Day 21 Baracoa to Havana

Woke just before the alarm and finished packing. Of course it was hot. We sat up by the pool briefly and I got on the internet before going up to breakfast. Only fruit for breakfast. I just couldn’t face another egg. Back to our room to bring up the bags, but we were in luck. Some of the staff were nearby and quickly took our bags and carried them up. Bonus

Jose and Vladimir were 20 minutes early but everyone was early so we gave them their tips and caught the bus for the ridiculously short trip to the plane. It was just around the corner but I never heard a plane during our time there?

Baracoa check in.

The Baracoa “airport” is “interesting”. One small building.

Once you check in your luggage you wait outside on the gutter or there is space under the nearby tree. Then you have to wait and wait until they call you back into the room and allow you to enter into the last waiting room two at a time. Carryon baggage through the x-ray machine and you walk through the scanner to sit and wait some more. One stall selling two kinds of soft drinks and that was it. Eventually we walked over the tarmac to the small twin engine (prop) aircraft. Of we went and took off before the end of the runway and the sea ahead. I had a window seat and took lots of photos. It was interesting to see Cuba from the air, but didn’t recognise any features.  We had to avoid some thick cloud at times. Any time went through the cloud the plane had a few dips.

After 2 hours it was time to land in Havana and rather fortunately after four days of rain it was just cloudy. The domestic airport was even smaller than the international one. The bags took 15 mins to come through and included a vast number of cardboard boxes that all looked exactly the same, but were claimed by their owners?  Jose made sure we were handed over to the company rep and we caught a very clean taxi to the city- takes about half an hour. When we arrived at Placio O’Farrell, Vikki and Ralph were right behind us, but the rooms were not ready. So the porter showed us a great restaurant for lunch. Heather and I opted for the 20 cuk meal of three courses and drinks. Vikki and Ralph joined us. They had the seafood paella and raved about it.

When we returned to the hotel- issue when we entered our room it STANK of mildew. Even the sheets were damp and the air con wouldn’t work. So we went for a walk to get an internet card- exorbitantly priced down the road at 4.50cuk for an hour. We tried unsuccessfully to find another hotel who sold them, but couldn’t. Back to the stinky hot room where a succession of workmen came up and tried unsuccessfully to get the air con to work. I downloaded photos as each one came and went. Eventually we were moved to a new room. Air con, but no ceiling light. Like moving into a cave and slightly less damp sheets!! 

"Modern cash register" at lunch time.

hotel

Time to go downstairs to the internet area and use us some
 solid gold air time!

We went out after a light diner to listen to the cannon fire at 9 pm.People were walking and some older beggars just waiting. Music from so many cafe's and restaurants. And some good lighting on the older buildings. Definitely not as hot as during the day and much quieter. Only issue is dodging dog poo and potholes that have no warning/ barriers.

Not as hot back here but not cold either. At least our second room's air con does work, just have issues trying to shut the door without the handle falling off!! Always something in Cuba.