Havana, Cuba -- A Must See!

While we were in Cuba, we decided to check out the capital city, Havana. We booked our day trip to Havana through our Sunquest rep at the hotel, and we paid $125 CUB each for this excursion. For that we had a brand new tour bus take us to Havana from Varadero. We had a tour around the city, stopping at the International building to take pictures of the bustling sights, people and wonderful architecture that makes up this city. We stopped for lunch at a nice spot and that was included as well. It was a typical meal that you would receive at any hotel, and yes, the food in Cuba is somewhat on the boring side, but you have to consider you're in a third world country, and if you're going on a trip with the main purpose of what you'll be eating, then I suggest you go elsewhere in the world.

After lunch we carried on to Old Havana for a 45 minute walking tour, that was very informative by our guide. We were able to wander around on our own there for another hour afterwards, where we took in a mariachi band, and soaked in the sights. From there, at 5pm, we were whisked off to the Habana Libre, which was initially the Havana Hilton. We were divided into 3 groups; 2 of 8 and 1 of 7, and given a room for each group with a key for each person, where we could freshen up with a shower and get changed to our evening clothes. Also included was the buffet dinner and one drink for everyone of us. The buffet at this hotel was far superior to the buffet at our hotel in Varadero, and we really enjoyed it.

At 9 pm our bus picked us up at the hotel and we headed for the Tropicana. It was so exciting pulling up to this famous cabaret, and walking in to the wonderful courtyard area where the show is performed. Upon entry to the courtyard, each woman was handed a flower, and each man a cigar. Our seats were very good, in the third level up. I wouldn't want front row seats, as we saw another cabaret show at our own hotel the next day, and were in the front row. My personal opinion is that it is too close to take in the whole setting with one focus.

I had been reading a bunch of reviews online about this club, and found that people were pissed off at having to pay to use their camera during the show. I readily paid the extra $5. CUB to take pictures, and I don't think it's unreasonable for them to charge for this entitlement at all. How many shows have you been to where cameras are strictly prohibited? I know I have been to many, and I'm not that worldly at all. $15. CUB to take a video camera, and again, I don't think that's unreasonable either.

We were given one bottle of rum per four people, along with a can of coke and our table of eight shared a very large bucket of ice that certainly left no shortage for any of us. As well, we were each given a glass of sparkling wine, and a small personal plate of hor d'oeuvres, which we weren't hungry for from our lovely dinner at the hotel.

The 2 hour show was very colorful, and we found it extremely entertaining. Again, in the reviews I had read, people were bitching because there was only 30-40 girls onstage, and not the 100 that they were led to believe they would see. I didn't take the time to count the girls, but that wasn't something that was important to me. I don't see why it would be something that would require a certain number of girls in order to qualify as a good show. I do know that there were many of them on the stage, and in other areas of the courtyard, but how many exactly, who really cares?! I thought the costumes were very nice, and for all those people that left reviews about the old outdated costumes, they need to give their head a shake. Again, it's a third world country, where supplies are harder to get, and these costumes are used over and over for the shows, so there is bound to be some wear and tear on them, and I'd like to see what their shoes would look like after dancing a couple months like these dancers do. Scuffed up? Have you seen a ballerina's shoes close up? I think complaining like that is just petty and well, downright ridiculous! And where the repetition of the acts comes in, I don't get where they're coming from. There was definitely a variety of acts in the show, but if you think the butt shaking and parading around that these beautiful Cuban women do is supposed to look different with each number, then you just don't get it, period. Each act was unique to itself, but may have contained some of the same steps in the course of that act. I thought the choreography was great, and full of energy to keep the audience in awe.

Here's a small video from the show...

Our bus ride home, although late, was bustling with the satisfaction of money well spent for day we'll never forget! Once on the highway back to Varadero though, we all tried to catch a few zzz's for the rest of the journey.

Olivia

Hello, is anyone in here?

I guess you could say I've been on a blogging hiatus, huh? Life just gets too busy for me sometimes, and other times, I just get too damned lazy! I went on vacation in November. We went to Cuba. Stayed in Varadero. It was my first time going there, or anywhere that required me to have a passport with me for that matter. I'm a beach person, so Varadero was just perfect for me, with it's 22 km of stunning white sand beach front. And our hotel we stayed at, the Hotel Internacional, was right on the beach, as in we stepped off the terrace and we were walking on sand. Beautiful! Here are a few views we got to enjoy from our room on the top floor...

The two top pictures were taken later in the afternoon, and the bottom picture was taken in the very early morning, so you don't see too many people on the beach, but rest assured, the weather was beautiful, and many people, myself included frolicked in the waves during the main part of the day. The nice thing about going away in November, is that it's really off season, so the resorts and the beaches aren't overly crowded. Because of this, I know it looks like nobody was in the water in most of my pictures, but we really were! In fact, here's a picture of me in the water by myself. The people I was with were poos though, when it came to getting wet.

And just to prove that people other people were actually in the water, which I have to admit was warmer than the hotel pool, there's a picture of one of the many beach carts that come around to sell their wares. I loved those carts! And yes, I did support these guys buy buying some funky fish bone necklaces in festive colors. Can't wait until spring to wear them!

Another thing I loved about Cuba, besides the very friendly and accommodating people that live and work there, is how they make use of the old. The streets are loaded with these cool old cars. Yes, there are new models there as well, but the oldies were so much fun to see and to ride in!

The first picture is of my mother in law standing in front of a taxi that picked us up at the hotel to head to the big market in town. The second is a picture of the parking outside the International Building in Havana, and the third is another taxi that had stopped at the bank for us to change some money on our way to the big market in town, since we decided to go back and get a few things we had seen earlier and didn't want to go home kicking our butts for not getting them. Yours truly is the one standing up in the middle of the red taxi. That was when my hair was still long. I've had it cut since then. See, so much news to tell!

And as I said, the people in Cuba are so nice! They are definitely aimed at customer service and keeping the tourists happy! Here's a few pics of some of the people I met there, that will leave a lasting memory in my mind, and that I hope to be able to meet again on another trip...

The one thing that makes me really sad, is that I never did take a still picture of our beautiful maid, Marsaladies. She was such a sweetheart, and her genuine kindness came straight from the heart. I do have some video coverage with her on it, but I stupidly didn't take a regular picture. I can only hope that I will run into her again in the future. So, of the pictures here, we have our favorite "little" bartender, Jesus, and one of his co-worker pals, that I unfortunately don't know his name. Second we have Ricardo, who was an old man I had a conversation with in Havana. Well, tried to have a conversation with anyway! I don't speak Spanish, and he doesn't speak English, however we did manage to carry on a little chat. Third is my fisherman friend, Alberto. We met him fishing with many others down at the canal in Varadero. He was a nice old guy, and very readily answered all our questions.

Anyway, I better cut this off here now, before it scrolls down to the cores of the Internet with all this rambling and pictures I've shared! Bottom line though is that I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, and can't wait to go back again next year!

Ola! :-)

Olivia