Blogs from Varadero , Matanzas, Cuba, Central America Caribbean

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Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero September 10th 2022

The other tour that Renata and I decided to go on was a Sugar, Rum and Tobacco Tour. Our first stop was a sugar cane museum. At the museum, we saw a collection of locomotives used in sugar production and learned how sugarcane is grown and processed. We even tried Guarapo, a sweet drink made from sugar cane We then enjoyed learning about and tasting the local rum while getting drunk in the process and we tried our first Cuban cigar (Definitely not for me). I can see why sugar, rum and tobacco play an important role in Cuban culture and enjoyed learning and trying their local products. So that marked the end of our Cuba trip. Definitely relaxing and a great getaway from everyday life. The cars, the people, the drinks; Cuba was a fun ... read more
Sugar Cane Museum
Cutting Sugar Cane
Outfit worn to cut sugarcane

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero September 6th 2022

Canadians love to go to Cuba for vacation. So, we decided it was time Renata and I finally visited Cuba. For the first time in Cuba, we stayed at an all-inclusive resort. We heard good things about the Melia Resort chain from our friend Andrea, who was travelling with us. We decided to spend a week at the all-inclusive resort Melia Los Americas in Varadero, Cuba The Resort The first couple of days were pool days, where we explored the resort, relaxed, and enjoyed Pina Coladas and other alcoholic drinks by the pool. The beach was stunning. The creepy critters were about and the local cats provided great entertainment. It provided a great mental escape from the everyday work life in Canada. The resort had a display of vintage motorcycles and cars one day and a ... read more
Beach Views
Resort Swing
Wall Art

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero February 1st 2022

So, we're on our way to Havana, and anticipation is rife, as the Cuban capital was riding on the back of a few expectations, the question which would arise being - will Havana fulfil those expected charms? Well, in reality, the answer might well depend on your set of standards or indeed what you are trying to achieve in the context of your stay there, but Havana is best described as a Caribbean capital city quite unlike no other, with enough in the way of attractive features to make the stay wholly worthwhile. Let's focus on what I deem the city's 3 great buildings of note - the Capitol, the National Theatre and the Bacardi building, and what you're looking at are a holy trinity of architectural gems which warrant the asking price alone, meaning that ... read more
Fusterlandia, Havana, Cuba
Classic car, Varadero, Cuba
Building facade, Matanzas, Cuba

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero February 17th 2018

We left Buenos Aires in the early hours of the morning and flew to Havana, via Lima, Peru. Arrival at the airport was organized chaos, as are many aspects of Cuban life; money and internet being two examples. As the world becomes a cashless society, Cuba is basically cash only and for tourists they even have their own currency, which is tied to the US dollar (even though US dollars themselves are not wecome and despised in Cuba). Sterling and Euros rule the roost here. Since the revolution the country has seen many changes. Now there is education and health care for all. However before the revolution there were trains and a decent bus service. No trains now and the buses are inconsistent and appear to run when someone feels like driving one. You see many ... read more
The ballet school, opposite hotel
The museum of the revolution
The Cretins

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero December 25th 2017

Headed through the tropical tourraine with our guide Jannout and his classic 1955 Chev Belair, we crossed the highest bridge in Cuba the Mantanzas the city of many bridges. Crossed over the Rio Caminar into Veradaro. Visited market place and the beach but being a socialist country all the outside Taxis are not allowed to stay long only workers within the city limits can take you around. Even the tyrones make history visiting Al Capones Casa was rather exciting to see how the bad boys could live in luxury..Passed through yet another fishing town Canaradu full of friendly happy people. Stopped at the reef p excellent for playa de corral for diving. Visited Rio Caminomor the local favorite for swimming in the summer. Returned back through Matanza passingthe Canadian oil refinery taking crude oil from Venezuala ... read more
Mantanza
Mantanza


Ola, We woke up early and jumped on the Viazul to Varadero, taking in the beautiful scenery of the Bahia de los Cochinos once again. Once in Varadero, we went to our Casa Particular, Beny's House, and checked-in. The place was nice, but it felt much less like a home than any other place we had stayed so far in Cuba. We then decided to go out and explore the town. There is very little to see in Varadero. The town is very ugly and seems to exist solely to sell generic souvenirs to unsuspecting tourists who escape their minimum security prisons... I mean all-inclusive resorts. However, we did find a good restaurant for lunch that served us an excellent meal, complete with the forbidden ingredient that is salt. Afterwards, we headed out to the incredible ... read more
Sunset in Varadero

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero April 26th 2013

After a full month in Cuba we were ready to head for home...but always in the back of our minds were the worrying memories of the very difficult outbound sail. We knew that the further we went into April the less likely we would have to deal with north winds... we would be heading due north. We left Marina Darsena at 8.30am on Saturday 13th and dropped anchor just south of Miami at 2.20pm the next day. The return trip was much, much better ... fair winds and gentle seas (well, mostly!)... but a long haul for us; 180 nautical miles, 30 hours; overnight. We dodged 5 cruise ships (actually they dodged us!) and several freighters. The Gulf Stream gave us a good boost when we found it off the Florida Keys...pushing us along at 8, ... read more
Che memorial
Cuban waratah?
At sea

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero April 21st 2013

We spent a month in Cuba; took several side trips and rented a car for 4 days to explore the region west of Havana. My impression is that Cuba is beginning a "quiet revolution;" farmers, fishermen and small time businessmen are getting some opportunities to experiment with free enterprise. The black market rules. Everything "falls off the back of a truck" if you know where to look. There are 2 currencies. The tourist CUC is worth roughly $1... the 4 of us wilted one afternoon and headed to the air conditioned state run marina restaurant....8 beers and 2 Cuba Libres later the bill came to 12 CUC. The Cubans use "nationals"....24 to the CUC...a dozen bananas in a farmers' market cost 5n or 20 cents. Beggars and touts are a nusiance at tourist sites (such as ... read more
Cienfuegos
handyman special
Trinidad

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Matanzas » Varadero April 20th 2013

After several frustrating seasons where weather, health or other circumstances prevented us from making a real ocean crossing to another country....this year we finally made the jump to Cuba, and back! There is no simple way to describe the experience. The outbound crossing was extremely challenging for us. Wind and wave conditions exceeded predictions considerably...despite checking 3 different sources for weather they all proved to be wrong. The 108 nautical mile crossing took us 24 hours, most of it hand steered as our auto pilot was overwhelmed by the size and strength of the waves (we found a clump of seaweed on top of our dodger when we were cleaning up the day after arrival.) But we made it and were glad to have achieved a "bucket list" goal. Our buddy boat, Lorbas, with Rick & ... read more
Miami
Marathon
final pit stop




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