Havana to Varadero

I was hoping to wake up to glorious blue sky's for our last half day in Havana but the weather fairies had other plans. Opening the curtains to rain and humid heat I decided to go back to bed for another hour. We checked out of the hotel after breakfast and left our bags behind reception so we could maximise the time before having to get on the coach to our resort. We wondered around the street markets and shops for a few hours. We visited the section of town near the cathedral but this time viewed the outdoor book market and went on the edge of the grounds to the Museo de la Ciudad,  first planking opportunity was done by Claire on a canon.

We then returned to our hotel to buy some cigars. We made our purchase but still I'd been wanting to find the cigar factory in old Havana since we arrived, by chance in the cigar shop in our hotel the woman serving us suggested I try there for a cigar cutter as the ones she had were bundled with a faulty lighter. Still not knowing where the factory was (closed for refurbishment but shop is still open) we decided to get on a two seater pedal taxi and let the riders legs find it and do the work. We entered the unique fronted building and it was like stepping back in time, the shop was full of £300+ boxes of cigars and had a little cigar making bench in the middle of the floor where a woman who was presumably expected to roll some cigars was just moving stuff around. More cigars purchased and a cutter so a pretty successful trip finally. Strolling back through the shops to the hotel for a 1:30 pickup we purchased more souvenirs including a cigar box, wooden car, pen and maracas. 

Yet another wet coach journey in Cuba saw us arrive to a very different part and feel of the country. On the way we stopped at a roadside bar for a drink and a toilet break, there was yet more live music to entertain us (see extra ---->)

Varadero is a peninsula on the north coast which is really is solely for foreign tourists. The golden sands and blue seas are ideal for a resort but this day was grim and raining so really didn't see the potential on offer. Arriving at the Iberostar Varadero we knew we'd made another good choice compared to the other drop offs on the way.
Just a ten minute stay in the room before heading to get a snack for lunch and having a little look around the resort. The beach is only 25 meters from the hotel so I had a little meander to the sea right away even though it was dull.

Mr Bo Hingles