Day 1 - Fly out of Calgary an hour and half late at 1:30 am, yes that is right AM! Logan sleeps the whole way and Kevin and I do our best in the crammed aircraft while being interrupted by the most annoying flight attendant with in flight announcements of free champagne and dinner and other things that you do not want at 4:00 AM!
Get to Veradaro, go through some strange sketchy security with the government women guards wearing the shortest skirts we've ever seen. Then we spend the day checking out our gorgeous room, the beach, the hotel and then sleeping by the pool until we can't stand it anymore. 6:00pm and off to bed, cannot keep eyes open.
Our hotel
The smaller pool our room looks onto
Pool Day 1
Day 2 - Let the fun begin. First we get down the breakfast to discover quickly that what we already heard was correct... the food is unappealing, mostly barely edible and breakfast was going to obviously be the best meal of the day. This is not because our resort wasn't the one of the best on the Island it's because it's Cuba, a communist country. We knew the food would be a problem going there so we shouldn't have been surprised.
After breakfast we went to orientation, which was mostly a waste of time. But, we did get our Catamaran trip booked for Day 3 and met up with our new friends of whom we spent most of the time with.
This was our 1st day of laying by the pool, splashing around, enjoying the beach till the wind picked up, more pool at the pool bar, name that tune and then the boys got schmamared on Pina Coloda's. Then some edible dinner and evening of cappuccino's, more fun fruity drinks and late night Chef Boyardee pizza. This is what we called the pizza because the tomato sauce tasted like something out of alphagetthi or spaghetti-o's - UGH what were thinking?
Getting ready to get drinks in the Bubba
The boys winning funny ticket things after pool side name that tune
only after 4,598 pina colodas at the pool bar.
Us girls were oh so proud.
our new friends - whose identities are concealed as they have no idea I am posting their beautiful photo yet (hopefully they don't kill me)
Day 3 - CATAMARAN!!!! Best part by far on the fun meter!!!
We booked the catamaran, this was incredibly awesome. Boarded at 8:30am and then cruised through the Ocean in the scorching 35 degrees to a dolphin sanctuary where I kid you not we played, cuddled, petted and loved the dolphins right in their tank. It was an experience we will never forget. Then back on the boat for a sail to an area for snorkeling, which Logan loved. I freaked out, snorkeling in the waves in the middle of the Ocean with lots of people paddling around not my thing. Don't sound so surprised! I was in and out of the water so fast I barely even got wet.
Then back on the boat and to the most beautiful little Island Cayo Blanco, for lobster or chicken lunch and it was actually good. Whoda thunk? We spent some time swimming in the crystal blue water then back to the boat to head on home.
This was well worth the whole trip in itself.
Logan loving life
Sailing fun
This photos doesn't do it justice, it was beautiful
On our way home
Sorry no dolphins as we got it all on video and I just don't think our 10 min video would load, but you can always come see it
DAY 4 - Kevin and I needed to see some Cuban life so off to Varadaro we went, what a mistake. It was so hot, there was pretty much nothing exciting to see or do other than 1950's car everywhere. It was stinky, but we did it and saw it. Then back to the hotel to salvage the rest of the day Ocean side.
Day 5 - Boys golf, ladies and Logan Ocean side and a little more pool. The boys had a really great time although the heat had Kevin wiped out and not feeling so hot that night.
What a backdrop of a golf course
Like two kids in a candy shop hailing this Taxi to get back to the hotel
Day 6 - Off to Havana...or NOT. So we were heading to Havana today, but our hired driver didn't initially show on time. Then when he did turns out he brought a small car for the 5 of us. So we found a new driver with an english speaking tour guide for Day 7. Sooooo what did we do, you guessed it, off to the beach and then some pool time. It was tough really :)
Day 7 - HAVANA!!! This is what I came for! Our tour guide was incredible, he was very good at his english and extremely knowledgeable. Here are some facts we found so amazing:
-Havana has a population of over 3 million - WHAT
-Beef is imported from Canada and distributed to the sick, elderly and pregnant by the government, otherwise it's pork and fish only
-Cubans are hopeful that Barack Obama will fulfill his word in closing guantanamo bay
-Obama allows Cuban's in the US now to visit home to see family frequently, previously they could go home once every 3 years
-Cuban men MUST do 2 years of military training after finishing grade school before they can continue schooling or work
-School, health care and funerals are all free and fully paid for by the government
-the highest bridge in Cuba was built by Americans - you can see a lot from it, what a view
-and the interesting information goes on and on and we throughly enjoyed it
We found the children that surrounded us when we got out of the van very overwhelming, the number of people everywhere incredible and the Old part of Havana absolutely beautiful.
a man dressed up this dog and trained him to sleep on Logan's arm for tips
Day 7 - You guessed it, more beach and pool time and lots of sleep.
Day 8 - Beach and pool, this was our last day and the one I got burned so badly.
Day 9 - UGH off the airport at 4:00 am, yes AM, again!
Logan learned Chess
This kitty loved Logan and Logan loved it
A rum factory in Havana - so cool
Yummy cappuccino
Boredom in the airport...AND you wonder where Logan gets it?
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