Captivating Cuba

Hi it's Hector! Wow life has been so busy! I think half the world must be coming here for their holidays in Cuba! Last month I went to a wedding! Well really they were already married but had come to Varedero to renew the vows. They were an English couple, John and Alecia and they met on a Cuba holiday eleven years ago and are now married ten years! They are from London and so I met them when they arrive in Havana. They were so excited to be back in Cuba and that everything had been done for them. We organised the hotel, the music, the flowers, and of course the actual service. I always feel like when I organise the wedding or renewal it is so important to make sure they don't have to worry about anything.

Many people choose a rainforest or waterfall setting because here in Cuba there are so many beautiful places to choose from, but John and Alecia wanted to do their ceremony on the beach because they thought it would be much more romantic! So we did them a tailor made Cuba holiday and they didn't have to do anything themselves! (only just to fax their documents some weeks before.) John told me, 'We just wanted to get to the airport in Cuba, travel to our hotel and then let everything else get taken care of!' So I even organised their bus to Varedero to arrive at their beautiful hotel, so they would only need to step out the door and on to the beach to go to their ceremony! I offered them a translator but it was very sweet that they wanted it to be authentic in the local language, and had learnt some words.

I met them for a drink on their second night of their Cuba holiday, the day before they left to go to Varedero. When I spoke to them by phone they seemed lovely and I want to meet them to let them know everything was done. They had experinced so much in just two days in Havana! They been to the Partagas Cigar factory, and had fallen in love with our Capitolio - which some people said is the most beautiful building in Havana. They had also been to a Salsa club, and spent much of the second day in the old town just walking about and learning its history.

We got on so well, they asked if me and my friend would like to come to Varedero for the ceremony! Of course we said yes! We all caught the bus down to Varedero, (in Cuba, travel by bus is easy!) which is only around three hours from Havana. After they went to their hotel, and I went to make sure everything was organised for the ceremony. But in about one hour, I saw John and Alecia out horse riding along the beach! They were so relaxed only a couple of hours before their big moment!

As the evening came, lots of other guests staying in the hotel all gathered to watch as John and Alecia walked down to the beach with a local musician playing softly. It was very beautiful as they said their vows under the Cuban sunset. When the ceremony finished, we all drank some cocktails and went to a salsa bar and danced the night away! It was a wonderful night! John and Alecia stayed for one more week and swam with dolphins and went diving every day. When they got back to Havana, they told me they had their best time ever and that they'd be back on another Cuban holiday to renew their vows again in another ten years! Hope I see them!

posted at: 17:10 | path: /hector | permanent link to this entry | 0 comments