Miami to Havana

Miami to Havana: 

We arrived late into Miami and after getting our bags we made our way to the Airport Hotel for a quick 6 hours of attempted sleep. 

We did get up before our 0600 alarm and got together and headed to our meeting point. As we we were walking to the meeting location, we were stopped and learned the location had changed. Here we started the checkin process. We received three copies of a document we signed and received our visa’s. Then we checked our bags and received our boarding passes. Then off to security which went pretty quickly even though we did not have pre check. 

We found our way to the Centurion Lounge and had a bit of breakfast and then off to our gate, to await our flight. 

This will be an exercise in lines and waiting, no biggie. 

The flight was about 45 minutes and we landed in Cuba at Jose Martin Airport. During the flight you will receive a customs form and a health form, there was another form but they ran out so we did not fill that one out. Here, your first stop is Passport Control where 1/2 of your visa is collected. FYI, if flying into Cuba one needs to keep your boarding pass, as it is proof you have Cuban medical insurance.  Next you stop at the wooden desk manned by nurses and drop off your health form. Next is baggage claim, this is a very very slow baggage service and we were lucky as ours came right out, and that is relative. Next is customs where you drop off your customs form and they check you bag tags. One is simply  asked if you are carrying any prohibited items. Next we gather and are escorted to a bus where 21 of us are seated and we take off for a drive to Havana and we made a stop at a memorial where there is a large statue of Christ. This is located on the east side of the entrance to Havana Harbor. Here one also passes a display of Soviet artillery, armored vehicle, a MIG jet and parts of a US aircraft which was shot down. 

From there we made our way to our restaurant for lunch, La Divina Pastora, where we were greeted with a Cuba Libre. We were seated in an outdoor area and enjoyed a cream of spinach soup, followed by a broiled lobster tail served with veggies and rice, with a garlic butter. IT WAS EXCELLENT. Dessert was chocolate ice-cream with caramel sauce and Cuban Coffee. 

This restaurant is located at a cannon emplacement where several cannons overlook the entrance to Havana Harbor. We see geckos, mockingbirds, brown pelicans, and turkey vultures. 

After lunch, we drive about town and end up at a dance studio where we enjoy a private performance. The group is called Habana Compas Dance and their style is a fusion of African and Spanish styles as this is where these cultures melted together. 

One hears about the old US cars in Cuba, well, they are everywhere. They are quite valuable, costing locals up to $50,000 CUC ($50,000 US). Yet the owners do not want to sell them as they can make very good money using the vehicles as a taxi. I would say most of the vehicles we saw were mid 1950’s and were all makes and models. Our local guide, Elio said the people who work on these cars are magicians as they need to manufacture the tools to do the repairs. They consider the new cars Toy Cars as there is no skill involved in keeping them running. 

After the dance studio, we made our way back to the Hotel Nacional and checked in and got settled into our room. We are on the 6th floor with executive room privileges. This hotel harkens one back to the early 1930’s in architecture and ambiance. 

At 1915 hours we meet in the lobby and are placed in the 1950’s cars for a drive about town. Our driver, Rolando, has several old cars and we are in his 1956 Chevy Belair. The car is amazing wonderful. The drive train is a Mercedes engine and transmission and the interior is immaculate. The name of this car is Diamond.  He also has a 1932 Packard. We chatted a good deal about his car.  Rolando has family in the United States and he can go there for visits, but his wife who is a doctor, is not allowed to visit the USA. 

We made a stop at Revolutionary Square for photos before we made our way to the restaurant, La Moneda Cubana.   Again we had an amazing meal with several choices from lobster to fish to beef to pork. Lynn chose the marlin and I had the beef. Both dishes were amazing. We did hear the 2100 cannon shot. Every evening from the fortress which guards Havana Harbor, the cannon is fired at 2100hrs to call an end to the day. 

After dinner we returned to the hotel where we called it a night. 

My first general thoughts for this day:

1. Buildings are either well maintained or they are in all states of decay. 
2. Old cars are everywhere, so many more than I expected. 
3. People are happy and very friendly. 
4. Education and healthcare are free.
5. The average monthly income is about $25 to $40 CUC or $25 to $40 dollars. 
6. Health care here is excellent, as there are many doctors, Cuban doctors also serve missions in 89 different countries. 
7. We are tired and need some sleep after we do some laundry.  

Breakfast is at 0700 and our walking tour starts at 0900, I might try and catch the sunrise. 

Once all photos are reviewed many will be posted to http://soggymoosephoto.smugmug.com,