Cuba March 5 Habana to Miami and home

Tuesday, March 5

Our comfortable room at Hotel San Felipe

An early morning wake-up call, a quick takeaway sandwich provided by the Hotel San Felipe, and we were on our bus to the Jose Marti Airport for our quick trip back to Miami. We were amused that at check-in on the way to Havana, we were asked our weight, and our luggage was weighed, but on the way back to Miami, no one worried about how much the plane weighed! 


Courtyard dining area of Hotel San Felipe



Cuban CUC or convertible currency

We exchanged our CUCs back to Canadian or American dollars or Euros with some difficulty at the Cambio in the airport, as they were running short of Canadian dollars.  We had to go through security and hoped the Cambio in the departure lounge had the cash we needed.  Luckily, they did!  Whew, didn't want to have to bring back Cuban currency to the US.  

Other than the ever-present long lines, both at departure and at arrival in Miami, the trip was uneventful. 

Several thoughts occurred to us as Abel our able driver drove us on our now familiar route out of Habana to the airport.  What was unusual to us on arrival in Cuba just a few days earlier we now accepted:

"Faith in our history" wall art in Habana

No billboards, but government propaganda wall stencils
Few commercial signs
No cars in small villages
Clean people with great teeth, and stylish Caribbean clothes
Music everywhere!
Art often
Spotless Old Havana, not so much in the rest of the country


Street food vendor in Habana 

Flotsam and jetsam on the shore of the Bay of Pigs
Old cars!  (Various colors of license plates mean government, private, etc.)
Wonderful variety of birds, plants and animals
Friendly people everywhere
Faded grand architecture and fabulous Art Deco in Havana



Faded grandeur in Habana, Cuba

We'd love to come back.  Recommended gifts if you come:  duct tape, Krazy glue and ziplock bags. Also, Thompson's Water Seal if you have room! 

We would like to thank Sarah Reichard, Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and Sandy Schmidt at Holbrook Travel for a great trip!  And of course Yuli, our guide, and Abel, our wonderful driver.  Link here to Sarah's blog about our trip for her great perspective, having now led two trips to Cuba. 

We would be remiss if we didn't give one final nod to our favorite cocktail, the mojito. 
Here's a recipe which we think is close to the refreshing drink we enjoyed during our trip:

1 large sprig fresh spearmint (about 10 leaves)
juice of 1/2 lime
2 Tablespoons white sugar or simple syrup
1 cup ice cubes, approximately
dash of Angostura Bitters


Cuban mojito in Habana

1 1/2 ounces white rum (Cuban is best, if you can get it, of course, but Bacardi, which originated in Cuba, would do)
1/2 cup club soda, approximately
lime wedge or slice for garnish

In a highball glass (8-12 ounces), place mint leaves, lime juice and sugar or simple syrup. Use a muddler to crush the mint  to release the mint oils.  Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with club soda or other carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Splash with a dash of Angostura bitters to make a mojito like the welcoming drink we had on our first day in Cuba at the hotel Palacio de Marques de San Felipe y Santiago in Habana.  Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.  Enjoy!