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Today I had nothing planned. What to do?? Sleep in!!! I actually managed to sleep on until 8am which is a novelty. I'm catching up on some sleep which is nice.
So I got ready and headed off to breakfast. It was pretty busy, however I managed to get a seat. Coffee... Fruit... I sat down and ate!! I then decided that it was toast time. I got up to get myself some toast.... By the time I got back someone else was sitting in my seat. What??? I still had half a cup of coffee sitting there. The lady felt really bad... it wasn't her fault. I found another seat and sat down. I guess that's the one problem with travelling on your own, you don't have someone to mind the table for you!! Oh well!! If that's the worst thing in my life right now, I'm not doing too bad!!!
After breakfast I went back to my room and loitered for a while. I then motivated myself enough to head up to Central Park and catch the hop-on hop-off bus. What a bargain.... $5.
On I jump and sit up the front. Out in the park, I can see Cuban men animatedly arguing about baseball of all things. On the other side up the front was an older gentleman. We started to chat.... Bob from Canada. He was holidaying in Cuba, whilst his wife was visiting family in Scotland. Really I think it was his ploy not to starve for the couple of weeks whilst she was away. We chatted about travelling, Cuba, politics. He was a very pleasant and knowledgable man. It was great to hear his views on how Cuba has changed for the better over the years (as Bob is the first to admit that he has been here more times than he could count). Bob also gave me a hot tip for dinner - a place round the corner from my hotel called sloppy joes. It correlates with a tip that my guide gave me yesterday..... So tonight it's on like donkey kong.
We travelled all over Havana. I saw a lot of the same monuments that I saw on my convertible tour yesterday, however I also saw a lot more of what Havana has to offer. I am still amazed by this town. I love it!!
After 2hrs of travelling around Havana, we finally make it back to Central park. Bob and I wished each other well, and we set off in separate directions. Hmmmm, what now???
I thought I would go back and rediscover some of the old Havana that I had walked around yesterday with my guide. I had seen a few things that I wanted to go back to, I also saw a few things that I wanted to go back and buy. So again I set off walking. As I walked, much of what I saw was familiar. I attempted to enter the rum museum today... However again it was closed due to not having running water. Apparently it will definitely be reopened tomorrow. However closed on the two days I was going to go.... I'm really not meant to see the rum museum. So I won't!!
I managed to find all of the places that I wanted to revisit.... I also found everything I wanted to buy!! Good day!!
I dropped off my treasures back at the hotel, and then decided to hit the hop-on hop-off bus again. Why not... I have a ticket. This time I will take photos with my phone. There were only 3 of us on the bus and the sun was blazing down on us. Again we drove around for a couple of hours. The same route as the first time. We then made our way back to Central Park. However the bus didn't stop. What??? Ok, guess I'm going again. The other two on the bus panicked big time. The guy ran down the stairs, as fast as he's legs could take him. Two seconds later the bus stops and he and his wife got off. I was thirsty by this stage.... but oh well, a drink will have to wait - the bus has other plans for me. The bus then took off again, however it went in a different direction. Perfect... I get to see some more of this remarkable town. That guy and his wife missed out on this sensational side trip!! We went past the old railway, the cruise shop terminal and essentially an old car parking lot, where any vintage car enthusiast would be wetting himself. All the classics were there. Pink ones, red ones, yellow ones - I would love to give you the makes of the cars, but I just don't know them. Total score!! Thank god I didn't panic and get off too, otherwise I would have missed out. Finally after 3 hours we arrive back at Central Park.
Time for a drink. So I head straight to sloppy joes for an early dinner. Now this place is an old bar (that was originally established in 1917). It reminded me of a bar that Frank Sinatra would have come to. Great crooner music, dark wood bar, a wall full of Cubans finest alcohol bottles on display. Club sandwich and a coke later I was finally heading back to the hotel for the night.
As I open the door to my room, I realise that house keeping has visited. Everyday, I have returned to find my towels folded into either a flower or an animal, today I got a folded vagina. That's all I see when I look at it. I actually think it's meant to be an orchid, but from what I can see it's not!!
Tonight I decided to have an early night. I was all tucked up into bed at about 9pm. I must have fallen asleep, as next thing I hear someone knocking at my door. Ignore it, if it's important they will knock again or slip a message under the door. I heard them knock on my next door neighbours door, and then they returned and knocked on my door. So I thought I would get up and answer it.... It was some random guy with a cap on wielding a screwdriver. He said something in Spanish, I told him that I didn't speak Spanish, and then he said that he got the wrong room it must be next door. Ok. So I put the do not disturb sign up, shut the door and deadbolted the door again. It wasn't until I got back into bed that I started to think that for all I know he had come to ransack my room.... Well it wasn't going to happen tonight!!!
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