3.16 - HASTA LUEGO MI LA HABANA

Her bandana was still lost we fear

But that’s not why she’s shedding a tear

‘Twas Last night on the Malecon

Filled with Vino, Abrazos and Aged Ron

That She left her family most dear

Yes Dear Hearts and by now, not so innocent bystanders, the Cuban Lady is preparing to head home… well, back to Florida that is since Home is truly where the Heart is and hers still lingers in La Habana. 

And after a VERRRYYYY heart stirring night on the Malecon, amongst the wind, waves, music, aged ron, Vino tinto [no glasses] and FAMILY… well…{fill in  your own emotion} it Really doesn’t get any better.

The alarm for today rang out at 6AM , although their plane wasn’t to leave until 12:30PM, they had been instructed to be there 4 hours early as the check in was supposed to be brutal.  Not as brutal as that for “CUZ of Tampa” and her clan as we found out later. But for now, lets follow the Wacky American Tourist and the Ever-Lovely Cuban Lady as they roll out for the last time from 55 Linea, la Casa de Maria La China.

Since we were all packed and showered last night, it was just a matter of organizing our groggy thoughts, loading up the car and gulping down some fresh coffee provided by our most gracious hostess, who was up to bid us Adios with abrazos and tears.  She is now more than just a jovial landlord, but a good friend.  Illy promises to send back some much desired makeup and toiletries with Captain Dennis on his next trip which would be in a couple of weeks, and we wave goodbye to a very pleasant Casa Particular – {tell all your Cuba bound friends} 

Maria R Lee {Maria La China}

Linea No. 55 e/M y N

Vedado Plaza - Ciudad Habana

Tel 8-32-0659

Tell her “Mercurio Sent Me”

{end commercial break}

Heading North East on Linea and right on the Malecon, even though the airport was in the other direction, he already knew what she was gonna ask… and she did

“Are we gonna “Pass By” Trocadero”

“But of Course my Little Cuban Pastry, how could I refuse”

{Ok… don’t barf yet}

Yeah… he knew she needed one last look.  As we turned onto Paseo del Prado, a light fog was lifting and the sun coming up over El Moro highlighted the Capitol in the distance.
Turning onto Trocadero, she couldn’t hold back and he saw the tear slip from the corner of her eye as she gazed up once more to the roof of her youth… memories welling up with the emotion and then…
it was past.

No need for words, just drive on as she attempts to photograph the deterioration of the neighborhood as we circled the block to head back to the Malecon, turn south on Avenida O and right on Avenida 23 passing by
La Zorro y El Cuervo on the way to the airport.

   

Now, Chucky had a fairly good idea on the general direction and the route was pretty clear… well almost.  We eventually did make the final turn onto Avenida Rancho Boyeros that led to
Aeropuerto Jose Marti but somehow in all the picture taking, we blew past the turn into the entrance that goes to Terminal 2 {girare-U} and wound up taking the turn that leads to Terminal 1 the cargo terminal, all the waaaayyyyy over on the other side of the flight line.
Girare-U time, again… Well... several girare-U's and after stopping at a bus stop to confirm we’re headed in the right direction,  a lovely senorita gave us a tip to stay right to take the overpass to go left and Bada Bing…. We were there.  Now to find the auto return…. Ahhhh, there it is…. But no dude to check us in.  Chucky hops out and goes from door to door until he spots a friendly face, hands over the paper work and surrenders the keys.

Bags in hand we head to the departure end of the terminal and start the process of checking in. What a line… but as Chucky heads to El Bano for a quick pit stop, more lines open up and he returns to find the Cuban Lady in A different line and ready to step up to the counter.  The process wasn't as bad as expected and the next stop was to pay the exit tax.  Another line, but fast moving… then comes security, another LONG line, so Chucky heads to the CADECA to swap out most of the excess CUC but instead of taking it back, he was sent to a lady at a non-nondescript counter who not only took most his remaining Canadian cash 1 for 1 but most of the CUC too reserving a few for a snack etc on the other side of Passport Control.

Navigating the Security machines was not really an issue, and the Immigration lady was nice.  Next stop the waiting lounge and the cafeteria of to one side… and who do we run into…. The “CUZ” and her tribe who related:

Yeah…. Maria was there with fresh coffee when they got up at 4AM to get there at 6Am [4 hours ahead of their plane] only to find that the Auto Return doesn’t open until 7AM, nor was the Check in at departures… Bummmerr.

While Illy was getting the full rundown, Chucky stopped in the Duty Free shop to check prices on Rum to take the boys back home and returned to find “CUZ” in line to board their 10:30AM flight [yeah, it took us 2 hours to process, not 4] 

We caught a pic of their American Airlines flight as it buzzed the terminal and then settled in for a couple of Media Noches and Café to wait for our departure call after another trip to the Duty free to pick up the rum and sell off the rest of the Cuban money.

Around 11:30AM our flight arrived from Miami, and before long we were boarding.  With one last emotional look back at the terminal, the Ever-Lovely Cuban Lady climbed the steps to the Sky King flight that would take her home to Hollywood.

Take off was smooth and she managed to take a few parting shots of the coastline as we winged back to the U.S. of A leaving behind a piece of her heart, on the island where time stopped, January 1, 1959.

Now it’s time to bid La Habana Farwell

And her words still ring clear as a bell

“While my Heart remains in Vedado

To Hollywood now I must go”

So there's no more tale to tell

We'll Dear Hearts, that’s about it. There may, or may not be our usual wrap up since this whole trip produced one of the longer NOWAT for such a short trip due to all the issues of exporting it as well as adding pictures.  If there is, it will probably be in the form of an Email as in the “Old Days”, then again… only time will tell, but return often to the Slide Show as may more pics will soon appear documenting the entire trip and shortly he will have re-arranged the episodes to read from the top down.

HASTA LUEGO,

Uncle Chuck & The Happy She Went Home one last time

Cuban Lady

Bidding a tearful Farwell to Vedado and La Habana