Havana Diary Day 6

[El Presidente]

Midday start yet again. Unfortunately this day found me with the flu and fading fast. I have been battling a niggling influenza since the first day in Nicaragua, but through healthy living, early nights and ant- biotics I have dodged the bullet until now.

Arti Yamamoto and myself jumped in Toby's car and headed toward El Moro. The plan was to see if the police were not in and around some scud missiles (the ones outside the Miitary Army base opposite castle)....jump on and take a photo. I took some cracker shots of Arti on the missile and he was thrilled until he put a hole in his jeans when getting off. "Cuban Missile Crisis " took on a whole new dimention.

Arti was feeling forlorn. It wasn't the jeans but rather that he was going home tomorrow (Saturday). He has fallen head over heels in love with this place. The phone rang and we were asked to catch up with Dag at the Saratoga pool deck which has the best views of Havana. We were so close to the castle.....but in the end Arti was happy with some external photo's and we zoomed in and around of old Havana. The roof of the Saratoga hotel is the perfect place for a Mojito and we had quite a few before heading off to to Romeo y Julieta/Hamlet and then back to the hotel in preparation for the Gala dinner.

Fevers had started on me so I pulled the plug on the Gala night. Arti promises a full report to the forum in the coming days with photo’s. From all reports it was indeed a good if long affair and the Gran Reserva was certainly the belle of the ball. So for the fist time in a long time I spent Friday night in bed……and alone.

Arthur headed with tears in his eyes to the airport 4:30 am Saturday. Being a bean counter he likes to give himself plenty of time. He was pulled aside by Airport Immigration police and put in a locked room for a couple of hours. No one would explain why. He missed his plane. Finally a Cuban immigration person camu up and apologized and stated that it was a case of mistaken identity. They were looking for an Arthur Kasssimasapolous. Not Arthur Kassos.

Nice final memory from Cuba Arthur

[asmith]

Not much really happening here Prez, you can stay away a bit longer.

[terrantheman]

Get better Rob! Great trip until the end you got a place in journalism!

[Coloniales]

Get better Rob! Great trip until the end you got a place in journalism!

Gidday Rob,

Great to see you and Arthur and the gang in La Habana, i got back to England yesterday and have come down with a freakin cold, mind it is about zero degrees here. Nothing to do with the 8+ cigars a day of course, hahaaa. I had wondered what Arthur was doing back at the Nacional.

Cu in Brizzie in the near future with luck.

Keith

[Jimmy2]

Hope you feel better Prez and Smithy has been doing an excellant job !!!!!!

[Tampa1257]

Hope you feel better soon Rob, that plane ride with a stuffed up head could be a killer!

I must say, this years reporting is much better than previous years, must take Arthur again and leave Ken to NZ so we have good reporting again!

[jeromeroselli]

Rob,

I feel your pain with the influenza. Hope you're feeling better.

Doc told me to drink gatorade to rehydrate. Stay away from water. Doesn't make much sense but it's worked for me.

Do they have gatorade in Cuba? I didn't think of that. Ha!