I spent the next three days at a different hotel, getting used to doing things on my own I went shooping with Helen, Pam and 2/3rds of triplets! I even went shopping on my own to buy a new camera which peakes Portugese to me.
I visited the Sugar Loaf mountain and behaved like a proper tourist, and met Vivki and Andy on Cpacabana Beach, where I discovered that true Brazilians don't drink coffee. The student waiter was most insistant that I understood this. I expect all the coffee was exported.
Off again on 4th January to Cuba... I had waited 46 years to go there! Panama City airport was amazingly full of duty free shops and only one cafe! I arrived in Havana at the correct time and took a taxi to the hotel. It is the best hotel in Havana; I could have been anywhere in the world.
Next morning at breakfast my friends appeared and later at the meeting with their tour guide, another cllleague I hadn't realised was going to be there appeards...It was beginning to be a very good birthday.
Havana is amazing. We had a meal in a restaurant called La Guardia and it was excellent food and decoration, as well as being on the thrid floor in what appeared to be an old apartment block. Back to the hotel for my birthday Cuba Libre and a cigar.
A tour of the city the next day, to include Hemmingway pubs and his home was worth every convertible Peso. I hope to return one day. I drove to the airport in an open top, pink Cadillac.. well worth the extra fiver!
Back home to Christmas dinner and birthday cake... and a flooded student house.... Back to nearly normal.
