Saturday 2 April 2016

This time the travels end in Cuba

As many of you know, going to Cuba during my March Break holiday is a well entrenched tradition for me, and so this year I decided that if I was going to have to recover from jet-lag and my choice was to either do it in Toronto or do it in Cuba ... well I chose Cuba.  So I got home from Australia just in time to get back on another plane for one last week of holiday - this time in Cuba.

I've been going to the same resort in Cayo Coco, Cuba for many years.  It's not fancy, in fact it's the first resort that was built in the Cayo Coco area making it the oldest one there - and it is showing its age a bit.  Never the less it's clean and comfortable, with friendly staff whom I've gotten to know over the years - and I'm perfectly happy for it to be my home for this one week every year.

So here's a few photos just to end this series of blog posts...as it's the end of a very special holiday.  Time to get my head around going back to work again - and then when I do find myself travelling again, perhaps in July or August, I'll be back to this blog again.  Thanks to everyone who checks in every once and a while.

 Upon arrival at the airport - how's this for 'classic' Cuba?

At the resort as well

My unit this time - middle building, second floor, balcony on the left

View from my room - not too hard to take for a week

 In reality, sunrise was a little bit earlier in the morning that I wanted to be awake - or more accurately, since I was usually awake, earlier than I wanted to be dressed and out of my room.  None the less, with sunrise out over the ocean I did think it was worth getting up for on a couple of occasions.

 Cloudy on the horizon most mornings unfortunately but still quite beautiful


 On the resort complex, looking out over a little inland lake with the ocean in the background.  Much of the island of Cayo Coco is actually wildlife reserve and there is lots of bird life around.

 And these friends had made their home in a little pond feature within the resort complex - a duck family and a flamingo!





Within the resort complex - sort of the central area looking out towards the ocean from one of the dining rooms

 One end of the salt-water pool

 The beach-side bar

 The water activities and most importantly, the massage, hut!  Right on the beach - nothing beats a massage while listening to the waves!

 Pool-side bar, at the other end of the salt water pool

And one of my most favourite places, where I get my churros every day to have with my mojitos at about 5:30pm!

 As at all resorts, there is always something offered as an evening entertainment show





 A couple more shots of the beach area at the resort

 A short bus ride away from the resort is another beach area known as Playa Pilar.  From here you can take a boat out to the little islands you can see in the background and snorkel in the coral reefs found all around the islands

 A little pavilion set up on the island for lunch




And one more 'classic Cuba' shot to end this post - seen as I was just walking along the beach at the resort.

I am very glad I chose to recover from jet-lag here as opposed to at home!