Left stock island about 5:00 arrived at Outside Buoy to Marina Hemingway about 12:30
Rough passage Saw a whale !!!
Cleared Cuban Customs check in about 1:00
Walked around marina met up with Rally folks Jack Betty Ann of Treasure Island and Don and Elizabeth Adriatica had dinner on boat to sleep early
Next day
Head mishap 😫 Tom had it fixed before 8AM
Went on Habana Vieja tour
Bus left at 10:30 nice drive through Miramar section, along Malecon and into Old Havana. Walking tour through the four squares: Plaza des armes, Plaza de San Fransisco, Plaza de Cathedral,and Plaza Vieja. Had a decent lunch with a nice view at a terraced restaurant. Tried to find some art bought some perfumed oil. Had a Mojito at the hotel Hemingway would stay at when in Havana. Listened to a classical piano concert. Met up with Don and Elizabeth and their crew. Went to a Paladar Azucar for a light dinner of tapas and grilled fish. Caught a cab back to marina.
Next day
PARADE DAY!!! ⛵️⛵️🚤
After captains mtg departed slip @10:30 arrived at starting line entrance to Havana Harbor approx 12:30. Wonderful sail into harbor and back to Marina Hemingway 4:30 PM and customs check in
Reception at Hemingway Yacht Club 8:00PM
Next Day
After repeated car failures we went to Las Terrezes for an overnight excursion. Checked into hotel went to pool had the inclusive dinner w/ entertainment.
Next day
Tom Don Patty and Mike went Zip lining at Las Terrazes. Went for lunch at Banos de San Juan - waited forever to be served. Wouldn't recommend for lunch but was a pretty park. Went on a three wheeled Taxi out there --fun. Cabbed back to Marina. went to Hotel Nacional for the evening. Walked around had a drink on the patio and dinner at bar b que restaurant.
Next Day
Went Old train station for souvenir
shopping got some paintings.
Had lunch at 304 O'Rielly
Went to dinner party for Rally at Marina Hemmingway
Next day waited for the best weather window to travel back to Florida
Left for Key West about 11:30 PM Cleared Cuba customs started for KW Arrived Stock Island Marina about 1:00 Pm. The helm tightness that I was worried about loosened up which is good. I think the bearing on the port rudder must have loosened up and reset in the seas as we were going down wind. I hope it stays that way.
Cuba was awesome. the people were great and the country has a great future if the economy can turn around and things really open up so the infrastructure can be updated.