October 1 - 2 Cuban Holiday

Ceiling Shower

The font and spacing is wonky because I cut and pasted the text from my ipad.

October 1  Thursday. poor start, poorer ending

The plane was half an hour late departing and they were blaming the new airport security measures for holding up 9 passengers. We saw no security changes, they didn't even make us take off our shoes and we were ushered through the elite Nexus line to speed things up. I think Sunwing's own check in procedures was the fault.  Anyway we finally arrive at 9:40, go through immigration one at a time so they could take our photos and were only asked if we had been to Africa. Our visa was included in the price and apparently there are dire consequences if you don't produce it when you leave. Breezed through customs, no questions, got our luggage, another long wait (my luggage strap was broken),got on our bus and sat and sat and sat. What we thought was a 1.5 hour bus ride turned into close to 3 hours. Finally checked into our rooms at 2 a.m.  Our room was fine - basic 3 star place, adequate. Rudy and Ellen's room however had a semi-flooded bathroom, musty smell and no AC. Water was pouring out of the ceiling fixture! Someone quickly came, got the AC working and stopped the downpour, but the light spat out water soaking towels and toilet paper. To add insult to injury the bellhop broke the handle on her luggage.

October 2 Friday Promises - kept

Next morning they were guaranteed a new room. Breakfast was adequate, maybe a 2 star event, omelettes and coffee were good. We discovered later that coffee was only available for breakfast in the dining room. If you wanted it any other time you had to go to one of the bars where they served it in a flimsy plastic cup.

You have to convert money to their Convertible Pesos (CUC) so three of them tried to find a bank, following a hand drawn map given to us by the hotel staff. They wandered around for hours and never did find it and none of the locals could help.



Around 3 o'clock they moved Ellen and Rudy to a much better room and moved us right next door in the main building. Spent the rest of the day not doing much, met with the Sunwing rep who reluctantly took on the job of getting my luggage fixed and exchanged some money for us. Swam in the pool, had a so-so lunch. Dinner was entertaining, a 5 piece "band" played. They were good but oh so terribly loud. Then they moved closer to us and made us their main audience, oh joy. 

That evening there was some really loud music outside our room. Trip Advisor had warned us that the good rooms, being closer to the lobby, pool and bar would be nosier, but it was the mega yacht docked right in front that was making the racket! I put my headphones on and had a good night's sleep (not realizing until later that this was the day that Gerry broke my heart). The boys slept well (probably because of the alcohol), but Ellen didn't. She needs headphones or alcohol.

 
Canal view from first room.
Canal view

View from our new rooms.

Aerial shot of the pool

The "band" playing at the pool bar, much better venue than dining room.