Cuba Trip #4 2019
Day 1
Miami to Havana
After an amazing Pre-Trip party at the Hilton hotel in Miami (with our Guest Mayor Xavier Suarez, cousin Marie Luise Gaston and nephew Patrick Hidalgo), we woke up early to go to the Airport. Everyone was so excited....especially ME !! The day had finally arrived. A full year of planning and many phone calls and emails...etc
I was bringing 10 bridge friends from Oregon (my new home) to my old Homeland Cuba.
Ann Gramson had asked my good friend Gil, where do you want to go next and Gil said "Cuba with Manny" and now it was a reality.
Ann, Gil, Sandy, Jane, Vern, Cindy, Denise, Celia, Jim the Counselor and Manny the Tall Cuban.
Manny passed out the Visa's and Airplane tickets with LAST minutes instructions. The Buddy system was started where if i lost someone in the group i would ask the "buddy" who is responsible to communicate their every move....including bathroom breaks, etc.
This was VERY important because in Cuba we did NOT have cell phone service...and if anyone got separated, there was NO way to contact them.
We went through American Airlines International ticket counter. Passport please. Then go to another line to get your Boarding Pass stamped. And we waited as group as each person did their thing. ($25 for each bag checked in....watch that weight)
We checked through TSA (many were worried because of the Federal Govt shutdown and fake reports of long lines at the airports, etc). Everything went smoothly except for Jim and I. They wanted to search our bags. Jimmy had to re-stuff his carry ons....and i had hand cream for the ladies in Cuba.
We got a cart for some of the travelers who had walking issues and then traveled like what seem like a MILE to our Gate at Miami Airport. Then we boarded a big American Airlines plane. The plane was very quiet. In my other 3 trips to Cuba (2010, 2011, 2015) we went in a small Charter plane and everyone on board was talking and laughing and crying. This was a different group. This was NOT families going back to visit their Homeland. These were tourist from many different countries with a transfer connection in Miami.
We were all scattered on a FULL plane. Jane and Sandy were up front with me. Sandy looking out the window the entire time....we could see Key West and Cuba at the same time...only 90 miles apart.
as we landed i point out to all the GREEN pastures and how could people go hungry with such God given fertile land. Socialism does NOT work. We can only hope and pray and wait and wait.
we are taxied to the MAIN terminal....Jose Marti International...no more stairs to climb off the plane...perfect for all the old people and ME on the plane
the airport is so BIG and modern...and clean...no questions asked like in the old days...no more interrogations...where are your brothers and sisters ?? where are you living in the USA ?? where are you staying in Cuba ?? what is the purpose for your visit ?? NONE of that.
the luggage did take some extra time...especially the BIG ones...they must have gotten a "second" look behind close doors
one of our poor friends was having some problem coughing....and there were two nurses protecting the exit...they were collecting the "health" forms...this might be our first setback...having to wait in Havana airport for this friend to go back to USA with a cold
but my friend STOPPED coughing long enough to get by the nurses....WHEW !!!
waiting outside was our driver...Putin's brother from another country..."Vladimir"
he had a sign "MANUEL SUAREZ"...and i started to cry (first of many tears)
we boarded the A/C state van....yellow with TAXI on the side...Jim the Counselor, Vern and Gil helped with the bags and the ladies...yes it was difficult getting into the van (we needed a foot stool)
and OFF we went to Havana !!
As we drove through the streets of Havana, we saw many signs for the Revolution. We drove by the Statue of Jose Marti (the people from Oregon did NOT know Marti as well as those from Tampa). We also saw the State Capitol....a replica of the US State Capitol in DC...and downtown havana with all its shops and tourists
our driver announced that HE could NOT drop us off at the Plaza across from the Cruise Ships. Apparently ALL TAXI's are ban from the cruise ship area. The first couple of cruises, all the passengers disappeared in Taxi's, Cuba lost control.
So now there are over 100 Big tourist buses lining the Malecon by the Cruise ships....theoretically tourist MUST stay with their Tour Guide !!
so we got Dropped off 5 blocks from our hotel The Convent !!
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147271-d4601639-Reviews-Convento_Hotel_Santa_Brigida-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html
it was a sight....10 people with average age of 80...pulling their bags over Cobble Stone streets...in 75 degree weather (and 90% humidity)....Jim the Counselor was a big help here...I really struggled with my bad achilles
We found the Convent and everyone was so HAPPY when they saw the inside....THEY were really worried about "This trip to Cuba with Manny" (the guy who wears t-shirts to the bridge games)
The nuns were super....the rooms were awesome....everyone room got it's own bathroom and the elevator was working and we had electricity
then ALL HELL broke lose...one our guest Tripped on a "step Down" on the floor...and sprained an ankle...thank God the nuns run an infirmary...and they bandaged her up (Even with some crutches)
There was a bank across the street and i exchanged $1,000 for CUC's for $900...so the group could have some pocket money
I told the group we would meet in the lobby at 4 pm...i had planned an 1 hour walk to the Cathedral de Havana...and an hour back to the Beer Garden near the convent for dinner.
Well we lasted ONE block !!....lol...we sat down at some local park...everyone was exhausted..
we turned Right !! and then Right !! and then Right !! and we were back at the Beer Garden...lol
Panic hit the ranks as the waiter told this "wining drinking group" that they had NO WINE !! No Rum !! only beer
I ordered a TALL tower of beer (with about 10 beers in it) and it was all gone in 5 mins....we ordered a second tower...the food was ok and the air got cooler with the sun going down...the children filled the plaza with their laughter....ALL was right with the world and Manny was a genius once more.
Final bill about $150...water was $2 a bottle...ouch...but well worth it...bill $180 with Tip...(we were only 9 since the one with the bad ankle stayed in her bed....the convent gets CNN, BCC, ESPN and a movie channel)
After dinner, Denise decided to head back to the Convent....Gil was going to keep Denise and Cindy (bad ankle) company...and Ann decided to shop NEAR the Plaza...and Vern needed to take his wife Cindy to dinner at restaurant next to the convent.
That left the 5 Muskateers, Jane, Sandy, Celia, Jim and me to go walk to the Cathedral of Havana. I set them on their way along Calle Ignacio !! (yep my middle name and my uncle who died in prison under Castro) while i took the others back to the convent.
the 5 Muskateers had a GREAT walk....with many history lessons....got to see the Governor's Mansion...and then the Cathedral...we walked back to the convent along the Malicon near the Cruise ships...and took pictures of JESUS across the harbor....getting back to the convent at about 9 pm where Gil and Ann were holding a party in their Suite with some 7 year old RUM (yes, there is a state liquor store next to the convent) mixed with Pineapple juice and a BIG can of peanuts from the USA.....lol...(liquor store had no wine)
Good night !! Day 1...
PS: Jim says i snore like i am cutting logs...lol...i guess my wife Kathy was right
Day 1
Miami to Havana
After an amazing Pre-Trip party at the Hilton hotel in Miami (with our Guest Mayor Xavier Suarez, cousin Marie Luise Gaston and nephew Patrick Hidalgo), we woke up early to go to the Airport. Everyone was so excited....especially ME !! The day had finally arrived. A full year of planning and many phone calls and emails...etc
I was bringing 10 bridge friends from Oregon (my new home) to my old Homeland Cuba.
Ann Gramson had asked my good friend Gil, where do you want to go next and Gil said "Cuba with Manny" and now it was a reality.
Ann, Gil, Sandy, Jane, Vern, Cindy, Denise, Celia, Jim the Counselor and Manny the Tall Cuban.
Manny passed out the Visa's and Airplane tickets with LAST minutes instructions. The Buddy system was started where if i lost someone in the group i would ask the "buddy" who is responsible to communicate their every move....including bathroom breaks, etc.
This was VERY important because in Cuba we did NOT have cell phone service...and if anyone got separated, there was NO way to contact them.
We went through American Airlines International ticket counter. Passport please. Then go to another line to get your Boarding Pass stamped. And we waited as group as each person did their thing. ($25 for each bag checked in....watch that weight)
We checked through TSA (many were worried because of the Federal Govt shutdown and fake reports of long lines at the airports, etc). Everything went smoothly except for Jim and I. They wanted to search our bags. Jimmy had to re-stuff his carry ons....and i had hand cream for the ladies in Cuba.
We got a cart for some of the travelers who had walking issues and then traveled like what seem like a MILE to our Gate at Miami Airport. Then we boarded a big American Airlines plane. The plane was very quiet. In my other 3 trips to Cuba (2010, 2011, 2015) we went in a small Charter plane and everyone on board was talking and laughing and crying. This was a different group. This was NOT families going back to visit their Homeland. These were tourist from many different countries with a transfer connection in Miami.
We were all scattered on a FULL plane. Jane and Sandy were up front with me. Sandy looking out the window the entire time....we could see Key West and Cuba at the same time...only 90 miles apart.
as we landed i point out to all the GREEN pastures and how could people go hungry with such God given fertile land. Socialism does NOT work. We can only hope and pray and wait and wait.
we are taxied to the MAIN terminal....Jose Marti International...no more stairs to climb off the plane...perfect for all the old people and ME on the plane
the airport is so BIG and modern...and clean...no questions asked like in the old days...no more interrogations...where are your brothers and sisters ?? where are you living in the USA ?? where are you staying in Cuba ?? what is the purpose for your visit ?? NONE of that.
the luggage did take some extra time...especially the BIG ones...they must have gotten a "second" look behind close doors
one of our poor friends was having some problem coughing....and there were two nurses protecting the exit...they were collecting the "health" forms...this might be our first setback...having to wait in Havana airport for this friend to go back to USA with a cold
but my friend STOPPED coughing long enough to get by the nurses....WHEW !!!
waiting outside was our driver...Putin's brother from another country..."Vladimir"
he had a sign "MANUEL SUAREZ"...and i started to cry (first of many tears)
we boarded the A/C state van....yellow with TAXI on the side...Jim the Counselor, Vern and Gil helped with the bags and the ladies...yes it was difficult getting into the van (we needed a foot stool)
and OFF we went to Havana !!
As we drove through the streets of Havana, we saw many signs for the Revolution. We drove by the Statue of Jose Marti (the people from Oregon did NOT know Marti as well as those from Tampa). We also saw the State Capitol....a replica of the US State Capitol in DC...and downtown havana with all its shops and tourists
our driver announced that HE could NOT drop us off at the Plaza across from the Cruise Ships. Apparently ALL TAXI's are ban from the cruise ship area. The first couple of cruises, all the passengers disappeared in Taxi's, Cuba lost control.
So now there are over 100 Big tourist buses lining the Malecon by the Cruise ships....theoretically tourist MUST stay with their Tour Guide !!
so we got Dropped off 5 blocks from our hotel The Convent !!
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g147271-d4601639-Reviews-Convento_Hotel_Santa_Brigida-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html
it was a sight....10 people with average age of 80...pulling their bags over Cobble Stone streets...in 75 degree weather (and 90% humidity)....Jim the Counselor was a big help here...I really struggled with my bad achilles
We found the Convent and everyone was so HAPPY when they saw the inside....THEY were really worried about "This trip to Cuba with Manny" (the guy who wears t-shirts to the bridge games)
The nuns were super....the rooms were awesome....everyone room got it's own bathroom and the elevator was working and we had electricity
then ALL HELL broke lose...one our guest Tripped on a "step Down" on the floor...and sprained an ankle...thank God the nuns run an infirmary...and they bandaged her up (Even with some crutches)
There was a bank across the street and i exchanged $1,000 for CUC's for $900...so the group could have some pocket money
I told the group we would meet in the lobby at 4 pm...i had planned an 1 hour walk to the Cathedral de Havana...and an hour back to the Beer Garden near the convent for dinner.
Well we lasted ONE block !!....lol...we sat down at some local park...everyone was exhausted..
we turned Right !! and then Right !! and then Right !! and we were back at the Beer Garden...lol
Panic hit the ranks as the waiter told this "wining drinking group" that they had NO WINE !! No Rum !! only beer
I ordered a TALL tower of beer (with about 10 beers in it) and it was all gone in 5 mins....we ordered a second tower...the food was ok and the air got cooler with the sun going down...the children filled the plaza with their laughter....ALL was right with the world and Manny was a genius once more.
Final bill about $150...water was $2 a bottle...ouch...but well worth it...bill $180 with Tip...(we were only 9 since the one with the bad ankle stayed in her bed....the convent gets CNN, BCC, ESPN and a movie channel)
After dinner, Denise decided to head back to the Convent....Gil was going to keep Denise and Cindy (bad ankle) company...and Ann decided to shop NEAR the Plaza...and Vern needed to take his wife Cindy to dinner at restaurant next to the convent.
That left the 5 Muskateers, Jane, Sandy, Celia, Jim and me to go walk to the Cathedral of Havana. I set them on their way along Calle Ignacio !! (yep my middle name and my uncle who died in prison under Castro) while i took the others back to the convent.
the 5 Muskateers had a GREAT walk....with many history lessons....got to see the Governor's Mansion...and then the Cathedral...we walked back to the convent along the Malicon near the Cruise ships...and took pictures of JESUS across the harbor....getting back to the convent at about 9 pm where Gil and Ann were holding a party in their Suite with some 7 year old RUM (yes, there is a state liquor store next to the convent) mixed with Pineapple juice and a BIG can of peanuts from the USA.....lol...(liquor store had no wine)
Good night !! Day 1...
PS: Jim says i snore like i am cutting logs...lol...i guess my wife Kathy was right
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