Day 1

Day 1

So we get to the Miami Airport and it is kind of funny trying to hook up with Craig and his two boys….we are on the bottom level and they on the second level….but we finally find each other….i spot one of Craig’s boys and say “you must be an Esherick !!”

Zeinada helps us at the ticket counter…it seems like the airline is a little more organized now…it is Sky King and the airplane says Sky King (last time the plane said Hooters….lol)….and the people working the counter are wearing shirts that say Sky King (last time the guy who grab our bags had a regular shirt on).

Right off the bat, Sky King tells us that Craig’s son who is only 15 yrs of age has to have an affidavit stating that he is indeed Craig’s son and of course this form costs 50 Dollars. Poor Craig is shocked by this and asks for a receipt for his $50 cash….but the lady says sorry to receipt….we are in MIAMI or Cuba…lol (something to remember for future trips taking kids under 16 yrs of age)

Then we go into the second line to check our bags. I notice 20 kids and parents in front of us being taken care of by some agent….so we go around the line and we are NEXT….again it is hard to communicate with the ladies because for some reason they do not speak English (and we are in Miami and this is an American airline)….they want to charge us $50 a bag checked in…(we did NOT get charged this last time….i think it is supply and demand…since more people are going back now, they can charge for the bags like all the rest of the American airlines)

Some guy keeps trying to put our carry-on bags onto the scale…I keep taking them off….

In addition to the $50 a bag, we have to pay $60 airport FEE….(again last time, we paid the travel agency along with our airplane ticket…this time the agency claims the airport wants to collect these fees separate)…dam shame

We finally go to a third line to pay…CREDIT card…good !!....NOT a good way to start a trip….just wait until our wives get this credit card receipt….lol

By now it is 3 pm and we have 3 hours to kill before the plane takes off…I suggest we stay in the main terminal and eat….but the Americans are anxious to get through the security check and to the terminal. So we go forward. It looked like an hour long line (again the Terrorist have won….as we are forced to take off our shoes and our belts…so stupid)

When we get to the gate….there are no food places opened…DAM…there is a little sandwich shop open making a killing on Cuban sandwiches and cokes and waters….Austin and Craig’s son decide to go BACK to the main terminal to try to see the exchange rate and get some kind of different food.

There are 3 planes going to Havana….5:30, 6 and 6:30….i guess they put them together to save money ??

Craig’s youngest son pulls out a deck of cards and we start to play Spades !!! yahooooooo

We board the second plane to Cuba…the 6 pm flight and it is packed…thank God our travel agent got us Exit seats with extra leg room…the plane is very HOT sitting in the Miami 100 or 120 degree airmat.

They do serve us some delicious small Cubans and cokes….a nice surprise…and I am showing Craig’s youngest son the Map of Cuba and where we are going to stay….and the beach, etc.

When we land in Havana….everyone in the plane cheers…I explain to the Americans that this is normal…we Cubans carry our emotions on our sleeves….lol