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Trip to Varadero, Cuba
By dbott | December 15, 2008
My wife and I had a wonderful time, but we had the flight from hell on the way back; our flight was delayed for over 2 hours (while we sat on the plane) while the following misadventures took place:
- 10:30 pm flight is delayed as 2 passengers have failed to board.
- Passenger #1 tries to smuggle large sea shell back to Canada (a no-no). Detained by Cuban immigration and interrogated. Eventually located and released after about an hour. Apparently, they really made him sweat because we had the “pleasure” of sitting next to him while we waited on the runway. New meaning found for definition of B.O.
- Passenger #2 is a drunk lady who does not have the $25 CUC pesos airport tax (about $30 US). No money, no leave Cuba. Problem is that her bags were already checked in and loaded on the plane (and regulations do not permit bags to travel without the associated passenger). We wait while Cuban baggage handlers remove luggage and try to locate her bags. Although the Cuban people are extremely friendly and well-educated, they only have 1 speed when working.
- While waiting for baggage of passenger #2 to be located and removed, 2 less-than-brilliant members of society decide that they should open and start consuming some of their duty-free rum on the plane. Another no-no. Airport security removes passengers from plane and we wait again for their bags to be located and removed.
- Problem with passenger manifest is discovered. Apparently, a mistake at the ticket desk has resulted in a duplicate boarding pass being given to the wrong passenger. Another major security violation. Airport security is now checking passports and boarding passes as they try to match up the correct luggage with each person.
- 12:41 am: Clearance granted for take-off. We notice a couple of single seats ahead of us and make a dash for some fresh air. Our nasal passages enjoy the rest of our flight.
- 30 minutes into flight: passenger across from me asks Russian gentlemen in front of him to please return seat to upright position so that he can lower his table. Russian tells passenger that he trying to sleep and to “get lost” resulting in exchange of words and flight attendants trying to make both parties happy. Neither passenger is willing to compromise (change seats, sit upright, etc.), so both continue bickering for a while.
- In flight meal is served. Oops… air turbulence. Please return to seats and fasten seat belts. Hot beverage service (coffee, tea) is suspended.
- Plane arrives in Toronto at 3:30 am and quickly clear customs and wait for baggage. Not too bad, just after 4:00 am and we make the call to Park’n'Fly for pickup. Cell service is terrible — can’t hear the message as to where to wait for pickup. Find pay phone and get to the correct spot.
- Picked up by shuttle and dropped off at car. It’s cold (just below freezing), the car has an inch or two of snow on it, the parking lot is covered in ice and… the car battery is dead. Call auto service and service guy is there in 15 or 20 minutes, jumps the battery and we’re off! It’s just after 5:00 am and have about an hour and a half drive to get home.
- 6:30 am: Home at last!
Walk in the door and our youngest daughter (4) wakes up and greets us (very nice to see her, but she’s excited and wants to talk and play, and daddy just wants to get some sleep. - 7:00 am: go down to basement to pull-out sofa-bed (in-laws are sleeping in our bedroom). Hmmm… what’s this? All sorts of stuff from laundry room has been moved to the family room [Dave checks out laundry room]. Looks like there’s been a flood. Wonderful. Still… I’m going to bed.
- 8:00 am: Kids come down stairs and give dad a hug. Dad mumbles something about being tired and goes back to sleep. Feels guilty for not hugging Prosey.
- 11:45 am: Phone rings. Zzzzz… *. Great.
Anyhow, we made it back. We had a great time (minus the return flight home), the weather was great (around 26 C / 80 F everyday, plus a couple of rain storms) and did lots of sight-seeing (took a tour of Havana, took a jeep excursion that included traveling down muddy country roads, snorkeling in a coral reef, swimming in an underground cavern, horse back riding, visiting a Cuban farm and finished off the excursion with a boat ride down one the the rivers in Matanza). One of the best tours we’ve taken! We also rented motor scooters and drove around the peninsula for a few hours.
Pictures to follow soon…
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