Planning

Our consultants busily planning while waiting at JFK (these two quickly emerged as our planners/decision makers/bankers/etc) .

Arriving in Cuba- Day 1

A very long trip including sitting on the ground for 31/2 hours for mechanical issues before taking off...but we arrived to Havana's lovely high 70s and sun! After a scramble to get some CUCs and finally finding our long lost taxi driver, with his classic automobile, we drove the 30 minutes or so into Havana. Our driver was the first of many who spoke no English, so I quickly plunged into using my crammed-in-the-last-two-months-with-audio-books-and-podcasts Spanish. He proudly pointed out the large supermarket on the way into town where his oldest child works. Little did we realize then how unusual this was! More later on the utter lack of stores of any kind, and perhaps this was why he was so proud of his kid's place of employment. We arrived at our casa particular, with a very shabby exterior, and our host Manuel took us up in the elevator from 1959? We learned its quirks over the next few days. We stepped off the antique elevator, down a grungy hall, to the penthouse, with a lovely patio looking over the famous Malecon, and three large bedrooms and baths and small kitchen. Manuel gave us some quick orientation and a map with dining suggestions. Our first stop was the historic Hotel Nacional, a few blocks from our casa, near '23' which is how the road is named. We strolled through the hotel which is modeled after the Breakers in Florida, but having strolled through the Breakers, it is a faded replica. We walked out to the back gardens where there is seating facing the water, and sat and had our first Cuban drinks- mojitos and caipirinas. Drinks were good, setting was beautiful, we were happy! Then we walked the Malecon down to Viejo Havana, about a 30 minute walk. The Malecon is known for the large waves that crash over the wall onto the sidewalk, and although we didn't see them that night, we were told there had been significant flooding all the way into the first few blocks of the city a week before we arrived. We found Manuel's recommended restaurant and ordered octopus and fish, which was quite tasty, with more mojitos. Don engaged our waiter in a conversation about rum, and then tried one that was recommended which was quite good.