X cruiser sails Azamara to Cuba Jan 15 to 24 2019

[Bimmer09]

The show ended after about 90 minutes and Alicia the CD took the stage again to thank us for coming and to remind us to return to the same coaches we came in. She called them out from the stage and staffers held up coach numbers. Ours, being 11- we didn't have to rush.

In the lobby by the exit doors the entire dance team and musicians were there to say adios and gracias. Big smiles and I thanked them as a group with "perfecto" and "muchas gracias" exhausting my Spanish in a matter of seconds.

 

Once outside there was coach 11 among a group of three. I suggested to Carol that we walk a block or two around the corner so I could have a mojito on the rooftop of the oldest hotel in town-The Inglaterra, which offers great views, live band and classic cars (taxis). Carol preferred to return to the ship to eat as they were keeping the buffet open for the returning passengers. We hadn't eaten since Buenaventura so it was a sound idea. Back to the ship!

 

Once on the ship we visited the buffet and scored some nice hot vittles and in my case a cold Pilsner Urquell lager.

 

On my plate were some hot fries, pizza, chicken satay with peanut sauce, nachos and salsa ,a little sandwich with cheddar and British Branston Pickle, super yummy pigs in blankets and a mix of steak and ground beef. Carol pretty much chose the same but added a mango salad and turkey wrap. Dessert? We shared a white chocolate eclair, a banana/chocolate semifreddo and pistachio cake. Great treat at the end of our day!

 

Dining outdoors in Havana harbor by the Sunset Bar. Superb.

[Bimmer09]

After our buffet supper it was time to go up on deck and take some photos of the Havana skyline. Not the blaze of twinkling lights I was hoping for.

 

Our neighbor

 

There's a party going on right here.A celebration to last throughout the year.. 

a midnight dance party

 

 

I'm on deck 11

 

 

Looking forward

 

and aft

 

 

 

[hockeyguru32]

1 hour ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

There's a party going on right here.A celebration to last throughout the year..

 Kool & The Gang

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2019 by hockeyguru32

[Bimmer09]

I congratulate brother Hockeyguru32 on his excellent memory for song lyrics!

I also congratulate Azamara Journey for lifting the Noro precautions prior to our docking in Havana. Serve yourself at the buffet!

 

Here is a copy of the 4 pages of The Insider for our first day in Havana just incase you didn't wish to go ashore

 

 

 

We are asleep in Havana harbor (on a ship-not with the fishes). Tomorrow we will go ashore alone and take a HoHo bus all over the city, visit the Havana Opera House, have a couple of drinks in the eye-candy Hotel Inglaterra, ride in a classic pink
taxi back to the Journey and sail out of Havana. Dinner in Discoveries no doubt.

 

Coming up later!

Stay tuned.

Norris

 

 

Edited February 5, 2019 by Bimmer09
cut photo

[QueenP]

I'm loving reading through the Insider, it brings back great memories! I'm loving the photos too. Thanks Norris, it's a lovely start to my day to read your posts.

Penny

[Bimmer09]

Havana Day 2

I wanted to be on the streets before dawn but the late night and a need for deep sleep

had me wake at 6.30 a.m. I just like taking photos in the dark when no people are around.

See my 5 a.m walks in Rome Venice and Barcelona when you have time.

 

Today, January 17th we have no tours planned. We are just going to walk off the ship into the street and get on a Hop On,Fall Off bus and see as much of Havana as we can.

 

Pictures from our balcony

 

and we sailed and we sailed, into the Mystic

 

 

 

Opera has gone in the night and been replaced

 

Cuban Navy ships

 

 

More...

 

 

[Bimmer09]

From up on deck

 

 

We are joined by the cruise ship Berlin who will tender ashore

 

all is quiet by the pool

 

We meet at Discoveries on deck 5 at 8 a.m. Warm welcome (the host blows a hair dryer in my face) and seated by a window with a view of a shed. You can order a la carte or partake of the buffet they set up or both. So while our 5 oz. filet Mignon, scrambled eggs and toast is a cookin'

I hit the buffet for a tasty bacon and leek quiche and Carol snags some fresh fruit

 

 

Fueled for the day and raring to go we leave the ship, pass through the usual obstacles; ship security, passport/visa control ,bag check and we exchanged another $100 U.S for 87 CUC, mindful to get small coins for restrooms. The visas cost $75 per person and were charged to our shipboard account.

Right outside the Cruise terminal is where the bus was found and we bought our transfer tickets from the conductor for 10 CUC each. Carol had a top deck seat all the way at the front

and I had the opposite seat with 3 cameras for company. We were not going to HoHo but ride the thing all the way out and back where we would get off by the Hotel Inglaterra with a nice shady square in front and lots of colorful classic cars. The trip would take 2 hours and we set off at 10.40 a.m.

 

Bus tour coming up...

Norris

[CRLess]

37 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

and we sailed and we sailed, into the Mystic

 

OOOHHH...I got this one....Van Morrison....Into the Mystic (also part of Zac Brown Band's song "Free" when sung live!)

[mchell810]

20 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

We meet at Discoveries on deck 5 at 8 a.m. ..... You can order a la carte or partake of the buffet they set up or both.

 

Norris,

Is this a standard policy? Only on port days? everyday?

thanks,

[BBMacLaird]

27 minutes ago, Bimmer09 said:

We meet at Discoveries on deck 5 at 8 a.m. Warm welcome (the host blows a hair dryer in my face) and seated by a window with a view of a shed.

 

A hair dryer in the face!??

[gbolton]

1 hour ago, BBMacLaird said:

 

A hair dryer in the face!??

Norris is a big jokester with a whacky sense of humour which makes his very extraordinary blogs and photographic genius very entertaining - I really enjoy going along with him and Carol to places I will never have an opportunity to see.

It sure beats watching TV these days!

[MJSailors]

Totally agree with your post ,gbolton !👍

I couldn’t have written a better post. 😀

[Bimmer09]

3 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

Norris,

Is this a standard policy? Only on port days? everyday?

thanks,

It was everyday and a great idea! Mix and match and so much variety.

There would be a couple more Discoveries culinary surprises for us too.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

3 hours ago, CRLess said:

 

OOOHHH...I got this one....Van Morrison....Into the Mystic (also part of Zac Brown Band's song "Free" when sung live!)

Indeed sir. A favorite Van song.

Norris

[excitedofharpenden]

7 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

Norris,

Is this a standard policy? Only on port days? everyday?

thanks,

The Main Dining Room is open for breakfast every day 8-9.30am each day except those when there is a brunch on a sea day (held 10.30-1pm). The buffet is open every day. Mostly until 10am, but sometimes 9.30am if the itinerary dictates that a lot of people will be off the ship. The room service breakfast from 6.30am offers a nice alternative.  I really enjoy breakfast in the MDR. Very civilised. 

 

Phil 

[hockeyguru32]

12 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

 

and we sailed and we sailed, into the Mystic

 

Van Morrison? TOO LATE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by hockeyguru32

[Bimmer09]

Havana HoHo bus tour

 The bus was sitting right outside the cruise terminal at the beginning of it's route. It was the T1 route so there is more than one. We hopped on and Carol paid for our transfer tickets. Upstairs to the open air and snagged our seats right at the front with a clear view ahead for taking photos and no glass in my way if I turned to my right. Partly cloudy and 74 deg F made for an enjoyable ride. I wore sunscreen and no cap, glasses not sunglasses as I needed to read camera settings. The ticket lady would narrate but it was rather garbled and I was just going to focus on the visual and enjoy the 2 hour ride.

 

First stop was in front of Hotel Inglaterra and we stopped for about 10 minutes and took on more passengers

 

Carol, in situ, with the Opera House behind her

 

 

We move into traffic

 

 

and drive away from this pleasant square towards the sea

 

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by Bimmer09
text formatting

[Bimmer09]

On the Malecon

 

 

 

 

The Malecon,  all 7.5 miles of it, will vary from 6 lanes to 10 on the part we ride ,mostly with no median to separate oncoming cars

 

 

 

Edited February 6, 2019 by Bimmer09
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[Bimmer09]

 

 

Hotel Nacional de Cuba

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Nacional_de_Cuba

 

 

United States Embassy up ahead

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Habana_Riviera

 

Neglected soccer stadium

 

We leave the Malecon and drive inland

[mchell810]

12 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

It was everyday and a great idea! Mix and match and so much variety.

There would be a couple more Discoveries culinary surprises for us too.

Norris

 

Agreed! Having table service and a little buffet in the MDR sounds wonderful.

[Bimmer09]

2 minutes ago, mchell810 said:

 

Agreed! Having table service and a little buffet in the MDR sounds wonderful.

 

Yes, it is good for added variety and also if you want to dine quickly but still get the same relaxed ambiance and stellar service found in the MDR. 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The huge cemetery we passed yesterday at left

 

Bridge over the river Alemandares and the park of the same name

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147271-d3844115-Reviews-Parque_Almendares-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html

 

 

a bus shelter

 

a different look for Havana and not what I had expected

 

a modern hotel with toilet paper perhaps?

 

 

"They're selling postcards of the hanging

They're painting the passports brown

The beauty parlor's filled with sailors

The Circus is in town..."

 

 

the sea again!

 

a crowd waits for a bus

 

More....

 

 

[kk99]

"And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row" by the incomparable Bob Dylan.  Great pictures and wonderful writing style much appreciated.

[Bimmer09]

18 minutes ago, kk99 said:

"And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row" by the incomparable Bob Dylan.  Great pictures and wonderful writing style much appreciated.

A new screen name to me so double welcome!

I bought that song in 1965 and still play it and remember the words as you obviously do too.

I saw him live in 1966 (and twice since but walked out each time)

Thanks for the kind comments and please stick around as I have a beautiful cruise ship to show you once Havana loosens its grip on me.

Cheers!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The Russian Embassy. Architecture that just screams "welcome'! LOL

 

 

 

 

Some odd tree flower

 

Another HoHo passes

 

 

More...