everybody have an “out of body ” experience in an alcoholic haze? I saw that nightclub tonight was NOT gonna happen, neither was supper. At least I had the foresight to pick up a fruit tart at the 24 hour snack bar on the way to my room.
Dressed in dry clothes, had coffee and some cruciale (phospholipid liver tablets meant to counter overindulging in alcohol) and went back to snack bar to have a burger and fries. Set my alarm to pack as I was being collected at 9am and by 18:30 I was asleep.
Woke up at 5:30, took more cruciale – just as a precaution and started to pack. Thank goodness there was no hangover symptoms, just a little tired and SLOW … as after showering and packing I only left the room after 8am. No time to go up to the buffet restaurant for breakfast – dreaded sweet pastries (karma?) at the lobby bar and coffee. I missed last night’s glass of bubbly – so impulsively and more as a joke I asked if its too early for champage – apparently it wasnt 😛
Left a goodbye message my waiter friend with Ana. I never got his name, apparently Johann? The plan was to have a final drink last night and say goodbye and thank you after the nightclub, but yeah, that did not happen. Moral of the story – dont leave stuff for later – it may not happen.
The drive to the airport was filled with cuban music – starting out with Despacito – which my driver (same guy as before) was impressed that I recognised within the first 3 seconds – I love that song and its been in my head for the rest of the day.
It was raining all the way causing us to dodge pools of water in the road and the wipers making timing of pictures through the windscreen a very interesting experience, but I got a few very good shots of classic cars along the way.
Check-in, boarding and the flight to Mexico was uneventful. Had to ‘sacrifice’ my what was left of my montagu dried fruit at the altar of customs – no fruit products allowed into the country and they were more strict than their neighbours.
Not so lucky with airport transfer though – apparently my driver experienced mechanical problems and could not make it to the airport. My phone being text roaming only they could not get hold of me. After 30 mins of patrolling the collection area someone called the company and they explained the situation. There was agreement that I will wait another hour for the 5:15 shuttle service as I did not draw any cash inside the airport (transfer was prepaid) and cant go back in for security reasons – the option to take a taxi and have them refund me thus taken off the table. Eventually after another phone call to co-ordinate locations Felix arrived and gave me spanish lessons all the way to the hotel – practico… LOL.
At the hotel check in the system showed credit card declined when they tried to place a hold on some funds in case of me using my roomcard as payment for services not included in my prepaid package. I hate it when technology does not work. Will draw some dollars this morning just to have something – my dollars all but used up – seriously I have 12 USD left – with the cuban hotel credit card facility being bust. A check online later after dinner shows that the hold did go through and a call to bank card helpdesk confirmed it – plus purchasing skype credits to make said call confirms that my card is not blocked. Will wait untill monday – as agreed with hotel – to see what the status is. SMS to confirm hotel holding funds also came through this morning – URGH
I was tired and fed-up when I went down for supper – which was really good. I’m two doors from main buffet restaurant – overlooking the beach and what do you know – one door down from THE GYM – seriously universe, knock it off – I get the message.
Ok – gonna take a sunrise pic from my balcony to add to this post and then have to get ready for my tour to COBA and TULUM ruins – its time….
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