Erin Betts
After being in Cuba for one full, busy week, our second Saturday in Cuba started with an open morning to enjoy our own individual activities. Many of us took the opportunity to sleep in, check in with family and friends through the internet at our typical hang-out, Hotel Colina, visit with our host families, reorganize our suitcases, and run or walk along the Malecon. We all welcomed the chance to relax and take some time to ourselves before once again boarding bus 3475 to head to the village of Cojimar, located east of Havana.
Cojimar is best known for being a hangout of Ernest Hemingway and the inspiration for his book The Old Man and the Sea. In this village, we were able to enjoy a blue frozen Daiquiri, a favorite of Hemingway at La Terraza De Cojimar Restaurant and Bar. We also had time to explore and shop in the village before heading to a delicious family-style lunch.
Following lunch, we boarded our bus once again and headed to Santa Maria beach. We got to soak up the sun and soak in the warm waters of the Atlantic for several hours and even watched the moon coming out over the ocean as the sun set behind us. As the mosquitoes started to come out, many of us were driven off the beach to the hotel across the street where we had a buffet dinner. Here singers surprised one of our own, Megan, by singing Happy Birthday. Although her birthday is January 20, this was our last chance to celebrate as a group as her birthday fell on our first independent exploration day. We all ended the day exhausted from our time in the sun and ocean and looked forward to our free day to follow.
