After two years - a new country to visit - Cuba

AJAYA'S CRUISE
Phil & Nikki Hoskins
Mon 18 Apr 2011 22:43
Puerto da Vita 'Marina' - 21:04.293N, 075:57.294W
 
After a bumpy overnight sail from Hog Cay in the Ragged Islands, Bahamas we arrived in Puerto da Vita this morning, anchoring just 200 yards from the marina set into mangrove swamps so that the doctor could come onboard. He arrived by small blue speedboat wearing a white doctors coat - naturally, and pronounced us healthy and fit to enter Cuba so we were allowed proceed to the marina where a host of other officials were queuing to get onboard to fill out a plethora of forms. We had the Customs man, immigration, the vet (don't ask) - another customs man with a sniffer dog which the admiral took an immediate shine to (the dog that is, not the man). In all, eight men and one dog cleared us in officially to this rather unique country. And they were all totally charming and friendly whilst going about their business. The dog was looking for narcotics of course which we don't have any of (so the Admiral tells me) In fact after a while the Cocker Spaniel became bored and walked off the boat without permission from its master. Obvious caught a whiff of our holding tank!
 
Oh - and we caught a fish at last on the way in, a 2.5ft long Mahi Mahi (Keith you'll be pleased to know it was on the electric reel and Geoff - you were right - that home made 'killer lure'  worked at last although we had two small pink squid lures in tandem with it which the Admiral thought was a ridiculous Heath Robinson lash-up until the line whizzed off the reel at which time she went quiet and subsequently went about picking out the best pieces for her sushi!
 
Tomorrow we need to get some Cuban currency (Convertibles) and decide how we are going to get to see the Caribbean's largest island.. Unfortunately we are unable to post any pics yet as internet access is rare in Cuba.