Sunday September 26, 2010

I booked my all-inclusive package through Service Guaranteed Travel for a grand total of $611.00. Left home at 7:50 a.m. arriving at Skypark in Toronto at 10:40 where they shuttled me to the Pearson Airport after I paid my $67.00 for 8 days of parking. As per usual, my carry-on luggage was searched. While waiting for the plane, the overhead announcement came on…"Will passenger David Workman please report to the main desk". "This can't be good," thought I. My first thought was that, despite my mother having died last year, she had somehow tracked me down to pick up some groceries for her. After a few minutes I discarded that thought and decided my sister, Wendy was playing a joke on me. My third thought was that customs had seen through my fake passport and discovered the plastic weapons I had concealed in my suitcase. Then I thought, "Why not go to the reception desk and find out". It turned out they just wanted me to change seats to enable a family of four to sit together.

On the flight down, I chatted with my seat mates, Mr. & Mrs. John Harding from Toronto. The food on the CanJet airline was barely adequate - a bun with ham, drink and a cookie. After a brief stopover at Cienfuegos, we arrived at Cayo Largo at 9:30pm. I checked in and just had time for the buffet supper before they closed.

Had a few pina coladas then played three games of pool. They have two pool tables in very good shape with all the accessories. Eventually I retired to my new room. Very nice room, perfectly decorated and included a satellite tv, iron, umbrella, hair dryer, safe and small refrigerator which they stocked daily with a bottle of water…whether you needed it or not. By the end of the week, I had 5 bottles of water. I was on the first floor facing the ocean. I could only see a sliver of water, as there are sand and coral dunes blocking the view.

Monday September 27, 2010

Got up and organized my room then went to the buffet restaurant for breakfast where the chef made my eggs just the way I wanted them - with all the trimmings and free! I checked out the gym. It's the best one I've seen at any of the resorts. They have a rock climbing wall, all kinds of treadmills, weights and gadgets. It's very well organized and a pleasure to use. They also had a hot tub and steam room which I passed on. The tennis courts were next door.

After my workout I went for about a five mile hike along the beach to the resort at the far end. Previously it was the Barcelo and I had stayed there before. I wandered around reminiscing about the last time I was there. I noticed that no one wore arm bands (including me) so I had a couple of drinks at the bar before hiking back…swimming along the way of course. On the way back, I also checked out the other resorts in between. They were all closed for repairs including the Sol Pelicano where I also stayed before. It was strange walking around with absolutely no one around. Part of my reason for going to the other resorts was to check out their gift stores and hopefully purchase another guitar as I've become accustomed to playing every night. Unfortunately there was not one to be had on the island.

By the time I got back, I had missed lunch, but due to my large breakfast (which I normally skip), I wasn't hungry. I joined the pool volleyball for an hour instead. Later, I went to Ana's seminar - my tour company representative. It was informative but I didn't go away with any more knowledge than what I already had. It rained off and on today but it was still quite warm.

I hung around with Hernando from Argentina, Mike from Toronto and Rick and Laurie from Grimsby.

After a great supper - they have an excellent buffet - I played a few dozen games of pool then I pestered the local band about getting a used guitar. Oswaldo agreed to sell me one that he had. I agreed to meet him tomorrow night at 8:00.

Watched a satellite movie and retired for the evening.

Tuesday September 28, 2010

Went for breakfast and then the gym. I've established my routine. It was raining a little bit so I went back to my room and watched a Clint Eastwood movie, "Grand Torino". During a sunny spell, I ventured out, walked across the dunes down to the beach. The waves were huge. I hadn't planned on swimming but there were a few hearty souls out so I decided to join them. I normally wear my contacts but hadn't planned on swimming. Five minutes into my swim, I got hit by a rogue wave that ripped my specs from my head. They were gone in a roiling mass. That was disappointing although it was my own fault. I spent an hour wading around and feeling for them with my feet with no luck. I felt my way back to my room and got my extra pair. I put in a claim at the lost and found but it was not to be.

After supper, I looked up Oswaldo but he'd forgotten the guitar. He told me to meet him at 8:00 tomorrow morning. I asked about using the rock climbing wall but apparently the conditions weren't right today. No one showed up for pool volleyball today. I did the usual, wandered around, talked to my friends, had supper and played pool.

Wednesday September 29, 2010

I joined Rick and Laurie for breakfast then had my workout at the gym, I met Oswaldo. Surprisingly, he did not have his guitar with him again but told me he would have it for sure tomorrow night at 8:00. I'm quickly losing my faith and patience with him.

It was nice out today so I walked out my back door to the beach and walked/swam 2-3 miles to Sirena Beach. As per usual the beaches are completely abandoned except for me. I felt like Robinson Crusoe. The beaches are all pure white sand but no matter how hot out it is, the sand does not get hot so it makes walking very pleasant.

Back home I skipped lunch again and played pool volleyball. I inquired about shooting some arrows at the archery range but apparently the bow was bent. Surprise, surprise!!

I invited Rick and Laurie to my table for supper where we had a huge argument as to who would pay the cheque at our all-inclusive meal. After we went to the bar and "bought" each other drinks all night. Even later I played a scad of pool games then went to bed.

Thursday September 30, 2010

As per my new routine, I went to the gym then had breakfast. Skipped lunch and walked/swam along the beach to Playa Blanca, wandered around their canteen and then headed back. About a mile or so from home, I smashed my left pinky on a rock pulling the nail back and I'm pretty sure I broke it. I splinted it together with two seashells and some seaweed. Actually I just left it alone and limped back to my room. It was black and swollen by the time I got there. I ignored it. Meanwhile, the sole of one of my good sandals came apart, so I taped it with electrician's tape. Of course, I was only using them while on the resort grounds so the tape lasted the rest of the week.

I still managed to play pool volleyball today and also entered a dart contest. I had reserved the A La Carte restaurant tonight which I found wasn't as good as the buffet. I had also reserved it for the next night so I cancelled that one. After supper I met Oswaldo again regarding the mythical guitar. He told me to return later at 10:30. I'm slowly wearing him down. I met him at 10:30 and he actually had the guitar. He showed me how he had put new strings on. I told him I'd take it. He replied that it belonged to his friend who wanted to play it one last time tonight and also wanted to clean it up and had a special box for it for the plane. I told him I'd take it right now but he wouldn't budge. He told me to return tomorrow at 8:30. I shook his hand and said, "Seguro" (for sure?). He "seguroed" me back several hundred times until I was satisfied.

Friday October 1, 2010

I did my workout, had breakfast then went to meet Oswaldo yet again. I couldn't find him so I asked his bandmates where he was. They told me that yesterday was his last day and he has now returned to the mainland. If anyone would like frustration lessons, then I would highly recommend Oswaldo. He's the master. Of course if I ever see him, I will make him eat his guitar then hang him by the strings. I limped around the resort foaming at the mouth for a while. Later I inquired about using one of the bicycles. Apparently the whole fleet was out for repairs. It may have been Oswaldo's brother whom I asked.

I took a free bus to the village and toured the turtle farm for a peso. It was very interesting. They had all size turtles from babies to about 2 feet in diameter. You could pick any of them up and they seemed to enjoy the attention.

Returned for my 4:00 pool volleyball then I joined in for one of the resorts skill testing games. It was a target game and there were only two of us - myself and an Italian woman. I still lost…and not because she was good, but more because I was so bad today.

I had supper with my cats. They have the nicest, tamest cats of any Cuban resort I've been to. I was feeding one of the cats some chicken and fell a little behind. I felt several taps on my arm. I looked down and my cat was standing on it's hind legs tapping my arm for more food. They are very well treated here. It's not unusual to find several of them curled up on the chairs in the lobby. Actually, it's sometimes hard to find seating because of them and no one wants to disturb them as they look pretty peaceful.

Tonight there was a new band. I asked the new improved Oswaldo about getting a guitar but he was honest enough to tell me there wasn't enough time before my flight back for him to locate one. Rick, Laurie and I fed the cats in the lobby then bought each other a round of drinks before bedtime.

Saturday October 2, 2010

You guessed it…gym and breakfast! I strolled over to the entertainment centre to see if there would be a beach volleyball game today. Ernesto checked his schedule and said, "computer says NO!" Instead I grabbed my snorkeling gear and headed down to the beach. I spotted Laurie and Rick who volunteered to watch my stuff while I snorkeled off into the blue. I didn't see much in the way of fish but I did have a good time. There were a couple of people about ¼ a mile out so I swam out there and checked things out. It was pretty relaxing. Several times I just floated around and felt I was in serious danger of falling asleep with the soothing action of the gentle swells.

Since my toe was now only three times it's regular size, I thought it would be good for it if I walked the five or six miles to Playa Blanca and back. So I did that, swimming along the way as usual. Near the resort I spotted a huge iguana sunning itself on one of the guest's towels. The guest was not amused.

Twice I've run into the same duck-like bird that lets me approach to within 6" or more. He made for some great pictures.

As per my routine, I returned in time for the 4:00 pool volleyball which I played for about an hour until the entertainment staff called it quits. Then I signed up for another skill testing game of tossing hoops on a stick which, as per my new routine, I promptly lost.

After another great buffet supper, I played ten or more games of pool with Charles of Montreal. We each won and lost about an equal number.

Sunday October 3, 2010

My last day so I got my routine in at the gym, then had breakfast. I sauntered over to the activity centre and asked about playing tennis. Unfortunately the racket was being re-stringed. I returned to my room and packed then carted my bags to the lobby and left them in what I was told was a secure area (basically, the open lobby).

Went for an hour and a half beach walk and swim then had a big lunch at 3:00 as I wasn't going to be here for the buffet supper - and I certainly couldn't rely on one of CanJets famous non-filling dietary suppers.

At 4:00 I showed up for the pool volleyball. It was just me and 6 women….another hardship I had to endure. We played for 40 minutes then had another skill testing game involving a horse race and giant dice…which I promptly lost. My horse didn't come in. Read by the pool then took the 6:40p.m. bus to the airport.

While having my bags checked, an attractive woman behind the counter caught my attention and yelled, "Hola, David" as she walked by. That confused me as with a search of my typical memory, it came back negative. I tracked her down later and asked if I knew her. She said, "Yes…it's me, Ana - your tour representative. I remembered you're name".

I wandered around the gift stores and read until my flight left at 9:20. My seating companion was a talkative Chinese woman. The food was the same and the movie wasn't to my liking so I caught up on the sleep I knew I would need later for my drive home.

Arrived at 12:30a.m. I breezed through Toronto customs and phoned Skypark for my ride. They were already there waiting for me. The passengers were me and the five stewardesses from my flight. Another hardship for me. My car was waiting and running for me when I arrived. From the time my plane touched down to the time I was on 401 was about 25 minutes or less. I kept my speed at a steady 120kph and took the shortcut across Rutledge Road near home where at about 4:00 a.m. I was pulled over for doing 20 kph over the limit. I was sure I was only doing 10 kph at the time so I argued it. I was pretty groggy so it's possible I was asleep at the time. He told me to come back and check his radar. "Have you been drinking?" he asked. "No", I replied as I stepped out of the car and stumbled as my legs were asleep. "Are you sure?" he asked. He told me to look through his window at the radar unit. With all the lights flashing I couldn't see so I finally gave up. He was nice enough to just give me a warning and send me on my way saying, "I don't want to ruin your trip to Cuba and have you pay a $220 fine".

I arrived home at 4:30 a.m. at my own all-inclusive resort.