Cubana Habana Trip

Havana here we come

1 June 2001

Well, all great journal entries begin with well. As you may well remember and well write every time. It’s our first trip together and I’m holding on the phone with the airline, approximately nine hours before our flight -which has been cancelled. So we are off to a start. Maybe Cuba 🇨🇺 won’t be expecting us after all.  I remind myself to be prepared for anything and expect nothing.

Just as I had arrived at boyfriends house a short while ago, he perchance happened to mention that Aero Mexico went on strike today. So I am holding on the line while my sweet one is out buying Handi Wipes and the helpful Delta attendant is searching for our options.

2 June, 2001

Our alternate route proved to be leaving PHX ASAP with sweet boyfriend hustling to pack his bags and a bit stressed (as I would be too) but quite lovable and amiable like always. We caught a cab at 22:45 just an hour after we found out we had to go, and right after he came home from the store. Our flight took us to Atlanta on Delta, where we were to catch another Delta flight to Mexico City, instead of the striking Aero Mexico one.

So we were leaving PHX at 12:30 a.m. arriving in Atlanta at 7:30 a.m. then waiting and snoozing patriotically until noon for our flight to the hugest city in the world of 22 million inhabitants (in 2001). Everything went as well as possible, and we didn’t get robbed (except of some sleepy zzz’s) and didn’t get chance to leave the airport.

Reservations had been pre-arranged at the Airport Hilton for us. Up-scale Mexican elegance, where we checked into and showered, then lounged comfortably in bed for a while. (The bathroom was small and dark.)

We ventured out and only to end up at the Air Mexicana Desk, contributing to our future felonary actions by paying for our flight to Habana and sorting out the details. We were excited when she told us we had to be back there at 5:00 a.m. to check in.

Actually had La Cena at a really good restaurant in the huge airport, right below the hotel. We tried out our Spanish and had some good chips and guac (guacamole) and a rad shrimp 🍤 coconut sauce, which has proved to be our best food so far.

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