Varadero...Cuba's Beach Paradise

No early morning bus ride is ever complete without the obligatory 80's love songs! That was the genre of choice for the two bus drivers taking turns for the six hour drive from Trinidad to Varadero. Peter Cetera, Richard Marx mixed in with some James Blunt and "Imagine" by John Lennon which is always a nostalgic song for me while I'm traveling. It brings me back to 2004, I'm sitting in St Mark's Square in Venice, Italy writing in my journal as the sun was setting when the orchestra started playing "Imagine." It was my first trip solo abroad and that was the first reminder of home.

In Varadero, I'm staying at Beny's House, which is exactly what it sounds like. His daughters, Natalia and Giselle, manage all the cooking for guests. Food is pricey in this town so I've had most of my meals at the house. At CUC40/night, this is the priciest place during my Cuba circuit. This town is the beach spot to be among folks from Canada and Europe..it's nice..certainly warm waters. I'm writing this at 8pm at a still crowded beach. It's a shame how much trash folks leave here though. Cubans must  be huge fans of the Beatles because this is the second town now that houses a huge bar dedicated to the Beatles..Trinidad had one as well... equipped with life size Beatles statues, album covers and lyrics on the walls. The Beatles Bar in Varadero. The Yesterday Bar in Trinidad.

This is the only town that will accept euros as a form of payment which was handy for me because I'm starting to run low on my CUC bills. Banks here aren't equipped for American cards of any type...yet? It seems like each time you get in a cab, regardless of type or distance, the go carts, old school classic, yellow can or horse carts, it's CUC5. Cigars here cost twice as much as they did in Trinidad. Score on my Trinidad purchase for requesters back home!

The cat calling and hissing continues in Varadero. I was looking to buy an obligatory bag (it's my vice while traveling)..he wanted CUC10 and I said CUC6 and he said how about CUC6 with a kiss? What?! Then he offered a kiss and it's free. What?! Gross. Twenty blocks later, I bought one for CUC7 and didn't have to kiss anyone!

My second full day on this beach strip, I spent at the beach taking in the Caribbean blue waters and then hopped on a double decker tour bus because I was curious to see what the east side looked like. At the beach, an older gentleman from Cologne, Germany chatted me up while on his walk. I was meditating to the sounds of the ocean. After the general casual conversations one has with other travelers, we bid each other well. As he walked away, I thought to myself, did I just miss a sugar daddy opportunity?! I joke! I must say, he was an upgrade to the teen that was trying to chat me up shortly prior and the guy that invited himself to sit next to me while I was watching the sunset last night. Speaking of which, ladies (and gents), there's a hilarious article Aziz Ansari wrote about dating in June's Glamour magazine. Hilarious!!

East side of this town is full of huge all inclusive resorts. The boring stuff. There are a bunch of developments going up with huge banners that read "construction is revolution"! During the 90 minute bus tour of the east, I couldn't help but think, once Cuba is able to really do business with the U.S., how long it'd take before Ironman offers up "Ironman Cuba"! This strip of land would almost be perfect for it and the location, Cuba, would draw entries like bonkers, except this beach strip is no representation of authentic Cuba. 

Next stop: on the 12pm bus back to Havana!