Report on the quick trip to Cuba / Whats on your ideal Cuba itenerary?

[Rushman]

Sorta two topics in one post, intertwined.

First, the word itinerary is used loosely - I for one think words like "schedule" or "itinerary" don't fit with my idea of a vacation in Cuba. Sure there are a few things I like to do each trip but the rest is best left up to a spur of the moment decision.

So, here is my small list of "must dos":

1. Without a doubt, enjoy coffee and a "bring your own" pastry and a cigar with the wife at Cafe del Oriente in Plaza San Francisco - this is a nightly occurrence for the duration of the trip. Not that I am a creature of habit, but this usually means sitting outside, getting there around 10ish, grabbing the corner table nearest the edge of their seating perimeter - and unless its an odd night, have Jose as our waiter. Honestly, it took three + trips to Cuba for me to not feel bad that my wife would stop at a bakery and pick something up (usually the bakery on the middle floor at Castropol) and "bring our own". I finally found out the hard way (as one night we came pretty late and came empty handed) and found out they had no pastries or desert of any kind on their menu. Its one of the best places to enjoy a breeze as the hot day turns to a warm night, and listen/look at the sounds and sights of old Havana. Of course its a great place to smoke as well.

2. Dinner at El Aljibe at least once a trip - nuf said. Despite how tough it is to get a taxi in Miramar much less on 5ta Ave, we generally follow up dinner by a walk down the middle of 5ta until I no longer feel like walking - usually by the time we get to 5ta y 16.

3. Dinner either up or downstairs at Castropol is preferred one night.

4. Dinner in the first floor Italian place at Prado 309 is also preferred- share a pizza and pasta with the wife for the best sub $15 meal. Followed by a walk along el prado.

5. Get up an hour or so before the wife does while the shade still hits the far side of Plaza Vieja and enjoy some coffee, fruit and a cigar at Cafe Vitrola.

Beyond that, we go where the wind blows us. We will hit up 2 or so LCDH to say hello and make some purchases and generally walk around and get sweaty and work up appetites in Habana Vieja, but thats it in a nutshell.

Now, on to this weekend - besides the high points you already know from the "must do" list. We found a very cool and comfortable casa in Plaza Vieja, essentially a garden on the roof top - loads of stairs though. We used to mainly stay in Miramar but now prefer the vibrancy of old havana.

I am generally a minimalist as far as taxis go - I don't pay extra to get a cool 50's car - in fact, until this trip the closest I came was a ride in the back of a willys jeep from Partagas Factory that I had to help push start. We happened upon a nice guy (Rogelio) that drives a pink 50's Chevy with a Pink Panther hanging from he windshield. We were headed to Club Habana. He asked how long we were going to stay as he knows Leo there and would grab a coffee and wait for us. Small world as my wife has known Leo for years from when she used to buy from him and Enrique Mons. We smoked a monsdale then the four of us had lunch then went back to smoke a corona gorda. What a nice day. We ran into him and he also drove us to El Aljibe the next night and the airport the last day.

Besides that, it was very hot. Visited Reynaldo late on Friday but he was busy unpacking inventory so the wife and I shared a robusto then headed out shortly after.

[CanuckSARTech]

Very cool, Rushman. Sounds like a nice quick jaunt. Very hot and humid there right now, yes? My wife and I were in Montego Bay, Jamaica when you were in Cuba, and I was seeing that the various weather points in the surrounding islands were definitely getting up there.

Any interesting pictures or other tidbits to share?