Havana, 2013

This morning began cold and early. We spent the night in a hotel near the Toronto airport ("we" being Richard and I, we having decided some months ago that a few weeks in Cuba would be salutary). It was minus 8 and freshly snowing when we got up, took an overcrowded shuttle to the airport, and stumbled off at Terminal Three.
True to expectations, the Terminal did not disappoint: we were at the door furthest from where we needed to be, and there was a middling line for the travel lady. But, in fact, it went pretty smoothly. Got through security with no problem (Richard was chosen for a random search, though), and settled in for some breakfast (over-priced and under-tasty) before arriving at our gate.

The flight down was uneventful, and he skies were clear below us for about half the journey, so we were happy. Arriving in Varadero was a shock to the ice in our veins. Temperature was about 28, and sweaty. We negotiated a fare to Havana, sat back and were driven to the Hotel Florida. They had actually put us into the one attached, the Margues de Prado. But the room is nice, so we will likely stay. Both these hotels are spectacular, so what the hell! A brief trip to the cadeca to get some money was an exercise in Cuban accommodation. When I could not get the card to spit out the amount in the pre-programmed menus ($150), the nice security guard told me to do a custom amount, like $140, and this would work. Of course it did, and I was happy.
Richard agreed to be led by me around a part of the old town, to the Plaza de Catedral, the Plaza de Armas, and the Plaza Vieja. We had a beer and some ice cream in the first plaza,

 where we saw and I recognized the same fortune-telling ladies that had been there two years ago. We then then walked a bit before settling into one of the paladars for supper (Pallidar Paillado). Had our first mojito as well, and its effects are putting me to sleep, even though it is not yet nine o'clock.
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Location:Cuba y Obispo, Habana