Before leaving Varadero, we went by the Dupont house, built by the industrialist in 1930 at the very end of the peninsula. The house is also known as Xanadu … a greatly preserved mansion by the sea with a great roof top bar … and great staff that has worked there for 25+ years. Great stories and history.
On our way back to Habana, we stopped by a road side hut that sold “pork and bread” for a quick meal and flan. The rest of the way was mostly on a 4 lane highway next to the sea. We went through the town of Matanzas and other seaside towns as civilization became more real as we approached the capital … more people, more ships, more factories, more buildings, more cars.
We finally arrived to the same house in Habana from where we left 9 days ago. We made it! All safe, all motorcycles in one piece, no broken bones or accidents, no police incidents … just an amazing trip. After kissing the ground, we began the unloading process.
This trip was not only an amazing adventure but also a unique learning experience … we managed to always stay with Cubans, at their homes …. we had great daily conversations about history, politics, philosophy, life, challenges, aspirations with everybody we met … in a way that few motorcycle adventures allow … a soul enriching experience.
As with any place, Cuba has its good and its bad things. Life here is very safe, relaxed, not often tied to a clock or to an urge to make money all the time or to careers and achievements … as many of our lives are back home. On the other hand, it is often hard to plan for a future as things are not easy … and the rules keep changing. We met people that wanted to stay because of the good things and others that wanted more and a better future and were ready to leave.
The stories that impacted me the most were of families often torn apart when grandparents, parents, and other relatives are left behind when children and grandchildren migrate to other countries.
There is sporadic Internet now so they manage to keep in touch but more often than not seeing their family in person is out of the question for years because of restrictions or because it is just too expensive. I always saw a glimpse of sadness in those Cubans that had lost family this way.
Our hosts in Habana have most of their family in the US and now their teenage children aspire to move away also. They have a nice life in Cuba with deep roots and history and are now wrestling with what to do next when and if their children leave. They are fortunate that they are able to travel freely.
As soon as we arrived to Habana, we sat down on the big rocking chairs on the big porch in front of the house and had some beers, cappuccinos, and watermelon juice … we were all dirty, sweaty, barefoot … just enjoying a great relaxed afternoon with our Cuban friends in Habana after a great ride … heaven!
We went to dinner to a nice restaurant inside the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” property as our last dinner in Habana … met 2 doctors from Mexico studying their ophthalmology and pneumology specialties in Cuba on a full ride scholarship from the government of Mexico … and 3 girls from China studying music (vocals) in Boston … all of us the same … just part of this big worldwide village … trying to figure out our way in this world … trying to get the most out of it … and figuring out why we are here.
A walk on the beach at dawn
Don Quijote at the very tip of Varadero
The great room at Xanadu (Dupont House)
The golf course at Xanadu
The view from the roof top bar at Xanadu
The rooftop bar at Xanadu
Xanadu - right on the beach
Yordi looking into this restricted store at the gas station to see what they have
We made back to Habana
We made it back to Habana
Survived!
Oh yeah - celebratory cigars
Anton's most important acquisition of the trip - a rapper gold chain (actually stainless steel)
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