About two hours before my flight’s departure from Lester B. Pearson airport, I pass through the screening process. I travel light with my carry-on being my point and click camera and documents and papers relating to my sketchy itinerary. Sketchy? Well, this is my first time to Havana, Cuba and I will be meeting people I have never previously met but they are people whom my Cuban friend in Toronto knows well and one of them happens to be his wife, Patricia. Since I arrived early, there are not too many people in the waiting area.
We are getting close to boarding time. I notice many of the flight crew in the lounge. Passengers are generally clad in light, loose-fitting clothes and though the lounge is air conditioned and feels a mite chilly to me I don’t see signs of discomfort on any faces. Probably they are in their own worlds of anticipation, thinking what lies ahead.
Cubana Airlines’ Airbus A-320 that I am on has plenty of leg room and the lunch is a happy surprise: a cold bean salad with black and green olives, feta cheese chunks and sliced cold chicken (white meat) plus orange juice, a whole wheat bun, coffee and a fair-sized dessert. All in all, for me, a tasty combination.
I have a window seat by choice. Justin, the young man who sits beside me has a good deal to tell me about his plans to enter the world of finance and provided me with his personal background. We part before Havana, a scheduled stop for passengers to journey on to their chosen resort.
Matthew, the man in the aisle seat and I strike up a conversation. We remark on how only six passengers remain in the leg to Havana. He also gave me some of his background and it turns out that he comes to Cuba up to four times a year for weekly vacations. Matthew and I parted company when I was dropped off at the Hotel Plaza where I had a room booked.
