ALL ABOARD FOR CUBA - JANUARY 2011

SUNDAY 23rd

Consuming a small breakfast at the Cambridge Hotel Horley we departed a little after 9am for Gatwick Airport. Our flight to Havana, capital of the Caribbean island of Cuba, was with Virgin Atlantic, an airline we have not previously flown with.

We had read that it was advisable to have our luggage shrink wrapped as it was not unusual for cases to Cuba to be interfered with. The cost was £6 a case for this service and as we only had the two cases, with nothing worth stealing in them as far as we were concerned, still chose to use this service. It would at least protect our new suitcases. At the check in desk the clerk was somewhat surprised to see we had done this and was unaware of any problems with luggage. The SAGA representative who had greeted us as we entered the check in area had now disappeared. (Last Wednesday we received a phone call from Mary Jane Clark of SAGA and my heart sank thinking once again our holiday was going to be cancelled, but it was just a friendly call to say she would be accompanying us on this trip and were we happy to be taking UK currency and credit cards.)

Upstairs we took advantage of using the Virgin Lounge and to be waited on by very friendly staff which was really nice. What a shame we had eaten at the hotel as the menu was wonderful with a vast drinks list as well. We were also still suffering from last night’s excellent meal we had eaten in the Cambridge Hotel restaurant so settled for a regular coffee. The flight had been delayed by 30 minutes and when we thought it was time to board the monitor gave no details. The receptionist had said they would announce when it was time for us to board. As time went on I became anxious as it was a good 10 minute walk to our departure gate and on my last look at the screen panicked when the information said the gate was closing. We ran through the crowds only to discover we had lots of time to board and being in the Upper Class we had priority boarding anyway so were soon sorting ourselves out and drinking a glass of champagne whilst the rest of the 400plus passengers boarded.

In the air our Captain said flying time was 9 hours 38 minutes and he hoped to make up the delayed time. We were advised to change our watches to local time which is 5 hours ahead of the UK. I didn’t have to do that as I had forgotten to take my watch so I only needed to change the time difference on my camera. I have a feeling Keith will not be happy for the next 2 weeks when I keep asking the time! Browsing through the Duty Free Magazine whilst he was having a snooze I thought it a good idea to buy a cheap funky watch that ‘would help my concentration and make me feel healthier’ according to the advert. We had an excellent lunch but I still found space later in the day for a cream scone with wonderful thick clotted cream but foregoing the plate of sandwiches and frosted chocolate cake.

As the sun began to set over Havana we began our descent and on landing had to wait as an ‘Aeroflot’ plane was occupying our gate. Two more planes landed, Air France getting a gate before us but it was a much smaller plane. I couldn’t help but think this was going to be a long night! It was almost dark when we finally disembarked and followed the signs to Immigration to join the queues. When it came to my turn to stand before the Immigration officer sitting in his partially enclosed box he kept asking me a question which I did not understand. Finally he asked which flight I had arrived on –“Virgin 63”. The confusion was because Keith and I had got ourselves amongst the Air France passengers. Paper work handed over I was asked to look into the ball shaped camera hanging in front of the window before being allowed to pass through a sealed door which was released by the officer before the next person could step forward to be dealt with. As we had been queueing we had joked about what was behind this closed door – could it be a big hole and we would disappear forever! It was more security and more Xray machines. What could we possibly be carrying now that we didn’t have at Gatwick? Keith was a long time in coming through the sealed door and also having his security check. It was a farce really as none of the officers seemed the slightest bit interested in our hand luggage.

Our main luggage was on the carousel and with nothing to declare we were out into the waiting crowd of tour operators and taxi drivers. At last our local representative ‘Humberto’ appeared apologising that he had been waiting for us at another gate. We were soon joined by Ian and Christine (an elderly couple from Hull who should have been on the same holiday with us last April). Ian was in a wheelchair but soon ‘tipped out’ at this point. Humberto arranged for us to go to our coach with the driver Felix, as Ian had difficulty standing but not before they and Keith went for a comfort stop, the toilets being on an upper floor. We sat and chatted and watched the locals, stretched our legs, chatted more to other couples as they arrived, watched more locals piling into the local city buses until finally we were all onboard apart from Mary Jane Clark. Humberto went to find her which didn’t take long and then we were on our way for a 15km ride to the ‘Occidental Hotel’ in the Mirimar area of Havana, a select area of Hotels and Embassies. We arrived with just enough time to visit the restaurant which closes at 10pm.

Humberto had organised our room keys so all we had to do was complete the Hotel’s registration form and hand it back to him before leaving the coach. No problem with the luggage either as this was delivered to our room so we headed for the bar. Let the party begin as a group of local girls set about entering us with their Latin American style of music – very loudly, but after a couple of Cuba Libres who cared. Guests joined in the dancing, one couple in particular were brilliant reminding us of ‘Dirty Dancing’ especially when a young Brazilian girl also strutted her stuff. Being sensible, as we had to be up for a 9am meeting, we retired before midnight. We had forgotten about the suitcases outside room 461 so there was unpacking to do before we hit the large single beds.

We don’t have a very good view from our bedroom window!