A family trip to Varadero, Cuba

[sk00ts]

Here, good friends, is one families story of a trip to Varadero...

It had been about 6 months since our last trip to Cuba and we were excited to go. Living in Edmonton, Alberta, our only way to get there was via Toronto. About 6.5 hours later or so we landed in our home away from home on Wednesday at about 2:30pm

We were greeted and picked up by our great Cuban friends whom we consider family, and brought back to our Casa for the next week

The Casa was located on about 13st right off the main drag in Varadero. It had 4 bedrooms, and each bedroom had its own bathroom which was fantastic. The Casa itself cost about 630 CUC for the week and was actually covered by our fantastic friends. They would cook the meals, lots of lobster, and there was always a cold Cristal near by

[sk00ts]

Also near by was the beach

Located about a block away from our Casa. The water was alot warmer than it is during January (when we normally go) and alot of Cubans would go. I think we seen one other tourist couple there but for the most part it would be the locals, which was great. Everywhere you look there would be groups of maybe 10-20 people, talking, laughing and of course drinking. I have never seen so many people just walking into the ocean beer bottles and full bottles of rum before. This did leave a giant mess however. One morning we went out and the whole beach was covered in bottles.

On the friday, we hopped in Rigo's (our friend's father-in-law) car and went to Havana at about noon

Only our second time going to Havana. We got pulled over by the policia at the main gates in Havana and Rigo got a ticket for having too much exhaust coming from his car. Our first stop was the Partagas factory. I asked for Hamlet but he wasn't there. Also told he doesn't roll too much anymore but I figured she says that because of the traffic of people coming through there. We met a couple of guys from Arkansas who were taking pictures of my son at the bar that were getting a kick out of him. Bought a couple of singles and moved along. Drove about 25 minutes and came to the factory were they make Legendarrio. At the time they were bottling Cuban Vodka and we found out they also make a rum there that is specifically for Politicians and Delegates, I forget what it was called though.

We then went to the Melia Cohiba. A beautiful hotel and a fantastic LCDH. Nobody inside it at all except for us. They let us go into the Humidor and I purchased a couple of custom rolled and ordered a glass of the Havana Club Ritual

Next stop was just a walk around town. We left Sawyer with Rigo and walked for maybe an hour. The girls went to a perfume spot where they make custom perfume and then we went to a chocolate place which was delicious, probably the best chocolate I have ever had. We stopped at a local park area where the kids were playing soccer. There was a fight at one point because a tourist was handing out Candy to the kids. They streamed out of everywhere, maybe 20-30 kids and when the candy ran out there was fights. Almost seemed like a turf war. We then walked across the street and watched the boats and talked to some fishermen who were using crayfish as bait.

At about 7pm we went to the fort across the way. It was neat, at about 9pm they shoot the cannons off across the bay.

We left Havana at about 9:30pm and arrived in Varadero at about 11:00pm or so. We almost died on the way when 2 cows crossed the road and Rigo had to swerve to avoid them...good times

[sk00ts]

The next day we went to the amusement park located on the main highway leading to alot of the resorts in Varadero.

There is no greater fear than a Cuban roller Coaster with high winds! Other than that we went bowling and bumper cars. It was a good day

The rest of the time we filled with the beach, hanging out with our friends. I learned how to play dominos. We ended up going to all the cigar stores in Varadero. My favorite being the one at the Plaza Americas. The lady at the store on 63rd once again tried to rip me off, tried to charge me an extra $20 on my $60 order. I busted her though. And the LCDH right by the beach (dont know the address, maybe 40 st.) also tried to rip me off but we just walked out of there.

We spent our last night in Cardenas at our friends house, got woken up at 4am by roosters and hoped on a plane at about 2:30. Finally landing in Edmonton at midnight local time

A great trip and already planning our next one in January

[sk00ts]

Here is also a video I made from our trip 2 years ago

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Also, I came home with

4x box of ERDM Infantes

1x box of H Upmann Half Corona

1x box H Upmann Corona Junior (for my friend)

2x tin of the RyJ Julietta

about 10 custom rolls

1x box of H upmann Royal Robusto

couple of singles

3x bottles of Legendarrio

2x bottles of Havana Club Ritual

1x bottle of Santiago de Cuba Rum

[CUBANO]

Great Videos, makes me want to go back again. Gracias.

[CUBANO]

Also, I came home with

4x box of ERDM Infantes

1x box of H Upmann Half Corona

1x box H Upmann Corona Junior (for my friend)

2x tin of the RyJ Julietta

about 10 custom rolls

1x box of H upmann Royal Robusto

couple of singles

3x bottles of Legendarrio

2x bottles of Havana Club Ritual

1x bottle of Santiago de Cuba Rum

Good Haul

[oldirtyewok]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like you had a grand time

[Habano]

Very nice and thanks for sharing. Looks like you guys had a great time!

Curious, what were you using to shoot the videos? Quality is really good.

[sk00ts]

I use the GoPro 3 black edition. And funny or unfunny enough. Our other camera got stolen out of our suitcase being unloaded from the plane in cuba

[Hubba]

Great review of your trip man!! I can't believe you guys went on the Cuban coaster! Those ladies at 63 lcdh are brutal!! The older lady with glasses actually said to me that she'd rather elsewhere if i needed a receipt?!

[sk00ts]

Ya I couldn't believe it either. We were so close to death I think I high fived god going down one of the bumps.

And it was the same girl on 63rd. She is brutal. Whenever they bust out the calculator I get nervous

[Bartolomeo]

Very cool, thanks for sharing!

Bart