Winter Respite in Cuba

We spent one week with my husband’s side of my family in Cuba. We are all scattered across Canada from Kelowna to Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Ottawa, so when we get together, we make it a destination. And since we live in Canada (specifically Winterpeg for us) we seek refuge from the -40C temps that are common in January/February.

We spent most of our time on our resort near Veradero, hanging out and catching up. We ventured out on a day trip to Havana, and an afternoon of shopping in Veradero.

I was in my colour happy place. Give me aqua, teal, or anything in the ocean/water colour palette and I am totally blissed out.

Memorable moments from this trip:

We saw Old Havana from a bit of a unique perspective. This photo was taken on the balcony of the building containing the Camera Obscura. Located on the top floor of the eclectic-style early 20th-century Edificio Gómez Vila, the Cámara Oscura provides a 360-degree panoramic view of much of Old Havana in real time, projected at 30X magnification through a peephole camera onto a pitch-dark screen.

It was a gift from the Council of Cadiz, Spain, to the City Historian’s Office. The Cámara Oscura was invented by Leonardo da Vinci. This one in Havana is the only one of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is one of 74 worldwide today.

We spent a day touring Havana. Our tour guide, Judy, knew everything and answered any questions we had. She also asked us what we were hoping to see, and worked it into our schedule.

We stopped into Cafe O’Reilly, and picked up freshly roasted bags of coffee beans. They were so fresh, that they were still warm. We got there at the right time, and enjoyed the aroma that filled our room for the rest of the trip.

My husband picked up some cigars, and we enjoyed cafe con leche everyday from the resorts Coffee Bar.

It was an easy trip, great to spend time with family, and so rewarding to explore Old Havana with a knowledgable local guide. If we were to go back, we would look into staying in Havana and seeing more of the city.

If you want to visit a place that is brimming with culture, charm and welcoming people, add Cuba to your travel bucket list.