Retired Nomads - Part 2 : June 2022

Saturday May 28, 2022 – Transfer to Havana’s José Martí International (HAV) airport for flights home

We woke up this morning still not feeling great, but things were stable. We split an omelet and had some pastry. Thankful to have had a nice hotel & breakfast for our last night/morning. Dario met us to take us to Medical and we redid our Covid tests. Again, they were negative, but the form had all the info the airport wanted.

Dario said the office set up a very nice car for our drive to the airport and this morning we were met with a pristine black ’59 Chevy Impala convertible with red & white interior. What a fun ride to the airport. Dario came in with us and we got in the line to check in and he would have stayed with us, but seriously we didn’t need him to do that, so we said good-bye and thanked him for the week, and I think he was worried the events would affect his tip (as did Arsenio), but he smiled in relief when Greg handed it to him. Part of travel is that sometimes things don’t always go smoothly. It was out of his control as well.

'59 Chevy Impala

a few last photos taken on the way

wow, remember these?

arrival at the airport

We had a few CUP left to spend off (not useful anywhere outside of Cuba). I found a magnet and a keychain for Cathy (had hoped for something nicer at one of the shops in Trinidad) and I lovely carved wooden lady to add to my collection. Still have some small CUP left, but honestly nothing else that we really wanted or needed to buy so Scott can have those for his treasure chest in the bar. (a couple of bills and some coins)

We made it through security and found our gate. We could smell food but didn’t see any in sight. No menus found, but we went into 1 of the 2 places that offered food and he said they had omelets. So, we each ate one with the dry toast served. Pretty much all we should have attempted to eat anyway.

We stopped at Cheesecake Factory on the way home since it was dinner time (early dinner) and I had not really eaten for a whole day and then only an omelet and a half. So, we both felt up to eating and we brought back Godiva Cheesecake for later.

Oddly, we felt great on Sunday and then Monday, Greg woke up sick and I was just feeling a bit draggy. Cathy & Tom had graciously invited us over for Memorial Day and bocce. We bowed out of bocce since we both felt bad, but did go over for some Sequence & snacks and dinner. As always, they are great company and the food was great, despite us not being able to eat much. We bailed early to go home and rest.

Greg must have gotten some Noro or some virus other than what I had as he also had vomiting and spent the better part of 3 days in bed and not eating much of anything. I however feel just draggy which I’m blaming on “the corking of my system” and I haven’t uncorked yet….LOL I don’t think I have ever seen him that sick. It is very rare for him not to cycle, exercise or swim even when he’s under the weather.

Anyway, we will live, and the trip was amazing despite Covid & tour vehicle issues.

Many of us that travel count countries and Cuba marked our 90^th country that we have visited together. Of course, there are also different cities/ports in various countries that make that count way higher. Any place that is new is always a bonus for us.

As a wrap-up, we noticed we were “out of practice” traveling. I brought lots of batteries for my camera but left them in the room. Totally forgot to put them in my day bag the first day. I forgot to pack Tylenol for the trip. There really was no place to buy any even if they may have any in stock. Just little things. I had 2 day bags and realized that I don’t want them for future trips. Good to know before we went on a long trip. It did feel good to be back traveling. We do prefer cruising for the ease of not having to pack and unpack multiple times and you know your things and the same bed are waiting for you after you return from a tour.

Cuba has quite a few endemic birds and we added 20 new species to our life list. In total we saw 51 species on the trip. I saw a crake or something similar but didn’t get a good enough look to ID it, so it didn’t count. (about 3 different things it could have been) (new birds in blue)

Birds seen in Cuba:

Cuban Trogon, Cuban Pewee, Cuban Emerald Hummingbird, Cuban Nightjar, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Northern Flicker, Smooth-billed Ani, Greater Flamingo, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Common Gallinule, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Common Ground Dove, Antillean Palm-Swift, Double-crested Cormorant, Snail Kite, Cuban Tody, Stygian Owl, Cuban Green Woodpecker, West-Indian Woodpecker, La Sagra’s Flycatcher, Gray Kingbird, Loggerhead Kingbird, Cuban Vireo, Black-whiskered Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Red-legged Thrush, House Sparrow, Western Spindalis, Cuban Oriole, Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Shiny Cowbird, Cuban Blackbird, Greater Antillean Grackle, Olive-capped Warbler, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Northern Bobwhite, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Ground Dove, White-winged Dove, White-collared Swift, Red-tailed Hawk, Cuban Vireo, Eastern Meadowlark, Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Pelican, Green Heron, American Kestral.

After a week, we are both getting back to normal and are back walking every day and we played a couple games pickleball. Slowly getting back into the swing of things.

Now to get ready for almost a month in Canada. Whoo Hoo!

For larger photos: Cuba Day 8 https://photos.app.goo.gl/TU7ARouX3WUXipyx5

Friday May 27, 2022 - UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Trinidad

Wow, all the Canadians seemed to be leaving today. The restaurant was so crowded that we had to wait for clean plates and silverware as we waited for a table as far from all the un-masked people crowded in there. We didn’t wait long, but there really was no food left. I stood in a long line for 2 omelets for us and there was really nothing else other than some dinner rolls. We’d hoped for another one of the small bananas, but all gone as well.

views from the car

We started our walking tour of Trinidad. This seemed like a more “touristy” town. Still brimming with history and beautiful buildings. I got my obligatory magnet and there was one other that I was going to wait in case I found one I liked better. Greg encouraged me to get it and I’m glad I did. There were many interesting looking shops that I looked forward to checking out later. (more on that later)

magnet stop

We headed to Plaza Mayor and went past it to see the plaza closer to the water and then went back to see its sites. Plaza Mayor is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has a lovely small plaza with 4 raised gardens and the square is surrounded by white wrought-iron fences. Cobble stone streets surround it, separating it from the surrounding buildings. It has wrought-iron lampposts, statues of English greyhounds, and columns with large terra-cotta finials. In the background is the Church of the Holy Trinity, and right of church is Brunet Palace. We walked around to see the buildings surrounding the plaza and ended with a museum that Dario encouraged us to visit.

walking to Plaza Mayor

Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad

me in orange & white following Dario

selling these cute straw frogs

fresh catch of the day

The Museo Histórico Municipal is located in Palacio Cantero, one of the largest and most impressive of the houses surrounding the Plaza. Here is where our day took a turn for the worst.

We entered the first room with our museum guide. I had started to feel icky and my stomach was severely cramping. We like museums but prefer to go at our own pace. This woman wanted to talk 5 to 10 minutes at each photo. Her Spanish was easy to understand, but Dario translated anyway. (taking even more time) No A/C or breeze and I thought if I didn’t get out of there I’d go crazy. I kept trying to back away from them (due to my tummy issues), but they would follow me. We finally walked outside and saw a Russian truck and a boat. Then it was time to walk up the stairs to the bell tower. I asked to use a bathroom before doing that. Small hot space with a toilet with no rim and didn’t flush. Good thing I didn’t really have anything happening at that point. I tipped the lady and we proceeded up the stairs.

Museo Histórico Municipal

floor

the rooms were mostly photos

room honoring the dead

views from the roof

I’m not doing well at this point. We took in the beautiful views of the plaza and surrounds and proceeded back down. I ran to the restroom again. I used all my TP to Go that I carry. Tipped her again and apologized profusely. (Lo siento, mucho)

I told Dario that I needed a bathroom again and he found a bar that let us in, and Greg bought a large bottle of water for using the bathroom and a place to sit and relax. They had TP and I used it all and part of the core. Yikes! I went back out and drank a bit of the water. Someone else used the restroom and came out and asked the bar for more TP. Yay, I go back in after her and stayed until I thought I could at least get back to the car. We told Dario we needed a couple of things from the car, but it wasn’t that close, and he said we could have an earlier lunch and head back to Havana. We agreed that was a good plan. You know I’m sick when I don’t poke into every nook and cranny on a tour.

The lunch was a close walk to restaurant Bodeguita del Medio. The restaurant wasn’t quite open yet but they let me in to use the bathroom. Toilet didn’t flush, but I had no choice. I finally came out and everyone was seated, and the waiter was taking the orders. I didn’t think I should eat anything at this point, but he did bring me some rice. I took 3 forks full, and the guide and driver were eager to eat the rest of it. (they had a different kind of rice with their meal) I had to go back to the bathroom and this time the lady that worked there was pissed. She banged on the door for me to get out of there. (honest, I couldn’t leave) She actually managed to bang open the outer door where the sink was. The one stall had its own door but no latch. (which is why I locked the outer door) There were 2 others that worked there sitting at a table in the back and I could hear them talking loudly about me. (the curse of knowing some Spanish). Anyway, when I finally felt able to come out, I went to the table and told Greg I needed a “propina grande”. (big tip) I went back and asked for the lady and they got her and I gave it to her and she was pleased. (no tip would have been enough for me to clean that, though I guess I do that for free at home)

Restaurant

bean soup

Greg's fish

my rice

Dario & me at the table

Even though cars really aren’t allowed in the old town, Arsenio got it and it was right outside. We got a couple of things out of the trunk (more TP). Dario was concerned and stood there and watched so no way to be too discreet. (not that he didn’t know what was going on) He said “we’ve all been there”. So true.

Well, the fun was just now beginning. It is a 4 hour drive to Havana and normally there is one comfort stop. By now Greg is starting to feel a bit like me. He had brought Pepto and Lomotil and we started with Pepto and ended with Lomotil after max dosage of Pepto was taken. It was vital to “put a cork in it” for a car ride with few places to stop. Dario said there were a few gas stations along the way, and we could stop at those. (first one we stopped at their bathrooms were closed) Worst case scenario we could go out in the bushes. (until it started to pour rain) The “corks” worked, but Arsenio’s car was overheating worse than ever. He stopped many times to add water. At one point it wasn’t going to cool down enough and not sure it would even start.

A passing taxi stopped to help. Once it was determined that our car wasn’t going to start, the other taxi rope towed us. I remember way back in the day when someone rope towed you, they went very slowly. This was a short rope, and he was flying. He “slowed” to cross railroad tracks and once we stopped because the rope came loose. We were swaying all over the place and how our car didn’t rear-end the taxi tow car is beyond me. Rope tow redone and he’s back hauling ass and then decides to pass a truck. Holy crap! That was an “E ticket” ride. Finally, we made it to the gas station / comfort stop. By this time Greg had caught up with me and this stop came in the nick of time. Beautiful bathroom withs tons of TP. Seats on the toilets and they flushed! There was a "Che" Store, but it was closed. Same with a small store. The small store opened, but we didn’t have the energy to check it out.

us being towed - yes we were THAT close

rest stop

Just when you thought you’d seen it all, we watched Arsenio crack 2 eggs and add them to the radiator. Yes, it IS a thing. (boils the yoke to plug small holes) Emphasis on SMALL holes. Water was pouring out of the radiator.

Dario had been on the phone many times throughout our trip discussing the car issues. Now that ours was officially dead, we needed another plan. Another cab showed up and they moved all of our stuff to it. We had a pleasant rest of our drive to Havana. We said our good-byes to Arsenio and tipped him for the week as were sure we wouldn’t see him again.

This car was better maintained and the windows were clean and the A/C freezing. More comfortable seating as well. The driver had his wife with him, so Dario sat in the back with us. I took the middle.

We finally made it back to the hotel and we got checked in and received the same yummy blue welcome cocktail. They also brought one for Dario and he took one drink and said “Man, this is good!” Indeed, it was, and Greg and I even drank ours since it was mostly frozen flavored ice. YUM!

Dario had called Arsenio and he thought he would have to spend the night near the rest stop, but he found a bus to get him home and then he could go back and get the car later.

We were to have a farewell dinner at the restaurant La Torre but we both knew we shouldn’t eat anything. He said that the tour company felt horribly for everything that happened with Arsenio’s taxi and offered us a free tour in a classic car that evening. At first, we said no, but felt it was something we really should do while we were there and felt that we could get through it since it was only an hour.

We had a couple of hours to pack our things for our flight out tomorrow and do our Covid tests by video phone with the tests we purchased that American Airlines recommended. We both had negative tests, but when we got the results it didn’t have all the info that when Greg tried to do online check-in asked for. Maybe the tests would have been fine but didn’t want to take the chance. Dario told us that the hotel had a medical office in it that could do the test for us in the morning. We decided we should do that one just in case.

Dario was waiting for us downstairs and led us to our classic car which was a blue ’56 Chevy Bel Air. We drove around to some different areas of Havana and he stopped at a plaza for us to get some photos.