Passage to Havanna

I will have to add my photos later as due to the lack of WiFi and not being able to log on with my phone, I cannot upload my photos.

I arrived at the airport by minibus travelling with Julie, our guide Victor and an unknown English companion who failed to acknowledge us or say good morning. The journey to Cancun took about an hour and here I bid farewell to Julie who now has a very long journey back to Australia with several stops. Victor came into the terminal to check in for his return flight to Mexico City and I saw him again later at the gate. I joined the queue for check in which was quite long. I got the first taste of Cuban queuing as had been described to me. There were piles of luggage and in some places an individual later joined by a whole family. I couldn't  believe the piles of luggage, they looked like someone was moving house but I had heard that the Cubans take a lot back with them as it is not available there.  Finally I got through check in, then got held up at security as I hadn't quite finished my water.  She kindly asked me to finish it before allowing me through.
I passed a couple of hours having coffee, changing my pesos for euros, which I will then change again in Cuba, and making the most of the final internet access to update a few things. In Cuba we have to use the tourist currency and although I was advised to get local currency, I gather it is not really legal as it is for the locals. Many things in Cuba are controlled.

We had an interesting customs form on the plane which said we had to sing and hand it in to immigration. I knew Cuba was musical, but that seemed a bit extreme. I think it meant sign, but as always I can't see how official forms get published with such errors on them. But it makes for a chuckle whilst travelling.
It was a short flight, about 40 minutes and my Australian neighbour on the aircraft was interesting and took a Kids and Kayaks card. She was a writer in the fashion business who appeared to travel the world.
Entry into Cuba was a bit slow, with a dubious queuing system for the immigration, and a long wait for cases. The lady who met me was charming but took me to another queue to change my money.  Eventually I was in the taxi, on my way to the hotel  or hostel as I discovered later. We went along new roads and past a mixture of 60s style concrete buildings from the Russian era and smaller buildings, plus some modem supermarkets. We arrived in old Havana where we saw older colonial buildings along the seafront. We pulled up in a side street and went up to the first floor,  where I was given a warm welcome. There was a corridor with a few rooms and mine was at the end. It is perfectly comfortable and well appointed and even has a fridge, hair dryer and complementary drinks. I later found that some members of the group are staying in different places. These are termed hostels or guest houses and are very simple and homely. I also was later to discover the complexities of email and internet access here.

I settled in and went to reception where I was recommended a restaurant and a table booked for me by the hostel owner. I later found this had been done for everyone. I had fish with rice and corn and a pineapple drink then went to the Museo de Bellas Artes, where I did a quick trot around the Cuban section. There was an interesting array of avant garde, religious and some very dark scenes. From here I headed to the square where I almost got wifi,  then went round the block and almost got Wi-Fi again. It was interesting seeing the buildings the old cars and also a sign saying 'cigars welcome.  I later bought two internet cards for a couple of dollars an hour. Only to find that whatever I did, I couldnt get my phone to logon, although my tablet will. So I am know rewriting everything in my tablet blog app and will collect e mailed photos from a companion or take one or two on my tablet.

I returned in time for our meeting with Andy ( actually Rogier), our tour guide who tells us he wants to be our friend not our guide. There is a group of 12 including the four of us from the Mexico tour. I went out with Alison from the previous tour for a walk around and a drink. We went to the historical area and saw lots of groups playing and some Cuban dancing then had some refreshments in a little cafe.

I slept early but woke later when someone put on the corridor light,  then heard air conditioning units, voices and what sounded like someone dying of consumption. It turned out to be the Canadian couple who have arrived with colds, and later one went to hospital for an x-ray  and has bronchitis.  It's amazing how selfish some people can be. I am keeping my  distance and using my nasal spray when we are in the coach.
We had a good family style breakfast all freshly cooked then went off for a long walk. We could have done with a coffee break, but he's a bit of a non stop guide giving us 10 minutes here and there to take photos and not stopping til we had lunch in the cathedral square. We walked along the Malecon, visited the Plaza des Armas, where I identified the museum of Cuban European relations as a possible for my final day. Also Alison and I plan a drive in an old car ending up in the Hemingway bar. We walked along the street of the shopkeepers admiring lovely colonial buildings, saw the hotel Los Ambos Mundos, where Hemingway lived and visited the Camera obscura for views of the city. 

Our guide is highly organised,  a bit full on and talks a lot, but I am sure we can modify him to meet our needs!