A trip that made me feel blessed one more time for being born in a democratic country. 🙏🏻
DAY 1 - VARADERO
Arrived early in the morning at Havana airport and already felt the humidity and warm climate! 😅
The bus was outside waiting for us to get on board and go to our first destination in Varadero!
Buying internet: When it comes to internet, there is a desk inside the airport that you can buy 6GB for 32 euro but it will not last more than 6-7 days! Furthermore, wifi at the hotels, works with hotspot, which means that you will face difficulties with the connection! The first day was a bit of nightmare for me as i was used to perfect internet connection, but then i realized that this was a good opportunity to actually relax and enjoy the place i was visiting! I recommend you do the same and you won't regret it!
We had a small stop on our way to see the view of a beautiful spot and of course try our first Piña colada!
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| cheers! 🍍🍍🍍 |
After 3 hours more or less, we finally arrived in our hotel in Varadero! We had a welcome drink which was made from the bartender and i am not sure what it was but i tried it!
Once we settled, i wore my bathing suite and went straight to the beach area to relax a bit form the long trip! The sea was not as i was expecting it as i am Greek you know and i find it difficult to see something more beautiful than the mesmerizing colors of the Ionian sea!
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| My balcony view! 😊 |
I then return to my room, had a bath and got ready for dinner time. The hotel was an all included type, so we had a bouffe which was awful. I am not overreacting! I saw Canadians to enjoy a little the bouffe but for us, Mediterranean people the food was not even eatable! The only thing that you could eat safely was the rice!
DAY 2 - A DAILY CRUISE IN CAYO BLANCO
We woke up early in the morning and hoped to find a better breakfast so as to not stay hungry and thank God was a bit better!
After breakfast we left for the marina area to start our daily cruise with a catamaran in the Gulf of Mexico! Before arriving to Cayo Blanco island, we had a stop to play with the dolphins!
That moment was form the best moments of my trip!!! I love these creatures so much! I had the chance touch them and i also had a kiss!!! I one of the best kisses in my life!!! 😍
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| what a kiss! 😘 |
After playing with the dolphins, we continued our cruise and arrived to Cayo Blanco where we had lunch and relaxed on the beach under palm trees and white sand!
After a long day, we went back to our hotel and relaxed a little bit. It was our last day there, so we got dressed and went on the beach where there was a beach party! We danced and drank cuba libre of course!
DAY 3 - CIENFUEGOS
Leaving Varadero behind wasn't so painful as it wasn't something special. 🙈
Our first stop on day 3, was in one of the biggest Nacional Parks where we saw crocodiles! I had a picture with a small one! 😋
Second stop, was in the Bay of Pigs where there is also a historical place and we continued drinking Rum in different cocktails as we enjoyed the crystal waters of the area!
Finally we arrived in Cienfuegos, a place with beautiful streets, beautiful people and a colorful area!
Cienfuegos is a city on Bahía de Cienfuegos, a bay on Cuba’s south coast. It's known for its colonial-era buildings. On the central square, called Parque José Martí, Tomás Terry Theater has gold-leaf mosaics and ceiling frescoes. The Provincial Museum explores the city’s colonial history. The Arco de Triunfo commemorates Cuban independence. Ferries cross the bay to Castillo de Jagua, an 18th-century fortress.
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| Palacio de Valle. |
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| Beautiful sunset! |
The Hotel "Melia San Carlos" was nice there but the food remained not that good! The rooftop though, was pretty amazing! I had a walk on the first evening near the marina where i was witness of a dreaming sunset!
DAY 4 - TRINIDAD
Breakfast was descent today! Afterwards, started our day by visiting a dolphinarium where i had the chance onca again to get in touch with a dolphin!
Early in the evening we arrived in Trinidad!
Trinidad is a town in central Cuba, known for its colonial old town and cobblestone streets. Its neo-baroque main square, Plaza Mayor, is surrounded by grand colonial buildings. Museo Romántico, in the restored Palacio Brunet mansion, and Museo de Arquitectura Colonial display relics from the town’s sugar-producing era. Iglesia de la Santísima is a 19th-century cathedral with a vaulted ceiling and carved altars.
We visited a small store with ceramics and then a few of the museums like the Museum of Architecture which was in a Palace, the museum of History where i also went upstairs to see the view!
I walked in the alleys and then we had lunch on a buffet once again. The food remained not interested!
Late in the afternoon we went back to Cienfuegos. We had a bath and started searching near the area a nice yard to listen to live salsa music and drink Rum of course! And after a long walk, we found exactly what we were looking for! Last night in Cienfuegos was enjoyable!
DAY 5 - LAKE HANABANILLA & SANTA CLARA
Day 5 and we were already getting to know each other and having a really good time!
We left Cienfuegos and started our trip to the last destination, Havana!!!
Bur before arriving there, we had a few stops!
First stop was in the Lake Hanabanilla! What a beautiful place! We took a boat and had a ride where we enjoyed the nature around us! Tropical forests and tropical birds! We had a stop to some hidden waterfalls where we had the chance to freshen ourselves from the really hot whether!
After having lunch in a hotel near the lake, we continued to our next stop in Santa Clara where we visited the Mausoleum of Che Guevara of course.
The energy around there was a bit tense. You could feel people around you silently respect the people who died trying to free Cuba from the dictator Batista.
Last stop Havana!!!! Our hotel was Hotel Nacional de Cuba.
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a historic Spanish eclectic style hotel in Havana, opened in 1930. Located on the sea front of Vedado district, it stands on Taganana Hill, offering commanding views of the sea and the city. It is considered a symbol of history, culture, and Cuban identity. The guns that made up the old Santa Clara Battery are on exhibition at the garden, they were declared part of the World Heritage Site. Hotel Nacional de Cuba was declared a National Monument and it was inscribed in the World Memory Register.
It is a building that you must visit if you arrive in Havana but not for a stay as the rooms have not been renovated since 1940 or so! The gardens are beautiful and the restaurant is descent if you want to try!
We walked to the Old Havana and found a nice place to eat dinner called "Chacon 162" . I totally recommend it! It combines tasteful dishes and good prices at the same time!
DAY 6 - HAVANA!!
This day was dedicated to the City! We had a day-tour around!
We have visited the most famous starting from the Plaza de Revolución!
Next stop was Parque central where was the Capitolio and the Opera House.
We continued with the Museum of Rum where we tried a few type of Rums and of course i got drank! 😎
After a lot of Rum, we headed to the 4 most famous squares in the Old Havana.
1. Plaza de la Catedral
2. Plaza de Armas
3. Plaza San Francisco
4. Plaza Vieja
The day could not finish without the famous ride with the colorful old cars!
DAY 7 - Viñales Valley
Viñales Valley: The striking karst landscape of the Viñales Valley is notable for its mogotes, a series of tall, rounded hills that rise abruptly from the flat plain of the valley. It is also significant for its cultural associations, particularly its traditional agricultural practices related to growing tobacco.
On that day, we visited a small local "company" of tobacco in order to learn the procedure of making cigars! It was must!
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| tobacco leaves |
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| trying Cuban tobacco! |
We made a stop in a beautiful area in the Pinar del Río Province where beside of the lunch, we also visited some local caves.
DAY 8 - FREE DAY IN HAVANA
At this point, i would like to mention that i was privileged by knowing a local friend who took me and a few friends in a second more local tour!
We went through small alleys in Old Havana and of course we visited the two places that Ernest Hemingway used to hang out!
1. La Bodeguita del Medio where the famous Mojito was born!
2. Floridita where the famous Daquiri was born!
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| Having a drink with my friend Ernest Hemingway! |
At night i had plans with a few friends of the group and we had dinner in a very nice place called "El Cocinero". I totally recommend it! Try the lobster! 🦞
Downstairs of the restaurant there is a place called F.A.C. (Fabrica Arte Cubano). I have heard so much about that place so i had to visit it. It combines art and different stages of music. A perfect place for night life for all tastes!
DAY 9 - LAST FREE DAY IN HAVANA
I dedicated my last day by relaxing at the pool of my hotel for almost all morning! In the evening i had a small walk around the area and for a finale we booked tickets to watch the show of "Cabaret De Parisian"! I was expecting something a little better but it was ok! I guess i had big expectations!
At this point i would like to give some information about Cuba for your info.
- Cuba is one of a few extant Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist states, in which the role of the vanguard Communist Party is enshrined in the Constitution. Cuba has an authoritarian regime where political opposition is not permitted. Censorship of information is extensive and independent journalism is repressed in Cuba; Reporters Without Borders has characterized Cuba as one of the worst countries in the world for press freedom.
- It has currently one of the world's few planned economies, and its economy is dominated by the tourism industry and the exports of skilled labor, sugar, tobacco, and coffee. Cuba has historically—both before and especially during communist rule—performed better than other countries in the region on several socioeconomic indicators, such as literacy, infant mortality and life expectancy. Cuba has a universal health care system which provides free medical treatment to all Cuban citizens.
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