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Melia Hotel staff do not know how to make coffee – weak, weak.  Overwhelmingly, the guests here are from Spanish speaking countries (Spain, Argentina, Chili, Costa Rica) and I recall Spaniards like hot chocolate for breakfast. What is served is similar to the coffee at church – no body, dishwater.  We have a strategy now for our morning fix.  We begin the morning at the 24-hour cafe, where we order espressos.  This is the only place that has the espresso maker and the only way to get a good cup of java.

Tomorrow, we leave for Havana and on Monday fly back home. We will remember the humidity, the vast sandy beaches, palm trees, never feeling chilly and resort-style living.  And amazing, humid, thunderous, poor and rich Havana.  I look forward to hugging Nell, facecloths, teaspoons, and not wondering where we put the sunscreen or our key. And, having unlimited access to Internet, to which it is evident, I have an addiction.

Tonight, we had 2 Margueritas on the terrace.  I have not done this- have two highballs - in decades.  I declined the wine at dinner and restored equilibrium over the meal.

Over and Out.

All Inclusive

Nothing much has happened today (except beach combing, swimming, eating and drinking), so I will talk about the “all-inclusive” experience.  It takes some getting used-to.  Feel like a mid-morning coffee? Wander over to one of the drink counters that dot the resort.  Feel like you could use a Gin Fizz to beat the heat before lunch?  Stop at any bar, on the way to the pool.  Dying for a pizza in the wee hours of the morning?  There’s a 24-hour cafe to satisfy your craving for a midnight snack.  All free...or, at least, paid for at a previous time.  It is all so decadent, especially after the poverty of Havana. Doug is tipping studiously, even though only a small part is kept by the server.  The rest goes to the state.

As I stroll past the many mirrors in this place and catch a glimpse of myself, I feel like an old character.  Wide-brimmed hat, walking pole (let’s not call it a cane!), camera dangling from my neck and daiquiri in hand.  Who thought it would come to this!!

The weather is warm and blue skies are blooming.  The surf is so high that “Danger” flags fly at the beach, so we have only played in the waves near the tideline.

Vetting Veradaro

On to Veradero

This morning, we  headed out for walk to the University of Havana. Out of curiosity, we scoped out a “supermarket” on the way.  There are hardly any shops in Havana and the idea of a food store was intriguing.  This one had beer, pop, rum, cigars, plus large bags of frozen French fries, bags of marshmallows and an empty meat counter. And, that’s it.

At the university, we met two enterprising students, who told us about their faculties (History and Computers) and their historic school;we told them about Trudeau’s friendship with Castro.  As we expected, in the end, they hoped for some money.  And, we were glad to support them.  There is something about the boundless optimism of Cubans,  that makes you want the country to work and the people to succeed.

Later, we set off on the next leg of our trip- to Varadero.  Our bus was an hour and a half late, which made me anxious.  But, once we got going, the countryside with its waving palm trees let me slide into a Cuban contentedness.  Until, about half an hour into our journey, when the bus broke down!  The driver and a young male traveler jumped out and we were up and running in 10 minutes. All in a Cuban day.

We arrived at our all-inclusive resort just before dinner.  None of Havana’s grittiness here.  In fact, no grit at all.  Just sandy beaches.  It is all very lavish.  I don’t really feel like I am in Cuba anymore.  It’s a cruise without the Norwalk virus, says Doug.  Even with cloudy skies the beach looks inviting.

Internet is pricey, but we will try and squeeze in another post tomorrow.  Thanks for hanging in for this spotty blogging.  And, thanks for worrying about us in the storm.

Tropical Storm

We spent the best part of the day touring Havana on our own.  The only transport we used was shanks mare and a small, motorized three-wheeled vehicle.  It seemed a bit risky, being quite open to the elements.  And, I noticed the driver wore a helmet and we were not offered one – just a grab-bar, to keep from flying out.  But, I recommend this as a great way to see things –a fast, yet unobstructed  view of the streetscape.

After lunch, we returned to the Nacional for a swim and then a tour of the hotel – very historic and just about every celebrity you can name and many folks from the arts have stayed here. The Revolution figures into just about every serious conversation and the Nacional is fiercely Cuban in its identity.

The storm that has hit has to be mentioned.  I have never heard such thunderous thunder nor seen such luminous lightening.  There have been direct lightening strikes on our hotel and the noise is like end-of-the-world stuff.  Sadly, we have since learned that two people in our neighbourhood were killed by lightening strikes.  In 2 and half hours, it rained 15 centimetres.  Even by Havana standards, this is extreme.

Havana Day One

We made it.  Arriving at Havana airport was a bit chaotic with many line-ups, stop-and-start luggage rigmarole, currency exchange and finally a search for the transport man, who was to be dressed in red, but appeared entirely clothed in green

We are staying at Hotel Nacional, a neo-colonial place, where Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra and Winston Churchill stayed –but not all together.  We are in Room 567, and a little plaque tells us Tennessee Williams once stayed in Room 570.

Today, we swam in the pool twice (it is VERY warm-the weather,not the pool)), went on a bus and walking tour of Havana and we are pooped. 

LAST DAY IN ONTARIO

It’s a small world.  Here I am, in Waterloo Ontario, on my way to Cuba.  And, I just received an e-mail from Margaret (a stranger, but also a relation) in Australia, about a notice I posted, in 2010, on an English genealogy website, requesting information about my grandmother and grandfather, who married in Crewe, UK.  Time and space collide!

Apart from visiting umpteen relatives, we found time to visit the St. Jacob’s Farmers market, complete with bonnets, buggies and a horse auction.

Next, we head for Havana.

IT'S ALL RELATIVE

The extended, and extensive Koch family has made Kitchener-Waterloo its home for five generations.  Only Doug and his brother Cam have dared to spoil this record, by moving to BC and Pennsylvania respectively. This week, we have committed to focus on folks, especially  those related: tea with Larry(friend but like family)  at Café O; a burger at the Harmony Lunch café, with cousins Bob and Karen; late this afternoon, a drive up to Newmarket to dine with nephew Jeff and wife Jenn; tomorrow, another visit with Bob & Karen, en route to market; then back to Carol's to wine & dine with cousin Susan.  Whew..this is the mothership of reunion!  We may never make to Cuba.  There are weight restrictions - and I don't mean our bags.