La Habana

Jueves, el 30 del Marzo…

Terminal 2 (Int'l Flights)

A very long day w/ lots of ups and downs. Awake before 3 (technically, you’re supposed to arrive 4 hours ahead of an international flight). We chose to get up 4 hours ahead instead. For whatever reasons (or none), “Garmi” sent us to a trailer park instead of the airport, which was more than a bit stressful. Fortunately, the trailer park was reasonably near the airport. We flew out of Tampa and landed just an hour later, with passports, visas, and a health card in hand. Twenty minutes later we had a pile of CUCs (Cuban peso notes) and were on our way to Habana (local spelling) in a cab driven by Ernesto (who had anglicized his name to Ernest). We arrived at our casa particular (room in a private home, $26/night) shortly after 9am. Our host Marylin [sic] doesn’t speak English, and her phone wasn’t working that day (hence, no translation app), but there really wasn’t a whole lot that needed discussion, and I remembered enough Spanish to get us through. Marylin gave us a map, a tour brochure, and a well-worn copy of the Lonely Planet Guide to Cuba. 

Our bedroom (w/ AC & private bath)

Marylin's Cocina

View from front balcony

Lagunas 329

Our street is only 2 blocks from the ocean, so we walked down to the Malecón (broad boulevard next to the sea wall) first, then managed to find a post office (we’d forgotten to mail 3 cards at the Tampa Airport). Later we realized that we’d also forgotten to add USA to the addresses. By now we’re hungry, but before we found a good eating spot, one of us got talked into a very Cuban purchase that probably wasn’t the smartest financial deal. Lunch this first day was at a pretty traditional restaurant – no gastronomic surprises. Afterwards we were hot, tired, and not sure what to do next so we walked back to the casa and had a good siesta (and no, that is not a Cuban custom).

After our nap we walked in the opposite direction and found a hotel where Greg could get Internet access (sort of). Then we headed into the oldest portion of Havana to check out some historical sites, feel the local vibe (which may have been more turista than local – a cruise ship was docked in the harbor), and find a spot for dinner. Can’t recall the restaurant name or what we ate, but it was good – though, again, not really “Cuban.” That will change tomorrow.

Cuba is... CRUMBLING. This is the first word that comes to mind when I consider what we've seen today. There's all this gorgeous architecture that's in shambles. Restoration is being done (which is good), but resources are limited.

Across the street from us... People live here
(and their apts may be as nice as Marylin's),
but entire rooms are missing from the bldg.

Again, chunks of the bldg are missing.

This was once a grand & glorious edifice.

BlogThoughts…  We had tons of free time while we were camped at Davis Bayou. We relaxed. “Ah..” we said, “this is what retirement is supposed to be like.” What we should have been doing was preparing for this trip. We are so under-informed in so many ways. It’s embarrassing, and frustrating.