Antonio went for some shopping, to eat at home instead of the cafes and restaurants, he brought eggs and ham for breakfast and some food to make soup and spaghetti, and coffee and milk, what a job trying to find milk.

We went to Don Lino beach again, i love it, even the journey, the buzz on the bike is amazing, i just didn’t like it when i was hit by things flying in the air, i don’t know what they were but they hurt so much it was like being slugged. Antonio left me on the beach while he went to get get lunch, i had a swim then went and lay on the grass, when i sat up it was amazing, baby goats and piglets running round searching for food, fantastic. He came back with fish, rice and beans and fried banana. We stayed until the clouds came over and again the rain came, we took shelter at one of the bus shelters and here i think i was bitten by something nasty. After a long time waiting we decided to make our way home, it was so bad it’s like being stabbed by hundreds of needles and it’s like rivers everywhere. We eventually made it home like a pair of drowned rats.

In the evening we rode up to Lomar del la Cruz, to view over the city, then rode back into the city. There was some bands playing so we stayed to watch those and have a few drinks.

After breakfast we went for a new bike, we got a day for the loss of the previous day but decided also to keep the bike for another week too. Today we went to Gibara beach, there was no stretch of beach mostly coves and rocks, we booked a meal at one of the restaurants, then went to sit and have a swim while we waited. You go through the home to get to the restaurant area outside, it was lovely and we had a nice meal of i think it was swordfish, Antonio speaks Spanish so doesn’t know the name in English, yucca, rice and salad.

We went out for our breakfast again, we ate toasted sandwiches in a different cafe but i wished i’d had the omelette again. We went to the beach at Don Lino next to Playa Blanca, it was nice there too, except for a few Cubans there was only us there, fantastic, but i hurt my foot when Antonio waved a crab at me, he said but it’s dead, i didn’t know that and even so i said don’t do anything like that again. We stayed until the rain came again unfortunately when we came to leave the bike wouldn’t start, i couldn’t believe it. So we went to the Don Lino Hotel, they said we could stay at the outdoor lobby bar area and call the bike owner. We were there for about 4/5 hours waiting as he’d gone out and then gone to the airport, so we had a few drinks then when the rain stopped went for a swim in the ocean. By the time he arrived we’d had a good few rons and i was very tired, they couldn’t fix the bike so they took us home in the car.

When i awoke after a good sleep i’m pleased to say the migraine had cleared and i felt much better. We got ready and went out to eat breakfast, we both had a ham omelette and coffee which was very nice. Antonio said about hiring a scooter for a few days so that we could get around and it would be cheaper than hiring taxis. So we went to the hire shop, it’s been a while since i’d been on a bike but it brought back memories when i used to travel with my dad on the back of his scooter when i was a girl and i loved it.

We drove to Playa Blanca, it took about an hour or more and i could feel the sun on my back, it was very exhilarating and fantastic seeing the real Cuba and her people. From the the people cycling alone or couples side saddle, bicycle taxis, horse and traps to the country roadside fruit sellers. I was also amazed at the cattle, goats, pigs and chickens roaming free.

We stayed on the beach for about an hour, Antonio had been to his cousins they’d been renting a cabin for a few days, so when the rain clouds came we went there. I met his cousin Yanet and her husband (Janet and John) and their baby Angeline a gorgeous two months old, and some friends. One of the friends cooked fresh fish and pork for us and we drank ron. The rain came down very heavy so we waited for it to stop before making the journey back, by which it was quite late. I don’t know how Antonio did it driving back in the wet and dark, it was very tiring and we were both very stiff and butt sore too.

When i woke i was so so nervous i couldn’t eat, my airport pick up arrived on time, i’d chosen a different company this time to my usual. It was a bit more expensive as you are the only only passenger, no other pick-ups, but i’d thought how much it cost me my last trip, i was charged £50 and was travelling with a family of four who were charged £60 and another couple also, so i wasn’t happy about that. He was very chatty and we soon arrived at the airport.

My time at the airport passed quickly, i had a chat with my friend Morag, my stomach was flipping as i still felt nervous, and i browsed the duty free. The flight was on time and went smoothly, i was travelling premier class so i was well pleased with that, i drank and slept most of the way so the nine plus hours passed quickly.

When we arrived at the airport i passed through security and the baggage arrived soon after, i could see Antonio waiting outside, i couldn’t believe this was it, i’d done it and was here.

We exchanged some money and then took a taxi to the house, i had no idea what to expect but it was fine. We were renting a room in the house and Nereda whose house it was was lovely.

I had a shower and changed, but by now i’d got a dreadful migraine, too much vodka, nerves or both. We went out to eat but i felt so bad i couldn’t eat anything.

Hello everyone, I am going to Cuba again, Antonio and i have been emailing one another and at the end of August he asked if i could return again soon. I was stunned at first as the plan was maybe next year, but i thought to find out sooner rather than later if we still liked each other. He asked to rent a house with him, not a hotel, so i called my friend Morag, who i book my holidays with to see could she get me a flight. So i made my flight reservation, i was lucky to get a flight only there was only two left so i quickly accepted the 26th September. I’m so nervous but excited also.

I was awake fairly early so after breakfast i went to the beach for the last time, i had an hour and a half then went to shower and get ready. Pick up was 12:15, i had enough time to get a snack to keep me going. The coach arrived on time, and check in at the airport went smoothly and the flight was on time. Unfortunately it was the flight from hell, because of screaming and crying kids i got very little sleep, when we touched down i could not get off quick enough. We arrived at Manchester about 6:30am and my pick up from the airport was waiting when i came through. I arrived home about 8am and considering i had not had much sleep i did not feel too bad at first

It was a nice day  and i thought i would get all my washing done and hung out to dry, i got the first load in and then it hit me, the need for sleep and i had to go to bed. I slept for a couple of hours and when i woke i thought i have to try and adapt back to UK time.

I spent all day on the beach, Antonio did not come, i did not know if it was because of the misunderstanding, lack of funds or too much to drink again. But i have since learnt that he went to the airport to try and see me before i left.

Lunch was a very nice barbeque served outside. I felt very sad but i made the most of and enjoyed my last day on the beach and in the ocean. I went and did most of my packing before dinner, i hate packing to go home, but i did not want to be rushing in the morning.

Dinner was also a barbeque served outside, i had chicken and prawns and potatoes in garlic, i do not know why but there was no chicken only bone so i was glad of the prawns and had some turkey which was nice. I had a few cocktails  and enjoyed my last night then went to bed for a good sleep.

After breakfast i went to the beach, Antonio arrived just after twelve. We stayed there chatting and i learnt from him some of what it is like to live in Cuba. I went to the retaurant and brought us some lunch and drinks, we stayed there again until dinner time. Then i went and showered and changed and brought some dinner out for us. Again we chatted all night and drank too much but it was all good. Antonio got chatting to a Cuban family so the chauffeur was able to take him back to Holguin.

I went to the beach after breakfast, Antonio was supposed to come but i did not see him. I was sunbathing when a young girl began waving to me, this went on for a while, then there was three of them. Later i went to cool off in the water, the three children came to talk and play, but we could not understand each other, but they were very sweet and the afternoon passed nicely.

I went to shower and change for dinner, the telephone rang but i missed it, because i was in the shower i did not hear it in time. Then i remembered Antonio had asked for my room number, i forgot he said that he would call, anyway i called back a bit later. He was sorry he did not come but he was too ill from all the drinking, his head hurt too much. He wanted me to go to Holguin the next day but i said no, it was too expensive in a taxi, so i said for him to come to me. He said that if he did not telephone in the morning he would come.

After dinner i went to watch the fashion show, it was very interesting and i was enjoying the different sequences except for a bunch of kids let loose to holler and scream until the mother took the hint and shut them up.

After the show i went and had a few cocktails before returning to my room.