I boarded the plane and with nothing to lose I asked the stewardess if I could move to first class. I know that I needed to pay at the counter before boarding but you never know......She told me I needed to do that at the counter before boarding. I had a good seat not next to anyone so everything was still good. I settle into my seat reading my book when the same woman who told me no first class seat approached me. She now asked if I would like to move to first class and NO upgrade fee. I smiled, said yes and thought of the Winston Churchill quote "I'm easily satisfied with the best"
Th flight was only an hour but checking into to Havana was more more difficult this time. Not because of any problems but due to so many people on various flights going through customs. I seemed to have been the only idiot who forget it was Mother's Day weekend. Many Cubans were back visiting families and there were a lot more people visiting this time. In Cuba, your person and bags get screened going into the country. I clear everything, get some Cuban cash at the exchange booth and head for a cab. I came out of the terminal into the bright sunlight to see hundreds of people behind the barricades waiting for someone. A quick $25 deal with a cab driver and I on my way to The Hotel Nacional.
After a nice conversation and a twenty minute ride, he drops me off in front of the hotel. I love the walk up the short marble stairs. Two doormen welcome me as they hold open the double doors. The lobby as always is humming with people. A bride walks out to the veranda to get some photographs as men in Panama hats and well dressed women parade through the lobby. I make my way to the reception to check in. Ida, a woman I remember from my last visit, time smiles warmly and gives a look on her computer for my room. I reserved only a single room for $120 a night. However, I asked her if there is a room available overlooking the water. She hooks me up with room 412 overlooking the famous Melacon boulevard on the water. The room is one of the hotels Historical rooms which are designated with plaques and biographical information of the person(s) who stayed in the room. The room was where two Cuban Presidents stayed and received their nomination. The first thing I notice we're the open curtains of two enormous windows that spanned the length of the room. Two beds, flat screen TV, large closet, two rocking chairs and a renovated bathroom. Very, very nice. I believe it is in the bible "Ask and you shall receive."
Th flight was only an hour but checking into to Havana was more more difficult this time. Not because of any problems but due to so many people on various flights going through customs. I seemed to have been the only idiot who forget it was Mother's Day weekend. Many Cubans were back visiting families and there were a lot more people visiting this time. In Cuba, your person and bags get screened going into the country. I clear everything, get some Cuban cash at the exchange booth and head for a cab. I came out of the terminal into the bright sunlight to see hundreds of people behind the barricades waiting for someone. A quick $25 deal with a cab driver and I on my way to The Hotel Nacional.
After a nice conversation and a twenty minute ride, he drops me off in front of the hotel. I love the walk up the short marble stairs. Two doormen welcome me as they hold open the double doors. The lobby as always is humming with people. A bride walks out to the veranda to get some photographs as men in Panama hats and well dressed women parade through the lobby. I make my way to the reception to check in. Ida, a woman I remember from my last visit, time smiles warmly and gives a look on her computer for my room. I reserved only a single room for $120 a night. However, I asked her if there is a room available overlooking the water. She hooks me up with room 412 overlooking the famous Melacon boulevard on the water. The room is one of the hotels Historical rooms which are designated with plaques and biographical information of the person(s) who stayed in the room. The room was where two Cuban Presidents stayed and received their nomination. The first thing I notice we're the open curtains of two enormous windows that spanned the length of the room. Two beds, flat screen TV, large closet, two rocking chairs and a renovated bathroom. Very, very nice. I believe it is in the bible "Ask and you shall receive."
We need pictures...
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