Farewell dinners on trips that are this short always make me laugh. At this this was a four-night trip, unlike my 2015 trip that was only a three-night stay.
Ollie drove us three blocks away to El Atelier Restaurant. If we had known how close it was, we would have met them there after walking back to the John Lennon statue in hopes of finding the little old man with the glasses. Probably a good thing we stuck with the group.
Three siblings started the restaurant out of their home. As is typical with paladars, they converted every room possible into a dining room and moved their living spaces to the attic. They now have three restaurants.
Over welcome drinks we were serenaded by the Exaudi Choir. Founded in 1987, their leader is also their founder. They tour internationally, participating in choir concerts in Europe and the United States. Some of the singers have been with her for decades, others joined a few months ago, and everything in-between. They rehearse several times a week, so it is a huge commitment on top of jobs and families.
As a group of near strangers is wont to do during a farewell dinner barely 96 hours after meeting each other, the topic turned to what was our favorite experience of the trip. It warmed our hearts when the first person answered "Fusterlandia, because it was unexpected." Someone else answered, "The music presentation; I anticipated sleeping during it and was riveted." Another person answered, "The farm because it was good to get out of the city." A bachelor in his late sixties answered, "The dance program, just by doing those few exercises I felt more energized the rest of the day."
Our food arrived at this point and we didn't get to the us. I would have answered "The synagogue because I learned something I did not know about Cuban history." On the flight home Don made a list of activities to help him remember what we did. He was surprised to see just how much we did in three days.
As we were leaving one of the owners came out to see us. Muchos gracias!
Back at the hotel Don and I decided to go on a farewell walk along the Malecon. We originally walked up to the Hotel Nacional. Rather than turning around, we thought the Capitol wasn't too far away, we could walk there. Let's just say, that stroll reinforced that the $10 we paid for the cab ride the day before in the heat was the best $10 we spent on the trip! Especially since after leaving the camera in the taxi the driver noticed, called to us, and I was able to retrieve it. Without his generosity, most of these pictures would not exist. My biggest failure was not thinking quickly enough to give him the tip he deserved.
The following are pictures from our adventures.
Ollie drove us three blocks away to El Atelier Restaurant. If we had known how close it was, we would have met them there after walking back to the John Lennon statue in hopes of finding the little old man with the glasses. Probably a good thing we stuck with the group.
Our food arrived at this point and we didn't get to the us. I would have answered "The synagogue because I learned something I did not know about Cuban history." On the flight home Don made a list of activities to help him remember what we did. He was surprised to see just how much we did in three days.
Back at the hotel Don and I decided to go on a farewell walk along the Malecon. We originally walked up to the Hotel Nacional. Rather than turning around, we thought the Capitol wasn't too far away, we could walk there. Let's just say, that stroll reinforced that the $10 we paid for the cab ride the day before in the heat was the best $10 we spent on the trip! Especially since after leaving the camera in the taxi the driver noticed, called to us, and I was able to retrieve it. Without his generosity, most of these pictures would not exist. My biggest failure was not thinking quickly enough to give him the tip he deserved.
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