Bloody Airports

An early start this morning with a taxi booked for 3.30am for a 6.00am flight out of Havana.

I had given us 2 hours to connect to the flight from Mexico City - I am absolutely sure that for the rest of my life I will hear Dad telling me about the importance of plenty of time for international transfers - we didn't make our flight

The Cuban flight was a bit late and the exit from baggage claim / immigration / customs was really slow. We then had to catch a train to a different terminal (I know Dad I can already hear you)

We finally managed to get to the counter (after being redirected a few times) at just a few minutes before 9 (flight scheduled for 9.35) to be told it was too late and they would not issue us a boarding pass. There was a US$500 fee to change to another flight!! - more than we paid for the original return airfares - not likely.

5 desks later and expert gentle persuasion by Jacqueline (I was waiting to be the evil bad cop) and we managed to get to a point of mutual agreement that the only solution was to buy a ticket for a one way airfare - half the cost of the penalty fee. I'm looking forward to some entertaining negotiations with our travel insurance company!

We have got new tickets for a 1230 plane so will get to LA 3 hours later than anticipated. Helen and Lauren are still excited though and will meet us at the airport which is great.

I have managed to get the ladies into the Premier Aeromexico lounge (using my Diners Club). It is really quite comfortable and we have our own personal butler who doesn't speak any English but who is being very attentive to our every need.

Only 11am (Mexico time and we have been awake for nearly 8 hrs already. It will be a long day but really looking forward to catching up with Helen, Howard and Lauren

Good luck Emily for your operation today - thinking of you

Our final day on the road in Cuba. We had another early morning sunrise wander through the streets of Trinidad before breakfast. It was surreal to watch this extraordinary town wake from its slumber and see people emerging from their homes onto the cobblestone streets to start their day.

We had a fairly unexciting  4+ hour trip back to Havana so decided to stop back in at Australia to find a hotel that the guide book rated as having the best coffee in Cuba. 

With some help from our friends – Charly likes to stop about 20 people in each town to ask for directions – we did find the place and indeed had a very pleasant cappuchino with chocolate sprinkle and a piece of sugar cane as a stirring stick.

Upon arrival in Havana we checked back in to the Hotel Nacional and then headed into the Old Havana Town for some strolling and browsing. We visited the large markets where the vendors sell the souvenirs – all junk and a bit desperate like all markets around the world. Then on to the Havana Club Rum Museum – sorry Matt but Jacqueline is now fully addicted.

We strolled the streets and then found a local hole in the wall vendor for pizza which we ate on a bench in a small square – mum gave most of her pizza to the poor lady who was sweeping the cobblestones. We then settled in a bar in a magnificent open plaza in the old town where he had a refreshing beverage and listened to some traditional Cuban music.

We capped off the evening with a ride past the Capitol and then along the famous Melocon (the esplanade along the ocean front that leads to our hotel) in a 1952 Cherolet convertible.

We have a 3,15am start tomorrow morning to start our very long journey home – looking forward to seeing the families soon!

Jacqueline says she feels a bit dizzy this morning. I think that is a consequence of being a member of the Havana Club. An early morning wander through the streets was followed by a nice fresh breakfast by our Casa hosts. 

Today takes us on a journey to Santa Clara – a large city in the geographical centre of the county about 2 hours drive over the Escambray mountain range. A pretty impressive road over some pretty impressive mountains – a real contrast to what Cuba has provided so far.

Today was really hot – at least 35 degrees – even the locals are sweltering.

Santa Clara was the site of Che Guevara’s great success against the US backed invaders. He is a national hero in Cuba, only surpassed by the adoration for Fidel and there is a pretty impressive monument and museum dedicated to him in the city. 

Otherwise Santa Clara was a big, hot and extremely unimpressive poor metropolis.

Home via the same winding precipitous mountain route with a quick stop at a nice waterfall for a cool refreshing dip.

A few hours of wandering the streets of Trinidad as the sun set followed by pizza, ice cream and Nutella crepes out on the Plaza listening to some local Cuban music - a fantastic evening

Happy Birthday Peter.

We wandered the local streets before breakfast back at the casa. 

The drive to our next destination of Trinidad (east of Cienfuegos) was only an easy 80km along the coast. Plenty more crabs along the highway to run over. We came across a very small beachside town and stopped for some photos. 

We met some kids who were using crabs crawling all over the walls of their house as play toys.

They were as fascinated by us as we were by them – lots of laughter and fun photos. We met their mother and she was a real hoot – she invited us in to her home – we politely declined.

Trinidad is an old Spanish town with many of the traditional buildings and streets preserved to maintain the heritage. Like all of Cuba, the streets look an extraordinary mess however the doors hide an amazing life behind. Our Casa Particulares looks pretty ordinary on the outside – again mum seemed horrified – but stepping through the door revealed a magnificent family home with tasteful furniture, airconditioned rooms and a bed each. Our hosts are a father and son team – both named Pedro – and their families.

The plan was to drive out to Sancti Spiritus, a historic town about 100km north east. As we were about to drive off a very nice local man on his bicycle brought to our attention that our rear tyre was low on air. He very helpfully directed us to a local tyre place to get air and by the time we arrived there the tyre was almost flat. Interestingly the very nice man on the bicycle arrived at the same place and got off and went in – he worked there!!!!

The saga

-       We tried to get the tyre off but the jack in the boot was completely useless.

-       We pulled the spare tyre out but it was completely useless

-       The flat tyre only had 2 nuts (out of 4) securing it in place – thank god the other 3 tyres had 4 nuts each so we spread them out a bit!

Through Charly interpreting we were told it would be 10CUC ($10) to fix the hole plus extra if any other problems – I immediately said half joking that there would be at least 2 holes.

5 minutes later another tourist hire car pulled up with a flat tire and a very nice local man that had helped them and brought them down to the tire repair place. This very nice man also stayed around and appeared to work for the business. Enough said.

Oh and then a third car turned up with a flat tyre from parking on the street ……

We had 2 holes in our tire – it cost us $15

Eventually on the road to Sancti Spiritis – an old town about 70km from Trinidad. A nice drive and an amazingly beautiful old town with colorful buildings and cobblestone streets. We had local churros (excellent), visited the local church (while mass was on) and climbed the bell tower (Jacqueline is hopeless with heights) and visited a local ice-cream parlour for you know what. 

Not rated  highly in the guide books but for us, undoubtedly the coolest little town in Cuba.

Back to Trinidad and down to Playa Ancon (Playa is Spanish for beach), the local beach resort area, for a swim in the still uncomfortably warm and salty Caribbean Sea.

We explored the streets of Trinidad in the late afternoon

Charly then took us to a local Casa Particulares where the owner was having a big family feast and we were invited as special guests. A whole pig on the spit with local rice, salads etc and some pretty toxic mojitos. The food was excellent and likewise the rum. We were serenaded by a local Cuban musician – Cath we bought his CD for you – he signed it personally.

Home for a bit more Havana Club rum and very late to bed