Hola Cuba!

Myself and my girlfriend J decided to take a trip. We never spent time away together but knew, or we hoped, that we would be able to withstand each other for seven days. We talked about different places, however ended up selecting Cuba as our fun in the sun destination. I thought I’d share our adventure if you’re slightly interested, if not, well, so be it.

We had an early flight, leaving at 6:00 am, with a checkin time of 3:00 am. As you can imagine we both didn’t get much sleep the night before. We met at the airport, boarded, and departed as scheduled.

Our destination Cayo Paredon is about 30 km away from Cayo Coco. Cayo Coco is a tropical island in the Jardines del Rey chain, off central Cuba. Known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Natural features include lagoons and marshes that are home to birds such as the white ibis as well as a native colony of pink flamingos that's ranked among the largest in the Americas. More about the natural features later as we had the privilege to experience them.

After three hours flying in cramped, too many people quarters we arrived at Jardines del Rey airport. We retrieved our luggage, boarded a bus to our hotel which was only a 20 minute ride, thank God! We checked in, and were told we would receive our room key at 4:00 when our rooms were ready, so we had a long time to wait as it was just after 10:00am.

We were very tired and hungry at this point, we went in search of something to eat. All the dining areas were closed, we just missed the buffet which closed at 10:00, only opening again at 12:30, this being true for all the other restaurants as well. So we decided to walk the beach. It was very windy and a little cool. We didn’t mind as we were just so excited to be there. The wind churned up the sand which stung like tiny needles hitting our tender skin, along with further exhausting us as we pushed ourselves forward against the wind.

Eventually we left the beach and ended up finding something to eat. Sandwiches with some type of mystery meat and cheese. We noticed and thought strange that there wasn’t any local fresh fruit like bananas and pineapple. There were some pineapple slices but clearly not local. As the taste of the sandwich was not familiar, we shoved pineapple slices in between the bread which satisfied us since we hadn’t eaten in a very long time. 

Just to add to this about the food. We were told by the local Cubans that they don’t get to eat beef, it’s only for the tourists. We were also told cows and pigs freely wander the land, we didn’t see any, and wondered if the free roaming cows are fed to the tourists. Another Cuban told us he couldn’t remember the last time he had an egg, they are only for the tourists. They told us that the bananas and pineapple crops have been significantly affected by climate change. Even though tourism is a major contributor to their livelihood, we felt embarrassed that we became the haves and they the have nots.

Having not slept since before 2:00 am we decided to enquire if we could check in early which at this point was around 3:00pm.  In advance of this we located our rooms so that we could find them easier when we received our room key. So, we approached the reception desk, J taking the lead, me, off to the side providing all the support I could muster. “Hello, is there any way we can get our key earlier as we are so very tired and we’ve been in the wind?” says J with a pouty face, and me pouting and nodding in agreement. As if being in the wind would warrant an early checkin! Anyways, I suppose J wasn’t convincing enough as we were told no. Feeling dejected and wind trodden we shuffled on over to the lobby couch. As we sat complaining, lo and behold reception approached us and said our rooms were ready and handed us each our room key. Alleluia! J’s sob story must of worked after all.

With quickened pace we headed to our rooms. We reached my room first, I tried my key, it didn’t work! J walked a few doors down to her room, tried her key, it didn’t work! What the heck! Fortunately, there was a hotel employee cleaning rooms nearby so J asked her for assistance. She looked at our room numbers, we were on the wrong floor! Great start on our first day.

Most of our time was spent either at the beach or poolside.  J, loves exploring wherever she roams. She has a kinship with nature whether in a native garden patch, or in the ocean sifting sand through her hands looking for shells. At one point she lost her earring while at the beach, they were earrings made by a friend, pileated woodpeckers. We thought it long gone, then later that day while poolside, she decided to to go for a swim. She felt something itching her rear end and surprise surprise, she pulled a pileated woodpecker out of her rear. Long story short she was carrying that thing in her bathing suit bottom for a long period of time not knowing it was there.

One highlight in regards to food, were the Churros, I believe we tried to get a churro every day, we faced the lineups as this was one of the only foods that tasted good. Deep fried, rolled in cinnamon and sugar, then injected with either strawberry jam or caramel. No wonder they tasted like heaven!

Lastly, we experienced two little excursions. One the Faro Paredon, a lighthouse built in 1859, and is still in working order. Feeling compelled to do a little further research myself on this lighthouse, I discovered it guards the entrance to the Old Bahama Channel, a deep narrow water passage. As told by a local Cuban, this light house was built by Chinese slaves. Once again I discovered they were Chinese indentured labourers or Coolies, having to work for 8 years to repay their indenture.

The other, my favourite, was a birdwatching excursion. We were picked up in a 1955 Chevy by Paulino Lopez Delgado an expert bird guide. We were excited to be among the natural landscape in the Caribbean looking for birds native to Cuba. He asked us if there was any particular bird we wanted to see, we said flamingos, he just chuckled as if to say don’t count on it.

We got in the back seat of his beautiful car, he handed us a list of the birds that we could check of any birds we may see and a set of binoculars each. Off we went, regularly pulling over to the side of the road where the mangroves grew. One particular was the Crested Caracara falcon perched high among the mangroves. (The pictures you see here are stock photos as we witnessed these beautiful birds through a telescope except for an amazing flock, which we were able to take pics ourselves.)

After the mangroves, he took us into the forest. Here we saw several other birds like the West Indian Woodpecker, Cuban Green Woodpecker and another of my favourite was the Cuban Tody.

We hopped in the car once again and he took us to a place on the side of the road with ocean on both sides. Paulino set up his telescope and across the water we saw thousands of flamingos standing in shallow water. He told us that an airplane passes over this area around 9:30 and the flamingos leave. So we stood anticipating seeing them in flight. Suddenly while J was looking through the telescope, she saw the flamingos taking flight and they began to fly toward us. Spectacular, beautiful, most amazing sight ever! Shortly after this, an airplane flew over, the flamingos knew before us.

After four hours of birdwatching, Paulino took us to this little hut along side the ocean for the best pina colada’s ever. Indeed, it was!

 

All good things come to and end. It was a great get away with my friend and I would certainly do it again! Where to next my dear friend?