Cuba Caribbean Flair - Cuba on 2 Wheels 2014 - Adios Havana! | Thursday, March 27

Make the most of the last day in Cuba before departing Havana for Cancun and on to Los Angeles. Adios Cuba. It has been an adventure.

After a decent breakfast at Hotel Lido with different "bombsite views", I wandered around old Havana for a last look before checking out and heading to the international airport.

 

 

Last night's restaurant being de-wasted!!

 

 

 

 

I was fascinated by Dora The Explorer!The plane was one hour late leaving but Cancun was 2 hours behind so I made the connection into LAX OK. Of course, there was a long line at US Immigration and then I waited half an hour for the Dollar Car Rental shuttle. I finally got the car but was starving so I had McDonalds at 12.15am. I arrived at the Azul Inn which has been renovated since my last stay and looked very nice and comfortable. I got to sleep around 1.45am.

 

So the Cuban adventure is over and I am back in the Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. Or, more to the point, somewhere I can resume my comfortable consumer lifestyle.

That is all until next time on the bike! Thanks for reading.

Cuba Caribbean Flair - Cuba on 2 Wheels 2014 - Baracoa - Playa Maguana - Havana | Wednesday, March 26

After breakfast you will enjoy a bicycle tour to the amazing white beach of Playa Maguana (approximately 30 kilometres). After a swim you will be transferred to Baracoa, where you can visit the town centre. (incl. breakfast, lunch/picnic). Fly from Baracoa to Havana. - Trip Notes

No more cycling for me as today I fly to Havana.

After frried eggs for my last buffet breakfast, I went to the bus at 9 to say goodbye to Herbert Ramon and Giancarlo and then walked into town to catch the Parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also managed a quick tour of the Church where Christopher Columbus' cross resides with a Hebrew Jesus!

 

Back to the hotel for 90 minutes of sun by the pool and a shower before checking out. My cab arrived 20 minutes early so I went down checked out and headed to airport which was only 10 minutes away. I checked in with the most incomplete boarding pass ever and then waited around outside until they called me in for security clearance.

 

 

 

Want to fill in the blanks??

The plane actually left 30 minutes ahead of schedule and the steward sat down next to me and had a nap until cruising altitude when he had to go help serve the drinks!

 

We landed in Havana Playa Baracoa airport which is a landing strip to the west of Havana and nothing much else – not even a proper room to wait for the baggage which arrived on a big trolley with self service removal! 

 

 

 

 

I haggled the taxi from 30 down to 20 and it felt very familiar driving in to the Old Havana with me directing the driver to the Hotel Lido which has a room bigger and cleaner than Plaza for less than half the price! I wandered down Obispo and had an early “all inclusive dinner and cocktail” for 6.60CUC at "El CoCo" then wandered around looking for a piñita fix! I stumbled into a small Chinatown and then back to the hotel in great evening light with piñita for an early night.