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Thursday June 9, 2011

Got up at 6:30 finished my last minute packing and hit the road at 8:10 a.m, leaving my home at Buck Lake, Ontario 30 minutes north of Kingston. Arrived at Skypark at 11:10 and paid for a week's parking at $67.47. Their shuttle bus dropped me at the Toronto Pearson Airport and I caught my 1:40 p.m. plane arriving right on time in Varadero at 5:06 p.m….where I waited for over an hour for my luggage to appear on the carousel. I had requested a window seat but for the first time since I've been travelling, they were fresh out. Instead I asked for the Emergency exit seat so I'd have more room. This time it worked against me as there was no room for my carry on bags under the seat so I had to stow them above. Not a problem except all my goodies weren't handy, like my book, chocolate bars, earphones, inflatable pillow, sudoko, etc. It was a pretty turbulent ride with the seatbelt sign on the whole trip. The movie was "The Tourist" which unfortunately I had already seen.

The bus ride to the Gran Caribe Puntarena was only 20 minutes. This all-inclusive 7 day holiday (flight, hotel, meals, drinks and taxes) was a grand total of $593.16. This was an actual 8 story hotel compared to most of the places I've stayed in which were one or two stories. I was given room #1404 on the 4th floor with a small balcony - very nice room. Once I got settled in, I went for supper then explored the hotel grounds. Today was dull and cloudy. I checked out the pool table but it was only available from 9-5. I quickly discovered not to dawdle while entering the elevator as it had a very fast shutting door. I timed it and counted 3 seconds from the time it opened until it was fully shut again. Also, it did not have the usual safety sensor feature, nor did it stop when encountering resistance. Already I had a sore shoulder from being hit. I had a few pina coladas and relaxed in my room watching The Karate Kid.

Friday June 10, 2011

This hotel has a great shower and unlimited hot water which is unusual for Cuba. After breakfast I went to the hotel next door as my hotel had an agreement with them whereas patrons could borrow a bicycle for an hour. I biked in to Varadero (about 2 miles) and toured the downtown area. They had excellent bikes - I was told they just purchased them for $200 each. I returned my bike and went for lunch. Having used up my biking time, I walked back to town (45 minutes each way) and bought myself a guitar since I'm addicted to playing every night. I walked back with it in its cardboard case and got caught in the rain. Luckily I had my umbrella with me. It really rained…a nice torrential downpour. At 3:00 I went for my travel agents lecture. Got hit in the shoulder again as I entered the elevator. Played my guitar and watched tv. Earlier I changed some CDN money to CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos). It's a pretty good rate of exchange - $100 CDN = $95.50 CUC.

Saturday June 11, 2011

I had an omelet for breakfast which was very good. I borrowed another bike and explored some more of Varadero. The bike was very enjoyable, although I probably looked a little funny with my white wicker basket on the handlebars. I found a different brand of guitar so I bought that one as well, carrying it in its cardboard case under one arm. I hit the beach and laid out on a lawn chair for a while until it started sun raining. I decided to play pool. The pool table is upstairs but you need to go downstairs and outside to the gym to borrow the balls. It's rarely open but I caught them at a good time. I played a dozen games against myself. I was a poor loser. The #7 ball was missing but there were two #14 balls to make up for it? They also had a foosball table but, typically, there was no ball for it. I was told it was "broken"? Later I lounged around the pool and swam and read and drank pina coladas. Watched a movie in the lobby as my tv reception is not very good. I complained at the lobby and they assured me it would be better the next day. The night show was basically a quiz for the audience to name different songs, artists or movies…but it was entertaining. Eventually I ended up in my room playing my two guitars.

Sunday June 12, 2011

My tv was perfect today…they were right?! I had my usual omelet for breakfast. One of the waitresses had spotted me yesterday with my umbrella and asked if she could have it. I would have given it to her but unfortunately it was a really good one that I like…but she kept after me for my whole stay. Whenever I walked into the restaurant, I would hear murmurings among the staff saying "that's the senor with the umbrella".

After breakfast, I filled up my insulated bottle with ice and orange juice from the bar then I walked to the next hotel to catch the shuttle bus. These were pretty impressive double-decker buses that ran on schedule every 15 minutes. Five dollars would buy you a pass you could use all day long. I sat on the open air section on top taking photos. I forgot where I was and the lack of safety. More than a few times I nearly lost my glasses when I was pistol whipped on the side of the head with branches from overhanging palm trees. Another time, I heard a strange buzzing sound. I looked behind and spotted a low hydro wire which would have done a nice decapitation job on me had I been standing up. I journeyed about 30 minutes to the tip of Varadero. Here they have a protected park with about 45 minutes worth of trails through jungle and coral with caves and cacti. I ventured into the largest cave by crawling through on my haunches before it opened up. It was just me and one disturbed bat. I saw no one else during my whole hike. At one point, I heard another strange buzzing sound. I followed the sound to the source. It was a huge series of honeycombs built into the side of a coral cliff. At the time I wrote this, I couldn't think of the word "honeycomb" and had written "bee waffles". That was probably a better description. I tried to steer clear of these massive constructions but the trail went right along beside them. I was hoping they weren't killer bees. Luckily, they left me alone to pursue other interests. Naturally, I wasn't warned about these when I paid my three dollar admission fee.

The end of the trail led me back out to the main highway about ½ a mile from where I started. I walked about another mile to the next bus stop and caught the next double-decker into Varadero. I explored the main park and a fair that was taking place next door. I walked a few miles then took the bus further into town. Walked about another mile looking for photo opportunities then took the bus back "home."

Back in my room I discovered a 26 oz bottle of rum had been left for me compliments of the hotel. When I was in Varadero I found a ping pong sized nut which I brought back. I used it in the foosball table which worked quite well until it got jammed.

Gentleman Lost His Contact Lens

Monday June 13, 2011

Got up and was pummeled by the elevator on my way to breakfast.

"Ay…Aqui viene el senor con la umbrella", (here comes the man with the umbrella) yelled the waiter to one of the waitresses while the rest of the staff gathered around to stare at me. Later, I puttered around, did some reading and guitar playing. At noon, I filled up my water bottle again then set off to the right, along the beach.

My hotel is right at the end of the beach where a canal starts so you can't go left unless you first cross the canal. I walked until the beach ran out at corral cliffs near a golf course - about 7.5 miles away. Then I turned around and walked back arriving at 6:00pm. That was about a 15 mile walk according to my research on Google Maps when I returned home. I had thought it would rain in the afternoon as per usual but today it was sunny all day. I stopped and swam several hundred times and got myself a very nice burn. All I took with me was my yellow waterproof bag containing my camera, water and umbrella. It was too windy to use the umbrella as a sun shield. I rarely ever get burned so that was a change for me. When I got back I had the chills so I skipped supper and wrapped myself in a blanket and shivered me timbers to sleep.

Tuesday June 14, 2011

Fully recovered, except for my lobster look-a-like tone, I took the bumper car elevator down to breakfast again. The waffle maker, a nice Cuban woman yelled at me as I came in, "Daveeed - como estas?!" She has a very loud voice and is still hoping for my umbrella.

Today it was sunny all day but I thought I should try and avoid the sun due to yesterdays excursion. I wondered around inside the hotel, read, watched some tv, played my guitars, did some Sudokus and generally kept myself entertained. I ate at the Ranchon on the beach as the regular buffet was closed. It was very good. Even later I went to the late show which was good but since I'm easily bored, I left early.

Wednesday June 15, 2011

After breakfast, I tried once again to participate in the hotel games that were posted on the schedule but once again, despite my being right on time, the games were over for the day. I had lunch at the beach restaurant then I popped in my contacts and spent a relaxing hour snorkeling. At one point I was so relaxed I almost fell asleep. I decided this would not be a wise course of action as I could wake up somewhere in the middle of the ocean if the tide took me away.

I swam in the pool later and also played a few rounds of mini golf on a course that was laid out in the grass. Of course I had to first get the golf clubs from the gym - this involved going back there several hundred times until by chance it was open. I took that opportunity to get the billiard balls so I also played pool against myself for about an hour. This time I was given a different set of balls. The 8 ball was missing. I began to wonder how many mismatched sets they had…maybe enough to put one complete set together. I went for supper. The food here was very good, lots of variety and something different every night including chicken, pork, turkey, soups, rice and lots of vegetables and fruits. Tonight's entertainment was very good. The staff wore black suits with phosphorescent paints and did an excellent job. At the end of the show, the dancers threaded their way through the huge audience of 20 people trying to entice us to come up on stage and dance. A pretty Cuban boy in tights chose me. I politely refused but he was quite insistent and I ended up line dancing on stage. I was the only audience participant. That's what I get for keeping the stereotype alive and being a polite Canadian. After, I went to the beach, sat and watched the stars while listening to the ocean waves. The temperature was perfect. I could have easily slept where I was. I tried the hotel disco later but it wasn't open so I went back to my guitar collection and played myself to sleep.

Thursday June 16, 2011

Went for my breakfast. I was swarmed by the women waitresses still wanting my umbrella. They seemed to have formed a posse. Returned to my room and packed. Checkout was at noon but I managed to hang out in my room till 1:00 then I deposited my bags and guitars in the secure lock-up in the lobby. I had lunch at the Ranchon by the beach and read outside by the pool. Filled up my insulated bottle at the bar. The 2:30 bus was an hour late but that was fine with me as I'd just as soon wait at the hotel as the airport. Thirty minutes later I was at the terminal where I wandered around until 6:30 checking out the shops and reading. I had requested a window seat again. The clerk assured me that all was well. However, when I was taken to my seat, I was disappointed to learn that I had an aisle seat. A very large couple were my seatmates. Then the stewardess showed up with a thin couple and said that my "friends" were in the wrong seats. I did a little happy dance in my head until the stewardess said, "Oh never mind, we'll just trade with your original seats". My arm rest was taken up by the rolls of fat on the guy next to me. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. "The King's Peach" was the movie playing but I couldn't seem to get into it so I gave up and read instead. Arrived in Toronto right on time at 9:30 and almost breezed through customs, except for the woman custom agent who seemed to take a dislike to me and threw a wack of trick questions at me that made no sense. As per every other trip, no one checked my guitars. Had to wait 40 minutes for my luggage to appear on the carousel. Sky Park arrived within 10 minutes of my calling them and drove me to my car which they had already started and warmed up for me. They are excellent. I left there at 11:00 p.m. and arrived home at 1:30 a.m. It was a good relaxing vacation.

See You Later, Alligator






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