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Day 11: After breakfast we walked down the road & caught the bus to Valdero. Ticket for single 2CUC, the Beach Tour 5CUC but you can get on & off anywhere throughout the day. We would have taken it but the ordinary one came first.
We were dropped off at the crossroads in town, the shopping mall just opposite. We walked to the right & visited the street market. Many stalls to see, mostly selling the same tat but some one interesting items worth looking for. We saw Santa Elvira Church, which is was worth a visit.2011 March Cuba 163.jpg
Coming back up on the far side of the street we decided to save the mall for after lunch, to avoid the hottest part of the day. Carrying up furhter the wife spotted a sign 'Casa del Habano.' It is the smartest & newest shop in Valdero that we saw; two ladies inside handing over till to each other when we arrived. I waitied patiently & asked to see in the walk in Humi. Having two staff I didn't think it was a problem but they weren't keen at all. 'Just tell us what you want & we will get it for you'. I explained I wanted to look at the dates & box codes, a request they didn't seem to have heard of before. I persisted & eventually they let me in. 90% of the stock was 2010 so no little gems hiding away. I asked for various items & like Havana they didn't have them. 'But we do have the 2010 ELs.'2011 March Cuba 195.jpg
I saw the Party Especiales & the LCG & all three Jars. I opted for the Party's @94CUC but wished I could take the LCG as well but it would have put me over my 100 allowance. Have to smoke more!
We had lunch in the mall. It was a Cuban Burger bar, quite a curiosity, with no logos or dressed up mascots or staff. It was air conditioned, although I noted the door was open the whole time. I wondered how the owner felt about his elec bill? After a hotdog & Crystal beer, we had a quick look in the cigar shop but not in the same class as official Casa.
We exhanged some money at the exchange here but it was hardly better than the hotel & poorer rate than we were getting at our hotel in Havana.
When we came to leave the mall we tried to leave by the back enterance & found ourselves on the beach. This was the best unadvertised find of the holiday. The beach here was better than ot our hotel, with the benefit or very few people about, we decided to come back another day & enjoy it.2011 March Cuba 176.jpg
Caught the 5CUC bus back so we could stop off at the Playa Americans & nip through to see Zanadu. This was a house built in the 20's when money was no object. I had read about it in the guide & it was described at the best place worth seeing in Valdero. Well not IMHO! It's quite a drag to get there & part from the view from the top floor bar, you really don't get to see much of the place, if your not a guest. Although you can dine at the resturant. We did see a diver with his spear caught catch, just taking them to the chef for the evening meal, 100% fresh. We also saw two bridal parties posing for photos there.
Evening show 'Las Vagas,' proving the Cubans can do any sort of Latin but Rock & roll, especially Elvis, just didn't come off. After the show we passed the Cigar shop when my wife noted that there was a box with only one stick left, perhaps if I offered to buy the stick, they'd incude the box so I could put some of my customs inside for the journey home. I went in & it turned out to be a H.Upmann Sir Winston 11.30CUC,done deal, even bette the wife paid. Could be the only 'box' of cigars she's brought me... so far
2011 March Cuba 217.jpg
We were dropped off at the crossroads in town, the shopping mall just opposite. We walked to the right & visited the street market. Many stalls to see, mostly selling the same tat but some one interesting items worth looking for. We saw Santa Elvira Church, which is was worth a visit.2011 March Cuba 163.jpg
Coming back up on the far side of the street we decided to save the mall for after lunch, to avoid the hottest part of the day. Carrying up furhter the wife spotted a sign 'Casa del Habano.' It is the smartest & newest shop in Valdero that we saw; two ladies inside handing over till to each other when we arrived. I waitied patiently & asked to see in the walk in Humi. Having two staff I didn't think it was a problem but they weren't keen at all. 'Just tell us what you want & we will get it for you'. I explained I wanted to look at the dates & box codes, a request they didn't seem to have heard of before. I persisted & eventually they let me in. 90% of the stock was 2010 so no little gems hiding away. I asked for various items & like Havana they didn't have them. 'But we do have the 2010 ELs.'2011 March Cuba 195.jpg
I saw the Party Especiales & the LCG & all three Jars. I opted for the Party's @94CUC but wished I could take the LCG as well but it would have put me over my 100 allowance. Have to smoke more!
We had lunch in the mall. It was a Cuban Burger bar, quite a curiosity, with no logos or dressed up mascots or staff. It was air conditioned, although I noted the door was open the whole time. I wondered how the owner felt about his elec bill? After a hotdog & Crystal beer, we had a quick look in the cigar shop but not in the same class as official Casa.
We exhanged some money at the exchange here but it was hardly better than the hotel & poorer rate than we were getting at our hotel in Havana.
When we came to leave the mall we tried to leave by the back enterance & found ourselves on the beach. This was the best unadvertised find of the holiday. The beach here was better than ot our hotel, with the benefit or very few people about, we decided to come back another day & enjoy it.2011 March Cuba 176.jpg
Caught the 5CUC bus back so we could stop off at the Playa Americans & nip through to see Zanadu. This was a house built in the 20's when money was no object. I had read about it in the guide & it was described at the best place worth seeing in Valdero. Well not IMHO! It's quite a drag to get there & part from the view from the top floor bar, you really don't get to see much of the place, if your not a guest. Although you can dine at the resturant. We did see a diver with his spear caught catch, just taking them to the chef for the evening meal, 100% fresh. We also saw two bridal parties posing for photos there.
Evening show 'Las Vagas,' proving the Cubans can do any sort of Latin but Rock & roll, especially Elvis, just didn't come off. After the show we passed the Cigar shop when my wife noted that there was a box with only one stick left, perhaps if I offered to buy the stick, they'd incude the box so I could put some of my customs inside for the journey home. I went in & it turned out to be a H.Upmann Sir Winston 11.30CUC,done deal, even bette the wife paid. Could be the only 'box' of cigars she's brought me... so far
2011 March Cuba 217.jpg
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