Back to Havana and indulging in good food and drink - finally!

Phil's version of Day 105/29 May

I spend the early daylight hours trying to minimise the visual effect of the attempted break-in to our hire car before returning it at Santiago airport. I fear we will still attract a CUC300 penalty. I am also concerned, though I haven’t told Allie, that the Cubana domestic flight may either be delayed or cancelled. Yesterday we were close to the airport at the same departure time and no aircraft moved.

departing from Santiago de Cuba

Dropping the car off is less trouble than expected and I manage to distract the hire receptionist from the damaged areas with cheerful chat and careful camouflage.

Phil stepping out of the Aero Gaviota

Just as remarkable is that the Cubana flight to Havana operates ahead of schedule, so though it is a long and bumpy ride over the flatlands of central Cuba it leaves us back in the Hotel Florida by mid-afternoon. Iberia’s reservations girl is offhand to the point of rudeness when I ring to reconfirm and ask about lounge availability. I guess she has caught the Cuban service syndrome.

Phil enjoying a good glass of red and a cigar

As it is the final night of the great tour, after mandatory mojitos at the rooftop bar in Ambos Mundos, passing Hemmingway’s room 311 on the way, we decide to treat ourselves to dinner at El Patio, an attractive restaurant in the shadow of Havana cathedral. Prices are at European levels (well, Bristol, anyway) but they actually have most of what is offered on the menu and, with a little careful steering by the sommelier, the wine list too. 

An Undurraga Cabernet Sauvignon is the very same which we tried on Easter Island. 

After eating we are fleetingly tempted by El Bodeguita del Medio but decide instead to walk along the Malecon to hear the firing of the 9 o’clock cannon, initiated by the Spanish to announce the closing of the city gates. It seems an appropriate gesture tonight.

Allie's version of Day 105: Tuesday, 29^th of May

Flying back to Havana and our last mojitos in Cuba    

After a relaxed morning at the pool – it was wonderfully empty but the noisy Salsa music drove us mad – we dropped our car off in front of the Santiago airport. For three days now we have been discussing our plans how to hide the door damage or what to say, when they would find out. But Phil was clever enough to engage the guy in our wheel problems and so the guy did not notice, in fact he literally said: “the car is in perfect condition”. 

Well, compared what the rest of Cuba’s cars look it, ours was as posh looking as the president’s of the United States would be! Still we were glad to disappear behind the security check and into the waiting hall.

Phil was as excited as if it were Christmas, but only because he was hoping that our aeroplane would be one of the rare old Russian types. But of course as it turned out, it was only one of those ‘usual’ French ATR’s. He was really disappointed but I was quite happy, not at least because they are more modern but also because it arrived early.

Taking off from Santiago

We were up in the air 20minutes before our departure time and flew right across the castle and the coast. Otherwise the 2hours flight was very boring. 

Not much to see on the ground and the service consisted of soft drinks or soft drinks or coffee. Nothing to munch at all. The toilets didn’t flush and had no wash basin and the seats couldn’t be reclined the slightest inch. Funny enough the stewardess announced on landing: “Please put your seats in the upright position!” Well we’d love to do that, but…

Anyway arrival in time if not early in Havana’s domestic airport. We don’t give in to airport taxis trying to cheat us on the fare into town (because by now we know the rates!) and after 30minutes we check in back at the Hotel Florida. It feels like coming home. 

roof top view over Havana

We get one of the nicest rooms in the hotel, a junior suite with a two sided balcony and a reception hall and finally a bath tub for my husband. What a feast! 

And there is internet and walking around the streets doesn’t feel that dodgy as it did in some of the other places we have been to. We were certainly bribed by Havana’s up-market style at the beginning of our Cuba tour and we now appreciate even more that there is a wide range of great restaurants, bars and shops. 

So for our farewell drinks we indulge at the roof top bar of the Hotel Ambos Mundos, a hotel that is famous for its link with Hemingway. 

For dinner we enjoy a great meal (why does Cuba suddenly have good food again?) at the ‘Restaurante del Patio’ overlooking the lovely cathedral square. 

It has been a fantastic 105 days and we had the most amazing experiences. But best of all: we still love each other crazy and that after nearly 4 months and 24 hours daily of being together without a break. Not many people could do that we reckon. Something to celebrate, Salut! 

 a final good dinner!