Goodbye Havana – Hello Varadero!

It may be that a large tip was being sought, as on return from our trip to Vinales we found swans made from the bath towels on the beds. Very nice touch, but I don’t do tipping if I can help it. Some may say I’m tight and the Cubans are poor but my conscience is clear – not my fault, blame Fidel, his people might be short of cash but I’m sure he’s not!

After checking out and a last look at the fantastic lobby (see blog entry 23rd Feb 2009), we were directed to our coach for the long journey to Varadero.

Several long hours later we arrived at our home for the next ten days, The Hotel Paradisus. We walked from the air-conditioned luxury of the coach into the intensely hot entrance lobby and walked along long wooden walkways bordered by fish-filled waterways to the main lobby and were met by a welcoming glass of champagne as we were checked in.

We were then taken to our room in which the air-conditioning was set on “refrigerator” setting and surprise, surprise, were met by yet more swans.

After freshening up and changing we walked down for some food and a relaxing evening. The buffet was very similar to that in Havana with almost anything you could think of and all washed that down with nice cold local beer. We wandered about the hotel complex trying to get our bearings and decided to stop for a quick game of table tennis and then it began...... the mosquito’s arrived! They don’t affect me normally but were nipping and annoying me, but unfortunately they were really aggravating my girlfriend, so we headed back to the room.

As a result of the discomfort caused by the bites we had rather a restless night and once morning came we could see the reaction the bites had caused.

A trip to the on-site medical centre was called for. We took a seat and the “nurse” came to call us in. I say “nurse” as, although I am sure she was adequately qualified, we felt she might have stepped straight out of a 70’s soft-porn movie as she wore a white mini-dress and was not unattractive. Unfortunately I was told in no uncertain terms that I was very healthy actually! The hand was presented and due to the severe allergic reaction an appointment with the doctor was booked for an hour later. We attended at the due time and were offered an injection or some pills and having opted for the pills and asking how we were to get them were advised to wait whilst the prescription chap fetched them for us. In ten minutes an elderly grey-haired black fellow appeared on his moped with the prescription. We paid the due sum and were advised to take one of the bright blue pills at regular intervals. I’m sure they were quite safe. The doctor also suggested keeping covered up to avoid further mosquito aggravation and you’ll see a picture below of those who took this advice seriously.

Saturday set the standard for the rest of the holiday, as after breakfast we prepared for a day at the pool and a read, with my book choice for this day being Billy (Connolly) by his wife Pamela Stephenson. A very good read if you haven’t yet had the pleasure.

The sun was bright, the water was great and the drinks from the bar were plenty and the day seemed long and most relaxing. Tomorrow would be Sunday and the first day of our final week in Cuba. The last blog instalment of the Cuban experience will be next and then I think I’ll get back to some more thought provoking and controversial blogging with a touch of politics here and there.