The first time I set foot on Cuban soil back in October of 2013, I fell in love. I love the people, the beauty, the music. It fulfilled me in a way I’d never experienced before.
And as many of you know, I have returned many times since. This trip, however was special: this was my maiden voyage to Cuba as a group tour diva. I was nervous, excited and apprehensive. Would everything work out as I had planned? Would everyone get along? Would I be able to manage a group?
I had eleven in my group. And what a great group they turned out to be. 9 women and 2 men. Some from SoCal and some from Walla Walla, WA. Most of the SoCal group shuttled to the airport together, and after a long couple of flights, arrived in Havana.
Our trip was planned around the Havana Biennial; a month-long art show taking place throughout the city. When we arrived at Jose Marti Airport, we were warmly greeted by our local guides and driver. We were then quickly whisked away to Paladar La Moneda, (a Paladar is a family-home used as a restaurant) for a fabulous lunch overlooking the sea.
As we climbed the staircase of this old colonial mansion to the rooftop, I knew the trip would be a smashing success. My nerves began to dissipate and my anxiety about the logistics of arriving at our final destination abated.
Everyone began to get acquainted while we sipped mojitos and and took in our surroundings. Once the freshly caught lobsters arrived for lunch, I knew that this trip was going to be one for the record books. After a delicious dessert of flan and Cuban coffee, we made our way down to one of the four plazas of Old Havana; Plaza de la Cathedral, where a beautiful church is the centerpiece. We stood in the center of the plaza drinking in the ambiance of Havana, before making our way down to Obisbo Street, the main drag of Havana Vieja. The salsa bands were playing, the cafes were filled with people and the energy of the city was electric. We peeked into new shops which weren’t there on my last trip and marveled at how alive the center of Havana was on a Thursday afternoon.
After remarking on a few points of interest, we arrived at the Hotel Parque Central and checked into our rooms. The Parque Central is located in the epicenter of Old Havana, and the perfect place to gain access to the city on foot.
Some of us took a quick dip in the rooftop pool, then changed for dinner at Atelier, another fantastic Paladar. There, we enjoyed a family-style meal of grilled lobster (yes, again), chicken and Ropa Vieja, a traditional and DELICIOUS beef dish. Drinks, dinner and dessert were on the rooftop which was filled with with kitchy decor. It was the perfect ending to the first perfect day in Havana.
Stay tuned for more on Day 2.