Journey To Cuba

At last I’ve found the time in between work, my social life and other ventures, currently in the pipeline, more of which at a later date, for updating my blog as promised with details of my trip to Cuba. The adventure started back in late January when the weather was dull, Christmas had not long passed and it seemed the year ahead would be a long one. Having agreed on taking a holiday somewhere a bit more challenging than a country on the Mediterranean as usual, and somewhere a little exotic and unusual, we chose Cuba, (Libya will have to wait!).

The booking was confirmed on Sunday 17th February and as luck, or not, would have it, on Tuesday 19th Fidel Castro essentially announced his retirement....

We had wanted to see Cuba as it was, under socialist control, but also without the influence of western civilization particularly that of the good old US of A. We were a little concerned for a while, as to what would happen in the country as a result of the change, but it seemed our fears were allayed when it was announced that Fidel’s younger brother Raul was to take over and nothing was expected to change, certainly in the short term anyway. Apparently (according to Wikipedia) Raul has implemented changes allowing, for example, “ordinary” citizens to buy DVD players, PC’s, scooters and other energy consuming products. He has also freed many prisoners and loosened up travel restrictions for Cubans. All changes which in the overall scheme of things, for Cuba, seem quite major, but still fall way short of what, we, in Britain take for granted, despite the oppression we continue to suffer under our wonderful Labour government. Unfortunately, it seems however, that what Brown, and Blair before him, see as the way forward for Britain, is actually a way back to a state run on similar lines to the way that Cuba is. Big mistake Gay Gordon, old chum, the British people won’t tolerate it. Eventually they will realise you are a traitor and are intent on destroying all that is and was good about this country and will rise up and take it back.

Anyway, we chose a holiday that would allow us time in Havana to experience some of the real Cuban life and history and also time in Varadero where we could relax in what appeared to be a fairly typical Caribbean resort environment.

On Sunday 8th June we boarded our plane for the 8 hour Virgin flight from Gatwick bound for Havana. It was the first time I had travelled quite as far by plane and was looking forward to it. I wasn’t disappointed as the flight was great, plenty of entertainment via our chair-back screen and also time to catch up with reading as well as enjoying the complimentary drink courtesy of Richard Branson as well as the other goodies provided.

The airport in Havana is named after Jose Marti (a leader of the Cuban independence movement and a poet and writer and considered a Cuban national hero) and was smaller than I expected but seemed to be as well equipped as any other that I have flown in to. The heat did strike you as soon as you disembarked and makes hot summers here seem relatively cool. The lack of major delays through customs and passport control or in claiming our luggage and the ease with which we found our travel company rep were all appreciated after the long flight. We knew there was a fair drive to our hotel in Havana and were expecting to board a coach but found a taxi awaiting us. After the driver loaded our luggage and got in and were even more pleased to find the taxi had air conditioning. The 40 minute journey was a strange one, I knew minimal Spanish and the driver minimal English so conversation was pretty much non-existent but it allowed me time to further study my travellers guide to Cuba in a vain attempt to find some Spanish phrases I could throw at the driver, but as it was I spent the time taking in the sites as we travelled. The buildings were largely poor and in need of repair, the people appeared poor and the cars were just as I expected, and could have come straight from a 50’s American movie. However, there were also a fair proportion of 70s/80s Lada's, I was more surprised with the fact there were also a fair few new vehicles from the far east, one of which was our taxi, but even more surprising were the few new Mercedes, some of which also turned out to be taxi’s but it seemed not for the use of the Cubans. So, as suspected, even in a socialist state like Cuba standards vary depending on who you are and the position you have.

As we approached our hotel I felt quite privileged as the building was very grand and imposing and is actually a national monument and THE place to stay when visiting Havana. As we got ready to get out I thanked the taxi driver in Spanish and in English he wished us a very enjoyable holiday, oh well, perhaps the silence was unnecessary after all.

We had arrived and my next blog entry will detail our experiences during our four days at the amazing Hotel Nacional de Cuba.

Cuban Recovery

Managed to get out of bed on Tuesday at 10am. Never experienced jet-lag before but went to bed at 10.30pm last night and couldn't get to sleep until 2.30am this morning. This wouldn't have been so bad but getting up at 6.00am this morning didn't do much for my ability to function particularly well at my first day back at work especially when faced with 101 things that had accrued during my time off. The morning was certainly a struggle but things improved as the day progressed and hopefully, tonight will see off the worst of it, so tomorrow will see the first instalment of my experiences in Cuba - I'm sure you can't wait!

As a starter it may be of interest that Ken Livingstone stayed in the same hotel in Havana as I did, but I was a paying guest and not there at the invitation of the Mayor of Havana, although there is a connection - ex-Mayor of London and the nephew of the current Mayor of Calne - perhaps it was destiny........

Home From Cuba

Yes, it's been a while but I have been away for two weeks in Cuba, arriving back home today. Over the next week or so I will update my blog with experiences from Cuba, but for now, having been awake for 29 hours, I think we would all agree it's time for bed!

Needless to say, I am not now wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt.....!!