Resort views – we stayed at the Royalton Hicacos in Varadero. It was a really nice resort, right on the beach and full of palm trees.
What it looked like when we arrivedWalk to the beachWalk back from the beachMore beachBeach lougingResort viewMore beachBeach walkingResort lounging
We took a boat ride to a tiny island with a different beach. It was mostly very hot and sunny, but our boat took a wee detour to buy lobster off a fishing boat for anyone who wanted fresh lobster for lunch. It was delicious.
Me on the boat, demonstrating the power of Korean sunscreenSam on the boatA catalan on the way to Cayos BlancosThe entrance to the beachThe view from our spot – we got one of the only areas with shadeCayos Blancos, the view as we left
We could have taken a bus tour of Havana, but instead we opted for a private tour in a vintage car for the same cost. It was absolutely sweltering and we left half our body weight in sweat on the sidewalks of Old Havana, but I took some nice architecture photos.
Our Havana tour carInterior of our Havana tour car – the driver said the chassis has over 500,000 kms on itBomber jet from the missile crisis eraHavana street viewsHavana street viewsHavana street viewsInside the cathedral – Columbus used to be buried under it, but he was movedThe interior of a villa in Old HavanaThe mother and baby home for high-risk pregnanciesA baroque-style hotel built in the 1920sRevolucion SquareChamber of Commerce buildingPlaza de la CatedralOne side of the Plaza de San Francisco de AsísOne of the forts guarding the Havana port
I was under strict instructions to take lots of photos of the cars of Cuba, so here’s my collection.
On what we thought was our last day (our flight was cancelled due to a blizzard at home, so we got a bonus day), we took the bus to Varadero’s flea markets to look for souvenirs. Varadero is mostly inhabited by the staff of all the resorts down the peninsula.
Horse-drawn wagonTower from the colonial period on the way to VaraderoTiny scooter that seats two in the backPretty building in VaraderoStreet cat; there were lots of them, but I only got one photoA house in Varadero
It was a really lovely vacation, but even though it’s sixty degrees colder here than it was there (woe), I’m glad to be home.
