Kings adventures: April 2017

As our flight wasn't until the evening we were going to spend our last few hours wandering about Havana. We booked a taxi through the housekeeper so as to be sure to be at the airport on time. All Jim and I had to do was step out our bedroom window to get to the breakfast area. The others in the group were earlier than us and, as we waited for breakfast, we began to think that we had been forgotten about and, indeed, when I went to check if the housekeeper was about, there was nobody there. However, she finally arrived. After breakfast I went to wash my teeth in the bathroom . I didn't lock the door but when I went to come out I couldn't get the door opened - getting locked in or locked out seems to have been a feature of this trip! And I did not even have my book or candy crush to pass time with! Jim went in search of the housekeeper to help and I was entertained to peals of laughter from them both. So much for sympathy for my predicament! Anyway she couldn't get the door open so went in search of someone of greater importance in the establishment. This lady was much more considerate of my feelings and tried thousands of keys in her efforts until finally I was released. The problem was that the door knob on my side was not connecting to the door knob on the outside. And I am sure I won't have been the last person to get locked in because when things are broken in Cuba they stay broken for a long time!

Out on Obispo they were still selling pups out of cages. Cubans seem to be besotted with dogs! There are thousands of stray dogs in Havana. We noticed that some of them have identification tags around their necks. These dogs are immune from the dog catcher and have been "adopted" by various institutions and businesses. The dogs with identification tags have state sponsored accommodation and health care. During our wanderings we saw 2 young women giving some of the dogs drops or medication.

Interesting English on this menu!

While we were eating (or not eating!) our rather vile lunch we were entertained by street performers on stilts.

And so it was time to make our way back to the hostel to collect our luggage and await our taxi. The lady in the hostel told us that she could not get a large taxi but - Relax, no problem! she kept saying - but there was a taxi there that would take 2 of us. So off Sarah and Charlotte went. Then I understood her to say that the taxi would come back for Jim and me after leaving Charlotte and Sarah at the airport - that would be in an hour's time as it is half an hour there and half an hour back. I explained that that would be too late - Relax, no problem! To me it was a problem! Then she and another woman gathered up our luggage and ushered us downstairs to wait, as I thought, for a taxi. Then she beckoned us up the street and into a car and there were Charlotte and Sarah in the car! It was the same taxi that had driven round the block and then come back for us. We have no idea what was going on but we got to the airport in good time. There, being sensible and conscious of the long flight we took a trip to the loos to discover there was no water and it was yuk, yuk, yuk!!

Cuba was very interesting and we had great fun but it is not number1 or even near it in the travels that we have made since we retired!

We left Trinidad at 9am to go to Santa Clara where we visited the Che Guevara mausoleum and memorial. Santa Clara is famous as the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution.It was the battle that clinched the revolution for Che Guevara and saw General Batista flee Cuba.

The Mausoleum houses the remains of Che Guevara and 29 of his fellow combatants killed in 1967 in Bolivia. Names of the dead are set in stars set in a brick wall. The only thing that picks out Che Guevara is a star projected over his name. The mausoleum also houses an eternal flame lit by Fidel Castro. The dimness of the building creates tranquillity and respect.

The museum is across from the mausoleum and contains exhibits from Che's early life of study and medicine and then exhibits of his revolutionary life. One photo is particularly interesting as it is Che Guevara in disguise for the passport that he needed to get into Bolivia. Aside from his eyes he is not recognisable. The museum, however, is a one-sided view of things and more objectivity would give a more balanced view.

From Santa Clara we drove to Havana stopping in Revolution Square. This square is huge.

Jose Marti Memorial - one of the highest points of Havana.

An iron sculpture of Che covers one side of the Ministry of the Interior.

Jose Marti.

Other modes of transport. More modern bicitaxis.

We then stopped for a look in the Hotel Nacional which had lots of works of art.

And so to our final accommodation in Havana and in Cuba. This was Hostel D'Osbe - again up several flights of stairs. Charlotte had booked for us to go to the Buena Vista Club so we had about an hour or so to get ready. Sarah still had to get cigars for Eunan's friend so she and Jim headed off to find a cigar shop. That was an adventure in itself!

This is the story Jim told me. They went to the main shopping street - Obispo - in search of a cigar shop. They called into various hotels to inquire where to get cigars to be directed up the street and down the street to various venues which were either closed or didn't have cigars. They were finally told that the best place to go was the cigar and rum shop at the top of O'Reilly street, a number of blocks away. As they had been going up and down the street for more than half an hour Sarah decided to take a bicitaxi. They explained to the driver what they wanted and where they wanted to go. He said he knew where to get cigars so they set off at a leisurely pace, stopping at regular intervals to chat to passersby and friends of his. They arrived at his destination (not the rum and cigar shop) which was a house, not a shop. They went in through the living room where some boys were watching football on television and were heralded into a bedroom where there was a great display of cigars on the bed. They had all sorts apart from the ones Sarah wanted and anyway, Sarah did not want an iffy cash transaction as she wanted to pay by card. Our driver said not to worry as he knew another place so they set off again. On the way they passed the shop that had been recommended and, despite their protests at passing it, their driver knew better and cycled on to another destination. This time they ended up in Chinatown at a similar premises to the first. Again a large selection of cigars but not the right ones. They were informed that the ones Sarah was looking for were no longer available. While they got no cigars they got a grand tour of Havana. As it was getting late they instructed the driver firmly to take them to O'Reilly Street. When theyarrived at the cigar and rum shop Jim insisted that the driver stop. This time he understood his English or maybe it was his tone! They paid him and went into the shop. In the shop they took their place at the end of the queue of Orientals who were buying 1 or 2 cigars as souvenirs. When they finally got to the assistant they inquired if she had the particular cigars. She said yes rather dully and asked if Sarah wanted 1 or 2. Her eyes really lit up when Sarah said she wanted 2 boxes of 25. There was a card machine so it looked like Sarah could pay by card. They asked Sarah for her passport for identification but Sarah hadn't brought it with her on this expedition. Jim said he could produce identification and showed the assistant his senior travel pass - a new use for a travel pass! Having finally got their cigars they proceeded to head back to the hostel to discover that the cigar shop was only 3 minutes walk away. Jim inserted the key into the outside lock but it wouldn't budge. Even with the aid of a local across the road they had no success in getting the door open. Meanwhile Charlotte and I were all dolled up for our outing to the Buena Vista Club and were wondering had something untoward happened to Sarah and Jim - maybe they had absconded together! At any rate they finally gained access by ringing the bell. After a very quick shower we were ready to get a taxi but the housekeeper tried 9 or 10 taxis and none was available so we had no option but go to the taxi rank at the end of the road. The trip to the Socal Club took 10 minutes and despite having asked how much it would be and being told 10CUC we were charged 40CUC - truly conned again!

On entering we had to stand for quite a while at the bar before we were seated. Initially they put us in one of the show rooms but then we were brought to a nicer room and seated. It cost 60CUC each for the cabaret show, a 3 course meal and 3 cocktails. The first act was a classical music group which was really good.