NOW PLAYING: CUBA NATIONAL ANTHEM


CUBA

PAPA 'NEAL'
HEMINGWAY
RETURNS TO CUBA
27-28 AUGUST 2015

PH

The trip through Neal's emails (all times are local):

Neal's system: Panel was Armed Away at 8/27/15, 9:24 am

9:44 a.m.: On my way!

The [limo] driver was early and I was ready.

Ph

10:49 a.m. At ORD

Made good time. There were a few minor accidents, but no big traffic backlogs.
As far as I know the flight is on time and there have been no gate changes.

1:09 p.m.: On de plane

There are three others from the group a dozen rows ahead of me.
Should make it convenient for catching the hotel shuttle.

Gr

5:15 p.m.: In MIA

On the tarmac. Sunny here now. More later.

7:55 p.m.: We both know Captain Jamie

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Neal & Carla
(she & her husband, Bob, have been Megtooth hunting. too)

Waiting to go out for dinner . . .

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Cheryl & Katie

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Billy, my roommate, & Carla will be celebrating a birthday on Friday

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Carla's husband, Bob & Kathy


28 August, 3:30 a.m.: We stayed at the courtyard Marriott Doral in Miami

where it is now 3:30 a.m. and I'm waiting in the lobby
for everybody else to show up to catch the shuttle bus to the airport
at about 4 o'clock

3:31 a.m.: Today's a busy day

I'm riding to the airport with everyone
although my flight leaves in an hour after theirs.

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I will be getting into Havana on my own and catching a cab
to the HOTEL NACIONAL DE CUBA, a 50's and 60's famous hotel
where lots of big-name folks stayed,
such as Frank Sinatra and I guess 50% of the Mafia.

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It's possible we may be booked into one of those historic rooms.

Then about 1:00 we go on a tour of the city;
I think there are museums and some old cars.

We come back from that in time to eat and then have a sit down
with a marine biologist for a couple hours and learn all about
the work he has done at the Gardens of the Queen.

Most of this I got over dinner last night because there was
supposed to be a packet given out, which I haven't gotten yet.
I guess I'll get it this morning so I'll fill in the details once I have them.

3:35 a.m.: On Saturday morning I have to be up at 4 a.m. again

We take a scenic ride in the morning down to the harbor
where we will get on a boat; it will take us about four hours
across to the big boat that we will be staying on for the week.

We dive three times a day Sunday through Thursday.
Friday we return to Havana, staying at the PARQUE CENTRAL HOTEL,
and once again I have to be up at four in the morning to catch a cab to the airport.

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4:00 a.m.: The shuttle is here and we're loading

so pretty soon I'll start my journey and lose the Internet here at the hotel

6:46 a.m.: At my gate

At this moment the plane is listed with a 15-minute delay
and I should be boarding at 8:30 a.m.

8:27 a.m.: Boarding has begun


8:59 a.m.:
On board . . .

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The flight, on SWIFT AIRLINES (a charter plane):


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And here is a sentence I NEVER thought I'd write:
NEAL ARRIVED IN HAVANA, CUBA AT 9:56 A.M., EDT


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A FEW MESSAGES COME THROUGH HERE


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