Day 8: New Years Eve in Cuba!

Today I woke up at 8:00am. I quickly got dressed and went down to breakfast with my mom. The food was very interesting and I ended up just eating bread and sausage. We met in the lobby and began our tricycle tour. We picked our driver and took the seats in the back. First we drove to two different plazas, seeing the bank, the church, and others. Then we went to a galleria and my mom bought a painting she loved long with a few others. We drove to a few other plazas and visited different galleries along the tour. We also went to a farmers market and walked through getting an explanation from our your guide. At one point our driver let me try biking and it was a blast! It was difficult with people in the back, but I did it... Until the chain came off and  I was demoted. The tour ended in a plaza near our hotel and a bunch of us went to the cafe ciudad. 

Most people got coffees and five people ordered sandwiches. After our snack/lunch lien, my mom, and I walked around and visited the Coppelia, which is a government run ice cream shop. The restaurant was interesting and incredibly cheap, not even 1 dollar for two ice creams. When finished, Lien returned to Marie and Jenny while my mom and I walked back to the hotel to relax. We got back and did just that, but I wasn't feeling well so I didn't sleep that much.  I felt 100% after 6 o clock and I began getting ready for New Years, including makeup, hair, and a long dress. 

We all met downstairs at 7, and complimented everyone on their outfits and were taken aback by the inappropriate image of a lady's bottom on David's shirt. We took tricycles to the house where we would celebrate New Years. We went up stairs and talked for two hours eating snacks and drinking. We had dinner at 9:30 and afterward we headed downstairs for dancing at 11:00. We danced for quite a while and eventually got tired, so we sat down and talked. At 11:58 we went outside on the street to see a man putting up a type of scarecrow man that would light. He threw gasoline on the dummy and we waited. 2 minutes passed and David popped open the cider and the man lot the dummy on fire. Soon following the fire, down the street, buckets of water were thrown out of doors and another scarecrow was burning a while down the road. We enjoyed our cider and went back to the house for more dancing. At this point, most people in the group were drunk, and they were having a fantastic time. The host offered us cake and we tried it, but it was not very good, it tasted like egg and felt like chalk on the tongue. Then, the cake was followed by nuggets which were almost impossible to bite down on. Lastly, soft nuggets were distributed and it tasted like a type of peanut butter that was too sweet. But I am glad everyone tried the traditional Cuban food. 

When the party was coming to an end, some people left by taxi, then my mom and I, and lastly, Abby, Jenny, Marie, and Anthony. It was a really fun night. When I arrived at the hotel I was absolutely exhausted. 

Day 7: On the Road Again

Today we woke up at 7:30am with the same "Santiago Noise", and began getting ready because we would be leaving Santiago today. We went upstairs for breakfast and David and Ivan, the bus driver, were waiting outside. We finished quickly and grabbed two sandwiches to go. We all loaded on the bus and began our 6 hour journey. 

About halfway through our journey, we stopped at a nice restaurant and waited for what seemed like forever to get our food. Most people got cerdo-pork and it was delicious. We got back on the road, tummies full and headed towards Camaguey. When we arrived at the hotel we say in the lobby and we offered orange drinks with liquor which everyone made faces at. We all went up to our rooms to drop off our stuff, then met David downstairs for the orientation walk. The group noticed how many more stores there were compared to Baracoa and Santiago. When the tour ended everyone, but Jenny went back to the hotel. The group had a Spanish lesson with a lady named Monica, but my mom and I did not feel the urge to take the class. I was not feeling very well, so I laid down in our room until it was time to meet for dinner. 

We walked to dinner and found out that it was a buffet and you order your main course. We went to the buffet and the food was absolutely delicious. I ordered el cerdo con mojo and it was incredible. Following the food, we went back to the buffet for desserts, and yet again, everything was delicious. We started walking home, but paused to give David and Ivan time to walk home by themselves, and for us, time away from our guides. We got home, I took a shower and we went to bed.

Day 6: Sounds of Santiago

I wake up at 5:00am to the sounds of whistles, dogs barking, trucks driving by, people talking, and much more. I get ready and go to breakfast on the terrace with my mom. After breakfast we meet david outside and we drive to the cemetery. My mom and I learned that Fidel Castro is not dead, but we found out where Cuba planned to burry him. In the cemetery it was blazing and I felt faint. There was no shade, and we had no water. We were very glad to get back on the bus and drive to a gas station to buy ice cream and water. 

After our stop we drove to a museum about the revolutionary war and the history of Fidel Castro. I learned that Fidel Castro is 86 years old, and Raul Castro is 84. The museum was very interesting, but everyone was exhausted. We drove to a castle and toured around for about 30 minutes, then we walked to the restaurant for lunch. Lunch was quite good and was very nice for a break from the sun. We drove home and got to relax for a while before going out to meet the group at el rumba. 

We wandered for quite awhile and then Lien, Abby, my mom, and I found el rumba, but it was closed! We thought about writing a note, but while we were looking for pen and paper, a lady across the street got my attention and told me in Spanish that there had been two ladies. She also pointed to the door and said they left a note. Sure enough there was a note that said, "hola! So... Plan foiled. We are going to the hotel where we went yesterday." So we went to the balcony of the hotel and found then around 6:30. We had drinks and hung out until 10:30. At 10:30 the hotel put on a cabaret show and it was quite a blast to watch with the extravagant costumes. We left at 11:10 to return home. When we arrived our home, the host said he was worried because we had come back so late. We thought that was kind of him to care so much. We went to our rooms and immediately fell asleep. 

Day 5: Bye Bye Baracoa

I woke up at 7:30 and got up to take a shower. We got mostly packed up, then we went to the dining room table to eat breakfast. After we ate, Josephina brought Melissa and Bryan over to play with me. We played left right and center again, and then I had to leave. We said goodbye in a traditional Cuban way with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. We walked to the base house, then loaded into the van. We began our journey to Santiago de Cuba. When we arrived in Santiago, we had lunch at the base house, then went to our homes. As we walked in our house we met a man putting on his pants with no shirt. The owner said he is a designer and there was an assistant and two models. Next we went up to the terace with the owner and the dog. We had some tea then relaxed in bed. After about an hour, David came by with the group to pick us up. We walked with him to the center square and went to the terrace of a nice hotel for the sunset and some drinks. We took many pictures and my mom and I enjoyed a Cuban cheese pizza.

After out snack break, we went home for two hours to rest, then we walked to the base house on the terrace for dinner which consisted of pollo asado and white beans, salad, bread, etc. we discussed the plan for tomorrow and split ways. The youngsters in the group went out dancing while my mom and I returned to our strange home with the dogs barking on the balcony. 

Day 4: Pork Picnic

 Today we slept in and had breakfast at 9am. After breakfast, my mom and I relaxed, then walked to a hotel called el Castillo. We got there and paid to use the pool and asked for the wifi code, but they said that they do not have the card for wifi. Bummer. We looked for lounge chairs and only found one, so we put our stuff on it and swam for a bit. When we got out, a lady have us her chair and we both laid in the beautiful sun. Soon it got really hot and we went in the shade to eat lunch which was cerdo, or pork. We went back to our house to freshen up, then met the group at the base house. We all took a small van to a river for a picnic. 

We arrived and met the other intrepid group. Our meal included a giant pig, vegetables, and beans and rice. The saddest thing was that a family of pigs walked over to where we were eating and there was a huge cooked pig on the table. There were two men there playing the instruments and I got to join in. After a while, a few girls and I went down to the river for a "paddle" say the British, meaning walking in the water to our ankles. When we came out of the water, we danced for a bit, then headed home to relax. 

When I woke up from my nap, my mom and I walked to the main square to see the "celebrity band" quoting the Cubans. We got there and walked though the crowd. We stood around for a while, then we bought churro sand ice cream. A girl in our group named Abby dances with a man who asked her, and my mom danced with someone as well! It was a very fun night. 

Day 3: Tour of the Town

Today we had breakfast at 8am. We  went to the base house and everyone got into two jeeps. Our first stop was for pictures and to stretch our legs. The next stop was at a woman's house who made and sold chocolate. We learned how chocolate is made and bought her whole stock. We got back in the jeeps and went to other sight seeing spots. After the other spots, we came to a small town and walked around. We bought a cocoanut from a mute man, and we saw the warehouse where the community brings 70% of the main good they produce. Finally, we drove to la playita and took a paddle boat out to a small island. At the island, David and I played baseball with a branch and rocks.

A few of us got in our bathing suits and swam in the water. Once we were done, we took the boats back, got some drinks, and headed down the road to a nice restaurant we had already ordered food at. We relaxed and all sat down with our delicious food. I got corin y vegetales.

After lunch, we took the jeeps back and half of us walked around the city.  We room pictures and hung out with the ladies. We went back home for our wonderful homemade dinner. After dinner, Bonnie, bill, Melissa, Bryan, my mom and I all played left right in center.  Bonnie, bill and my mom went to bed, and I stayed up talking in Spanish and playing games with the kids, Bryan and Melissa. 

Day 2: Christmas in Cuba

Merry Christmas. Honestly, I didn't realize it was Christmas till 11am! This morning we had breakfast at the hotel, and our group took a bus to the nearest airport. This was the most interesting airport I have ever been to. One room inside and a bunch of chairs outside. Quite an experience. Our group got there an hour early, so we stood around talking, still getting to know one another. Soon it was time to board and we got into the extremely tiny propellor plane with 40 seats, with two on each side. The plane had four windows and I had the pleasure of looking out one of them. The way the sky melded with the oceans, and the way the oceans melded with the land.

We landed at our first stop and got off. We waited in another lobby of another airport for a while. When it was time, we boarded, and I simply put on my headphones and knocked out. When we arrived in Baracoa, Cuba we got off the plane and the first thing I saw was a hill of green. We took a bus to our "base house" as our tour guide says so nicely. We unloaded our stuff and sat down to eat sandwiches for lunch. Finishing the lunch, we got our briefing of the trip from David, our tour guide, and then walked to our "casas" or houses. My mom and I met Josephina, the owner, and we put our stuff in our room. 

When we returned to our base house, we were lead on a orientation of the city and ended in a gorgeous hotel with the view of Baracoa, Cuba. We got some drinks and discussed our plans for tomorrow.  Once we were ready, we began to head out, but a hard pour began to fall, so we stayed inside for a while longer. 

We returned to our "casa" with time to spare. My mom and I chatted with Josephina and her husband Richard for a while. It was great to get to know our hosts. At 8, we all headed to an incredible restaurant a few blocks away. My mom and I both ordered la chuleta de cerdo and oh my goodness was it delicious! Before the meat, we were served several different appetizers. To finish off we had an interesting coconut banana ice cream. And it was only $12 for everything! Best meal thus far. We played "left, right, and center" with a few people in our group. Annie won twice! After dinner, we were all exhausted and a few of us walked back home to our "casas."

Day 1-The Adventure Begins

We arrived in Cuba tonight at 5:30pm. Once off the plane, we headed towards immigration. The lines at immigration were incredibly long and the lines moved merely an inch every 5 minutes. We waited in line and a mother and husband were put in front of us. 10 more minutes. Eventually we got through the miserable immigration and headed towards the baggage claim because carry on bags can be no more than 10 kilos, and my mom's bag weighed 12.8... Come on! Mine could be a carry on, but since we would have to wait for my moms bag, I checked my bag as well. We grabbed our bags and exited to the left in order to exchange our money into cuc, the Cuban currency for tourists. With our cuc, we hopped in a cab and drove to our first hotel in Cuba. 

At Hotel Victoria, we checked in, settled into our room, then met our intrepid group and your guide in the lobby. As a group we walked to probably the most expensive restaurant in town. I ordered pollo asado and it wasn't fabulous. My mom ordered ropa vieja and it was too salty for her taste. We got flan, and it was kind of cakey. Long story short, we returned to our hotel after the interesting dinner.