Special Birthday in Cayo Largo
Being able to swim in the Caribbean Sea was a dream that caressed by time, a great curiosity: not only achieve success and celebrating the 50th birthday of Playa Sirena, one of the ten most beautiful beaches in the world, but in Cuba I spent the whole week Easter, March 22-30 in 2008, with my family. A wonderful gift! With her husband and daughters (18 and 24 years) we started from Malpensa T2 to 11.45 hours of 22/03/2008.
The trip was booked through Clictravel agency on-line that has proved cheap and above all with a good variety of offerings, comprehensive information in relation to requests by phone and very efficient in the process of reservation, then valid in all respects.
We flew with Blue Panorama, the treatment of good, available and attentive staff, fairly comfortable seats, legroom, etc. ...
We spent eleven hours of flying, eating, drinking, reading, chatting, watching movies and trying to crush a nap.
Upon arrival, a great emotion: we are on the other side of the world!
At Cayo Largo is the time, a few days, so watch out for five hours compared to the usual six ... are approximately 17.30 and in Italy, 22.30.
After the processing of formalities, a few minutes a bus (with driver who had been responsible for music) leads us to the village of Eden Isla Sur; the reception is just not very attentive to all signals made by: we assign two rooms on the floor ground rather than on the first floor as we requested. Please note it immediately so as to avoid moving in the following days (our girls speak Spanish correctly), but everyone, including the director of the village, return the solution to the problem.
Anger for not being quite popular last few days ...
There system in the rooms on the ground floor, we look around the place is beautiful, but is resigned tone, everything is a little 'dated ... except sea and beautiful beach! The natural environment is priceless feature of this place!
Instead call the organization of village Eden "without infamy and without praise" (sometimes slow, sometimes not very punctual, not always clear communication).
We know our waiter Benigno, who will make us the company every day with his care, his smile and pleasant chat, that nice person!
The restaurant, like food, is small. No shortage of quantity, but the dishes are slightly different and sometimes the quality is not good enough: perhaps the reason is that the embargo makes it impossible to get the raw materials on which we are familiar (eg brioches, very beautiful to see, were Cooked with fat that it had destroyed the taste)
Contrary to what we used to do abroad, where you can enjoy very happy the local specialties, we have often eaten the pasta, but cooked well.
The time we Prosecutor crisis of sleep / fatigue.
23, the day of my 50th (sigh!) Birthday, we all wake up at dawn ... but in the Caribbean!
Weather beautiful, 28 degrees, sunny, warm ... take the train to Playa Sirena and spend hours there, which will remain unforgettable. Beautiful swimming in turquoise sea in the company of starfish that there are bigger ... The beach is white, immense, dazzling light. The sun beats and the parts of skin not covered by the solar protection 50 (!!!) obviously hot.
Back to the village with the train (free of charge, at fixed times) and Easter lunch to 14 hours. Unforgettable day and closed with mojito piña colada! Sin have deferred to another day changing rooms.
Monday, March 24 piove and advantage to make the trip to the Navy of Cayo Largo, visit the Museum and the herd of turtles, then to shop for cigars, rum and souvenirs, and in search of crocodiles.
Like every day with the fresh coconut, a true delicacy: a spectacle to see how it is cleaned and cut the time in the small kiosk in the village.
At night we are very tired because it does allow you to change the rooms: this time the plan are high e. .. facing the sea!
Tuesday, 25 / 3 day in the sun and swimming in the clear waters of Playa Sirena and in no less beautiful but a little 'more moves in the village and the beach of the village is equipped with umbrellas and sunbeds and it is very nice and useful.
Wednesday, 26 breakfast at 7 because it is expected the visit to Havana. Unfortunately at 10, at the airport, we are told that there is a problem and the trip was postponed. Let us return to the village and a little disappointed 'angry. We decide to go to Playa Sirena and spend there the rest of the day, but the train is broken! The shelter and finally do the bathroom in fantastic blue waters of this enchanting place.
We decide to eat shrimp and lobster at the restaurant of the playa (20 cuc to head the kitchen is the currency that they will need to tourists and worth € 0.80), then the sun sun sun and sea until late evening. Return taxi booked by the manager of the restaurant (2 kitchen each). The evening dinner Cuban.
Thursday, March 27 breakfast at 6.30, finally leaves for Havana! (120 cuc per person. We have paid with their credit card balance, and we saved a lot, given the euro-dollar exchange rate very favorable for us at that time. In the same way we did the other costs have proved to be always convenient).
Half hour flight with a small but comfortable air company Aerogaviota, during which we offer drinks and candy, then tours for this special and beautiful but decadent city. Every now and then descend to visit certain areas of the city described by the guide: the emotion is great every time, but it is the Plaza de la Revolución with the famous image of Che and the words "Hasta la victoria siempre" that camping on the facade of the palace Ministry of Interior that we provide a kind of euphoria and a photo shoot not stop.
We stop to admire the beautiful buildings in the area where the Capitol stands the Teatro Nacional sure: we are enchanted.
Go up to Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña with breathtaking views over the capital. Drink mojito at Bodeguita del Medio and lunch near the Cathedral, then a few hours free around the marketplace and the surrounding area, then walk along the Malecon, the famous promenade dell'Havana. Atmosphere that ... walking through the streets of the city unexpectedly discover some hotels: the old colonial houses externally damaged by time, but refurbished, comfortable and inviting inside, with the characteristic curato patio and sometimes used as a dining room or elegant reception.
In the streets many of the 50 cars, of various patterns and colors, the details are coco-taxi yellow, exclusive Cuban tricycles. People are always smiling and courteous, mirth, music and the rhythm are the boss and compensate the disturbance that takes tourists when they ask kids and old clothes, hats or personal items.
Return to Cayo Largo with the internal flight of 18.30 definitely happy and satisfied, but with the knowledge that he saw little of their own city.
Of course we want to come back in another sull'Isla Great opportunity to know more and better.
Friday March 28 we decide to go to Playa Paraiso by taxi: the beach is less extensive Playa Sirena but the sea, if possible, we feel even better, we walk up to meet the pools