Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

Sunday
540am why am I up?

Breakfast at 7am
I am sola
Our chef tells me I am not sola...indeed

703 am
Jesus gives me a tour of the roof..
Magnificent and dangerous cause it's under construction
But if you know anything about me at all, I choose adventures and exploration

My crew slowly pads put of their rooms

Anne and Louise

Eric and Darcy

Adrianna, our leader

Breakfast..conversation
Familia

818am

Jany comes by to collect Anne and Louise to take them to the Airport

She was our interpreter and all around historian
Any question we asked she knew the answer....brilliant

Jang-ho, this is one of your donated tennis bags.
She was so very thankful and loved the color

Of all the items donated, I only knew what Jany and Mandy got
So I am pleased to share

924 am

I have been yakking about visiting a local supermarket with the sounds of "why" coming back.
Today, I dragged 3 people with me
We walked there from home
And I found some good things on the way

That supermarket was ........ .....................no words yet

We were also close enough to the Elian Gonzales, 138 flag pole work of Art that the Cuban Govt put up to block out the American Embassy and American "propaganda"

Of course I had to get into the maze of it...Darcy and Eric followed, and soon the Police spotted us and shouted for us to leave...we did and I was a little nervous that maybe our phones would be confiscsted

Because I am always filming or shooting "something"

Back home around 1045am
More strategic packing as to not break any of those lovely bottles of rum and degistiv I purchased yesterday

1137 am
OMG
Eric and Darcy just said yes to following me on a letterboxing adventure
Ask me about it upon my return
The adventure begins at the Capitol

We took a taxi and found the first clue.

The prize was not there though
Denied!
Then walked about viewing the art and artists on the Prado

We as Americans are not allowed to stay at this hotel

1215pm
Lunch at The Hotel Inglaterra

The music is Gooood

Coffee strong

BIG sandwich filled with protein is delicious

My lunch mates, Darcy and Eric make hanging out FUN

138pm
We are back home at the Art Deco, a lovely, highly recommended home away from home and I am sad to do that one more "look" to make sure I am not leaving anything

What a great trip.
Soup to nuts.
Jam packed.
We did everything and saw everything
Experienced SO much

I am definitely doing it again.
Next time I am taking juniors to compete with and against our Cuban friends

2pm taxi to the Airport

530pm flight to Ft Lauderdale
We arrive home after midnight weather permitting

PS. I did not steal the Art deco dematasse cup and saucer

Hello JetBlue
JB 1900

325pm

We were pulled out of one line and scurried to the "Diplomatic" line and in no uncertain terms, we were told to "Get out you are NOT a diplomat"....lol

333pm
Now we are in the parents with babies line
LOTS OF TIME TO WRITE

The butting in line here is comical.
No one says anything

430pm
We are finally through customs and I am craving popcorn.. .denied
I have wasabi almonds

5pm
Boarding
So long Cuba
I will return

630pm
Just landed in Ft Lauderdale
Missing the Cuban air and everyone I met over the last 4 days

Sigh!

Sabado en la Habana

620am Saturday

Alarm..uggh

Had a nice talk with Adrianna the leader of this tour about bringing kids here to Cuba for a tennis exchange

I am SO in
Stay tuned for information on that

Breakfast was once again delicious
Fresh papaya juice
Fresh pineapple
Coffee, SO good
Fresh bread
Real butter

830am pick up to TOUR
No tennis for the HIT crew today
We are wiped out and injured
So, massive touring today

912 am

Cigar factory
Another form of slavery?

Room without cameras
Like an escape room
That is all I can say

1038am

This little "store" sells good
Cuban items at dirt cheap prices
The coffee was so good
And the 1 sip of a digestive left me wanting more

Jamal one of your shirts went to Mandy, our guide

1116am
A real market where citizens get free goods to cook
All from farms

1122am
This is the place to get "rations" like during the depression

Our cigars are AT the van for us
Now the distribution

1146 am

Central antiques market
I got everything on my list.
Scooooooooore

That one woman begging with a new baby and a small child?...I gave her all the change in my pocket..
She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth
I didnt say to her what I wanted to say
Took the hy road

130pm
Al Carbon for lunch
Delicious. And filled with Art on the walls

The Hemingway House next

330pm
This 10 acre property was bought with the money from "For whom the bell tolls" from Paramount

More than 20 novels from 1940 onward were written here

The buffalo is tied to his Kilimanjaro novel

On July 2, 1961 he committed suicide
He was 61...almost 62
His Brother, sister, father, grand father, son...all committed suicide

Ava gardner swam naked in this pool...
She was one of many h\Hollywood royalty who visited and hung out here

Hem was watching her swim from the tower

Wife was not happy about that
and stole her clothes so she had to walk to the house naked
which was good for Hem...NOT a good tactic by wifey

His boat cost 7k to build
And he cruised from the Keys to Havana often

It is "docked" on what was once his tennis court which was destroyed in a hurricane

456 PM
San Carlos de la Cabana Fort
Too high up so the moat was never filled with water

And we met Jose Castelar Cueto who rolled the longest cigar
He holds the Guinness Book of World Record for this feat

715 PM
Picked up for dinner at
Paladar La Cucina de Lilliam
Absolutely delicious food
It just kept coming out of the kitchen

I am stuffed!
A tick

11pm
Cuban Art Factory
The line is 300 feet long, 4 across
I am saying NO

We go to another hang out
but the best Salsa band won't go on till 1230am
I say NO
We all say NO
And we head back home,
We say our goodbyes to the crew we wont see tomorrow and start packing

Many leave us early.
I am on a 530pm plane tomorrow
Gonna hit a local supermarket and walk to the water

But first...get my water bottle ready to fit 10 cigars
Yep, an upcycle water bottle is my cigar carrier