This morning I woke up and got ready.... Well I at least put some clothes on before I completed my first task for this morning..... organise a taxi to the airport. I went down to reception and asked if they could please organise a taxi for 8am... She said yes. That was way too easy!!! Although she definitely said yes, so I just shrugged my shoulders and headed back to my room. I finished getting ready and packed the last few items into my bag. Surprisingly it zipped up fairly easy, which always makes me suspicious that I must have forgotten something. I did one last scan around the room. Good, I've left nothing.... Well nothing important anyway.
At 7.45 I went down to the lobby... Just in case my taxi wasn't there. I stumbled out of the lift with my bag and a nice young man came and helped me with my bag down the stairs... Turns out that nice young man was my cab driver! Wow, it is as easy as that.
Off we went. The ride to the airport took about 30min. I kept thinking, 8am..... there's going to be traffic. You could imagine my surprise when I realised that there was no traffic. Wow I really misjudged this one didn't I? But then it dawned on me..... it's Sunday. So pretty much a clean run all the way through.
See that's the problem with travelling.... I know the date, however I just have no idea what the actual day is!! It always catches me out.
So I arrive at the airport, check-in and head through immigration and security without any issues!!! That would be a first.
I then looked for a breakfast place. I elected to sleep in a bit extra and grab breakie at the airport, knowing that I would have at least 2hrs to kill. But finding a breakie joint at Panama airport was a lot more difficult than I thought. I ended up having subway for breakfast. It wasn't your breakie sub either... They don't exist is Panama, so a chicken one it was.
By the time I ate my sub, looked around a few duty free shops and finally cracked the code on how to use the free wifi at Panama Airport it was time to board my plane. They opened up boarding at 11am, 1 hr before my flight was scheduled to leave. The crowd dwindled down, so I thought best I board. My seat was right down the back of the plane on the isle. A lady then manoeuvred past me and sat in the window seat.... her friend on the isle across from me. With still 20min until take off they closed the flight. Double score, I had a spare seat next to me and we were ready for take off before our departure time. We taxied to the runway and pretty much took of straight away. That's a first. A plane that actually takes off not on time but early.
We hit a small pocket of turbulence, however nothing to be concerned about. I've had worse on this trip!! The turbulence was fairly constant throughout the entire flight though!!
The air hostesses started preparing meals and drinks, and one hostess started to hand out the immigration and custom forms that needed to be completed. I finished mine quite quickly. After having to complete these forms 8 times already, I have become a bit of an expert in completing immigration and custom forms. The lady next to me however was having all sorts of issues. She asked me in her broken English if could I help her. Which I did. Holy crap she had really made a dogs breakfast out of the customs form. She wrote her surname in the passport no boxes, and had no idea what the date was. I helped her out as much as I could, but without white out/liquid paper I was fighting a losing battle. After about 30mins she asked whether I would swap seats with her.... No problems, I have hit the jackpot here. Spare seat next to me, and a window seat and I don't have to be in the middle of them jabber jawing it!!...the odds have really stacked in my favour today. Especially when we started to fly over the Carribean. The water was iridescent aqua, broken occasionally by caye's and islands. It just reminds me of how much of this beautiful world is left to discover and travel to!!
We flew towards quite a large island, and I could see that we had decreased in altitude. This must be cuba. We descended even further into the low lying clouds.... that became very dark and very grey. The amount of turbulence we experienced also increased.... I'm guessing this is a storm we are flying through.
We flew through the other end.... 2 mins later we were taxiing towards the airport. What a great flight. I can not complain at all. We were so close to the terminal and then in the middle of nowhere the plane stops. Ok, what's going on here?? A Spanish announcement is made... Although nothing in English. So I have no idea what's going on. After a couple of minutes the English version of the announcement is made (obviously they had to go and find the air hostess that could actually speak English to make the announcement). Apparently Havana airport was busy and they didn't have a gate for our plane to disembark. So we sat on the Tarmac for about 10min. Next thing I see another COPA plane being pushed out of a gate... And only then are we free to move in to the gate.
Being at the back of the plane I can do nothing but wait for all the other passengers to disembark first. Then I trundle off the plane. The first thing to hit you when you get off the plane is the heat, second thing is that distinct smell of cigarettes and cigars. I could definitely smell that it was still ok for people to smoke inside buildings here in Cuba.
First stop security. Really, security after we get off the plane. Ok. So my bag went though the scanner again. Watch and bracelets off. I walk through the scanner and are checked by a lady wielding a metal detector baton. I pass with flying colours.
Next stop immigration. So I join the line, again no problems. Straight through. Whilst in the queue, it allowed me plenty of time to look around and take things in. One of those things was how short the security and immigration girls skirts were. Holy crap!!! I'm not going to fit in. My shorts are way too long if these are the standards!!
I found the baggage carousel and collect my bag. No nightmares, my bag was still zipped up, with all of its contents safely inside. It was actually one of the first bags off!! Surely my luck will have to wear out soon!! I was gearing myself up for a complete bag search at customs. I joined the queue and was pretty much flagged to go straight through. Brilliant.
I walk through to general public. I had a transfer to my hotel thrown in, so I was looking around for my ride. I couldn't see anything that resembles my ride. In the mean time I was being hassled by taxi drivers 'want a taxi?'. Finally I asked someone and they pointed me to the tour companies office. Easy. I handed my voucher over, and a couple of minutes later a Cuban man in a suit escorted me out with my bag. He even waited with me whilst I changed some money at the money exchange. He then continued to escort me into a private cab.
Now my Cuba adventure begins. The driver asked me a question in Spanish... I quickly tell him I only speak English. Thank goodness he has some English. We talked about where I have been, and was so surprised that I survived Mexico without much Spanish. I told him that I was smart.... I have learnt just enough Spanish to work out where the toilets are and how to order something at a restaurant. So I'm not going to wee myself, nor am I going to starve.
I was excited to see my first old car, driving around the streets. Now this is what I had expected havana to be. We drove through such a vast variety of communities. The buildings are quite run down, with washing hanging from windows. Such character. I know I'm going to love this country.
We drive through the outskirts of the city and finally start to drive to the historical centre. We drive past some stunning hotels, and the driver points out each one and tells me the name. He does the same with monuments and buildings of importance. All of the buildings are so grand and stunning. Some have been completely restored, and look like a post card. Others are in need of a little bit of work and a paint job, however I actually find something so beautiful and stunning about these run down buildings!!
The driver points out the next stunning hotel..... This is the Seville, this is your hotel. I have to rub my eyes. This can't be my hotel??? It's too flash!!! I read the sign.... Yep it's the Seville alright.
I get out and make my way to the check in desk. My names on the check in book, and my keys ready. It's true, this is my hotel. It's not a dream.
I make my way through the grand lobby, and smile as I hear the Cuban band playing in the courtyard. This is magic.
I make my way up to my room, again astonished at how nice my room is. The air con is pumping away, I have a fridge, and an array of beauty products stacked in my bathroom. The view from my window is of the national palace. I could get very used to this!!
My first job, to change out of my travel pants and into shorts. It's too hot for pants. Next.... To explore.
I grabbed a map from the 'activities man' located in the lobby.... and then set off. I walked down to the central plaza. Taking in the views, and taking photos along the way!!! A thunderstorm threatened to interrupt my sight seeing, however it's bark was worse than it's bite. A whole heap of lightening and thunder, no rain though!! I decided to head back towards the hotel and check out a local artists market that was set up along the pedestrian walkway. Here, I managed to find a couple of original art works that I loved. So after bargaining, I managed to pick up the two smallish artworks.
I quickly dropped them off at the hotel, and then decided that 6pm was dinner time. I headed to a restaurant just round the corner from my hotel. So in I went. I sat at my table for one. I wasn't embarrassed or lonely at all... in fact it was kind of liberating being able to sit by myself at a restaurant and feel comfortable. It helps that I have also picked up enough Spanish to be able to order food, and have a fair idea of what's going to turn up.
I noticed that I was the only tourist in the restaurant. The rest were locals. This is a good sign. So I ordered a local beer. I originally pointed out one, which the waitress shook her head and proceeded to show me which beer I should pick. Done! I also ordered some chicken rice. Holy moly, the size of the rice and chicken was ridiculous. This bowl was enough to feed an army. I did my best, but there was no way I could have eaten my way through that dish. I checked out what other people had ordered and it all looked very yummy!! I think I will definitely come back to this restaurant!!!
I headed back to the hotel, to find the grand lobby a buzz. There was live music and people salsa dancing, so I have taken advantage of the entertainment and just sat on one of the very comfy couches and wrote this blog. Glorious!! Now this is a little slice of heaven right here!! Although it is a little slice of heaven, with very limited wifi!!!