We checked into the Paradiso Resort, Varadero, 2 days early due to our less-than-relaxing time in Havana. No Cubans except for resort employees are even allowed onto the peninsula so you are tucked away in a little trouble-free bubble.
The resort was abouty 2 hours drive from Havana, on a peninsula and it was pure luxury. The entrance alone was breathtaking with wooden walkways over massive fish ponds, palm trees, marble floors, statues ... very zen. It was 5 star, all inclusive - more than we could ever usually afford but because we were with the wedding party of Katie & Wayne we got a good deal.
It had 5 different restaurants plus a buffet restaurant - one was Teppanyaki! The Cuban chefs dressed up in blue silk outfits and did the cook-in-front-of-you thing. Very entertaining. There was also an Italian, a Caribbean, a steak house and a 'romantic' restaurant. All drinks, including cocktails and champers were included too, amazing. I am now a pina colada addict.
The music at the resort was wonderful, different bands played at meal times and in the lobby bar in the evening. They put on a different cabaret show (singing/dancing) every evening at 10pm then we'd adjourn to the nightclub. There were salsa lessons on the beach and by the pool every day, also percussion lessons, spanish lessons, yoga, beach volleyball, soccer, kayaking, pedallos, sailing.... not all just lazing around!
Usually after the buffet breakfast we went down to the beach, to sunbake (in the shade in my case - you can take the girl out of Australia but you can't take Australia out of the girl...) and swim. After a relaxing lunch at one of the restaurantss - either the beach grill or the caribbean restaurant by the pool (my personal fave) we'd adjourn to the pool bar for a swim and a drink. By that time the pool bar was in the shade so I could sit there without fear of sunburn.
The first couple of days we were very quiet as it was just us and Wayne & Katie (the couple who got married), then, suddenly about 20 Canadians arrived.. all Katie's family from Vancouver! They were great and we really enjoyed getting to know them. Such nice people with all the quirky characters that come with big families. The wedding was a few days after that and by then we all knew each other so it was quite a party. (Next summer - Vancouver here we come!)
The wedding itself was spectacular - in a white gazebo overlooking the ocean. It was windy but it was clear and the ceremony was short and sweet. There was a string quartet playing (Pacobel's Cannon; Ave Maria which gets me every time) and champagne and nibblies after while the sun went down.
The gorgeous bride and handsome groom then went for photos and the guests hit the lobby bar (open 24 hours - always a good fall back) .
The evening reception was in a private function room with a long table laid out and a delicious 4 course meal with wine and of course more champange (moet for the toasts)! One of the resort's bands were playingand it was, basically, perfect. For the wedding favours the men got cigars and the girls a Cuba keyring, plus bags of personalised M&Ms!!!! Tied in little chiffon bags finished with a strawberry and a moon charm. (Wayne & Katie met in a club called Strawberry Moons in London.)
Oh and yes, there were some tears during the speeches, especially Waynes... it was so heartfelt and loving.
We hit the dancefloor later - they'd even brought some CDs they made themselves so the music was excellent and everyone got up to shake their stuff.
They were so organised and put so much thought into everything, it was truly a wonderful and memorable day and when I remember Cuba, that is what I will remember.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Cuba # 1 - Havana (Feb08)
My first visit to the Caribbean (last month) was to the west's only communist country... Cuba.
I've always wanted to go there after seeing a doco on it years ago where people partied in the streets, dancing and laughing and seeming so warm and friendly and passionate...
The reality is very different. Socialism is no longer working for the country and hasn't been since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. That's when Cuba's economy went tits-up, as without the support of the large and fellow anti-American commy country, the practicalities of socialism didn't survive. And now its a broken country, still living in the heyday of the Revolution some 50 odd years ago.
Havana was where we landed and were supposed to spend 3 days exploring. This is what we encountered: run down old buildings, crappy roads and lots of loitering people who befriend you and then ask for money. We lasted 2 days and 1 night there. The other half was entirely adamant about leaving - he didn't feel comfortable at all, at least in his home country of Africa he knows what to expect and what to look out for, but not knowing the language or the layout was a bit much for him.
The interesting stuff was the amount of political propaganda on signs, no other advertising, just the government bigging itself up and talking about the revolution and likening Bush to Hitler.
There was also no beach to speak of in Havana, just a sea wall where we were accosted by people asking for money. We had trouble also finding any cafes or bars to refresh in. Ended up having drinks/food in hotels. All very odd - they need to clean up that city. The old buildings are beautiful but you wouldn't set foot in most of them for fear of them falling down around your ears.
The only good thing about it is all the old cars - they have loads of buicks, cadillacs, chevvys, any big old american car from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Its like a living car museum. Hardly any of them look road worthy but hey, they are colorful and give the place character!
Also the B&B or casa particular we stayed at was lovely, clean and friendly. We felt very guilty about checking out early as the landlady was great. She had warned us about Havana's downside and understood that we didn't want to hang around. Her daughter lives in Norway and said basically her entire generation had left Cuba - there was nothing there for them as the economy is in such bad shape and there is no way to make money. Its such a shame as it could be a wonderful place with its location, its culture, the warm people and the history. They don't have to lose their sense of identity, they just have to move forward as everything has to.
BTW - Fidel stepped down the day after we arrived back in London. But his brother took over so no real change there, then.
I've always wanted to go there after seeing a doco on it years ago where people partied in the streets, dancing and laughing and seeming so warm and friendly and passionate...
The reality is very different. Socialism is no longer working for the country and hasn't been since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 90s. That's when Cuba's economy went tits-up, as without the support of the large and fellow anti-American commy country, the practicalities of socialism didn't survive. And now its a broken country, still living in the heyday of the Revolution some 50 odd years ago.
Havana was where we landed and were supposed to spend 3 days exploring. This is what we encountered: run down old buildings, crappy roads and lots of loitering people who befriend you and then ask for money. We lasted 2 days and 1 night there. The other half was entirely adamant about leaving - he didn't feel comfortable at all, at least in his home country of Africa he knows what to expect and what to look out for, but not knowing the language or the layout was a bit much for him.
The interesting stuff was the amount of political propaganda on signs, no other advertising, just the government bigging itself up and talking about the revolution and likening Bush to Hitler.
There was also no beach to speak of in Havana, just a sea wall where we were accosted by people asking for money. We had trouble also finding any cafes or bars to refresh in. Ended up having drinks/food in hotels. All very odd - they need to clean up that city. The old buildings are beautiful but you wouldn't set foot in most of them for fear of them falling down around your ears.
The only good thing about it is all the old cars - they have loads of buicks, cadillacs, chevvys, any big old american car from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Its like a living car museum. Hardly any of them look road worthy but hey, they are colorful and give the place character!
Also the B&B or casa particular we stayed at was lovely, clean and friendly. We felt very guilty about checking out early as the landlady was great. She had warned us about Havana's downside and understood that we didn't want to hang around. Her daughter lives in Norway and said basically her entire generation had left Cuba - there was nothing there for them as the economy is in such bad shape and there is no way to make money. Its such a shame as it could be a wonderful place with its location, its culture, the warm people and the history. They don't have to lose their sense of identity, they just have to move forward as everything has to.
BTW - Fidel stepped down the day after we arrived back in London. But his brother took over so no real change there, then.
Friday, 1 February 2008
Bit bleary
My head feels dizzy, my mouth feels dry, stomach is flipping and I just want to go back to bed... yes I have the hangover from hell. But I managed to drag my sorry self into work (albeit an hour late) to continue my 100% success rate of pitching up to the office even with a crippling hangover. I've never had a sick day for a hangover, ever! Not that I'm being very productive, but its the principle of the thing.
Fortunately I don't sit near the queen bee (QB) of my team so wasn't spotted sloping in late ... although she did pop by just after I got here and my computer was suspiciously booting up still. My actual bosses didn't mind, they sent me out to get some proper food! Actually I might have the other half of that bacon-egg sandwich now, if I can keep it down. I feel another alka seltzer coming on too...
Fortunately I don't sit near the queen bee (QB) of my team so wasn't spotted sloping in late ... although she did pop by just after I got here and my computer was suspiciously booting up still. My actual bosses didn't mind, they sent me out to get some proper food! Actually I might have the other half of that bacon-egg sandwich now, if I can keep it down. I feel another alka seltzer coming on too...
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