Day 22 Havana

Woke and had breakfast with Vikki and Ralph. Not much in the breakfast buffet for me, so I was very happy that the tea was quite nice. A long lingering breakfast followed by some computer work. Vikki and Ralph left at 10:30. I meant to mention yesterday that at this hotel all the taps are turned on the wrong way- anti clockwise.

1948 Ford

The bellboy rang for an old car for us and a bright yellow and orange 1948 Ford convertible arrived with a very smooth driver. After some discussion it was decided that we would go to Earnest Hemingway’s house- a long drive from the city plus see some of the city on the way back from our agreed one hour (35 cuk) ride!

The car’s gears were striped several times and it was a bit rough as it fell into the many potholes but we saw lots on the way out and back. We also saw many old cars and many broken down cars.

Hemingway’s house cost 5 cuk entry. We were expecting a drive past! We stopped and took photos. It reminded me of Monet’s home.

Hemingway's typewriter

It was quite hot driving with no air con and the top down, so the cloudy patches were welcome relief. Before long, it became quite evident that the driver was intending our journey to be at least two hours long and we found ourselves going through some lovely suburbs and through a delightful park where we stopped for photos. His English was mostly understandable, but some bits were a guess.

Then he decided that two hours wasn’t quite long enough and it ended up being three at a cost of 90 cuk!!! Yes we did see a lot of new things, but we also covered a lot of ground we had already seen on our tour and we had agreed to 1-2 hours not three. Not much we could do, except pay. He definitely cleaned us out of cuks. We were both hot and very sweaty when we returned to the hotel to find security guards everywhere? Must have been a money pick up we worked out. We downed two cold lemonades very quickly.

At 2:00 we walked up to yesterday’s restaurant and shared a chicken paella. Golly what a huge amount there was. Very tasty, but I didn’t like the chicken bits. Back to the hotel and tried to get another internet card from a closer source but they had run out. Up to our floor where we tried to sit in one of the lovely coffee table areas but the smell of cigars and cigarette butts was overwhelming and my computer need power.

I downloaded photos onto a usb and then from today’s card- power very slow today for every process.

It soon became quite dark and I looked out the window to discover it was raining. Not long after the rumble of thunder could be heard. Definitely time for a cuppa or a light snack, so we went down to the courtyard and had a drink followed by a light dinner while listening to yet another band- this time featuring a marimba. Lovely music.

BANG the 9 o’clock canon just fired.