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Bit of an update and additions as I escape the sun for a
bit and enjoy a cigar. I'm thinking that
for anyone trying to make sense of these 'reports'/postcards it's a bad thing
that I Geri has her iPad and that the hotel has wifi. When I had to make notes and then write
something up when I got home I was forced to think things through and be a bit
more measured and a lot more organized.
So apologies for the free-form, stream-of-consciousness approach, but I
can't resist. As any of my Facebook 'friends' will know.☺️
1. The shared gym
and spa facility is well-maintained, though the free weights can be in short
supply when the gym is busy. Pick your
time. Still way better than most of the
hotel gyms I am used to.
2. The shops as
always. Depending on what you're looking
for you might want to hit all within reach before giving up. The Melia CSM the best for cigars, the Sol
for clothing, rum, wine and coffee, Las Dunas for souvenirs.
3. The artisans
market near the spa OK I guess but for us old timers the trashy souvenirs pale
when compared with the stuff, real art, you could get years ago.
4. Osbiel,
the bartender at the pool bar, can make a fine Bloody Caesar if supplied with
clamato juice. He has managed a supply of
celery salt. A few regulars bring jugs of the juice and he can also also manage
a 'bank' of cans if you buy at the shops and leave them on deposit with him.
5. Geri's back
doing well thanks to regular massages by Luis Wong. The spa also a nice spot to go for a quiet
swim after some gym time. I've tried out
my limited Cantonese on him. Much fun as
his as limited (if I understood his Spanish, his family first arrived in Havana
in 1890 or so).
6. Made the
mistake of reading a foodie mystery. Got
some menu ideas and recipes but the effect is to bias my evaluation of the food
here. 😜
7. I wonder if our
butcher can get me some beef hearts on a regular basis. Haven't had one in years and I now have a
Peruvian recipe that sounds fab.
8. General: the
resort is as it has always been. Well
maintained for sure. A serious
renovation coming but not really needed yet.
Lots of return guests a telling and good sign. The place's weakness remains the uneven
food. The beach and pool grills good,
the French a la carte too. The Japanese OK. The Italian gets universally bad reviews and
given our experience there last time we're not inclined to give it another go
for the sake of a review. Great beach. Staff that stay for years and seem
happy. GREAT coffee if you avoid the
Americano. Reasonable pricing that makes
the food not so big a deal.
9. Bit of
background that might place my opinions in context: I spend a lot of time in
hotels. A lot. In 2014 I was one of Delta Hotels top 100
customers and that was just for that chain.
Last year I spent something like 200 nights in hotels of one sort or
another. From Deltas to my current least
favourite, the Timmins ON Travel Lodge (where the big question on check-in is
whether you get a room with cigarette burns on the edge of the tub, on the
toilet seat, or on both). I'm a little picky about some things and tolerant
about others.
10. The Melia is a place we'll come back to over and
over. I (Geri may not feel the same way)
am more attached to the Sol next door. But I'm happy enough here. Over all I think the Sol a better hotel but
as it has more limited options, especially food_ wise, for a longer stay the
Melia better choice for most.
11. Argentine guests with their mate cups a hoot. High-tech caffeine addiction.
12. The only countries we visit where I have to sign
printed credit card receipts are the US and Cuba. Ironic.
13. The PR staff are GREAT. But under used. Want something or need to figure out how to
do something? Ask them. If only to save me from having to tell people
complaining about or wondering about stuff to contact the rather than interfere
with my bar still reading time.
14. BIG NEWS:
Noemi who used to work at the Rancheon at the Melia has opened a hostale in
Remedios. We plan on visiting on Tuesday
and will send more details. We are
already talking about visiting for a few days in April.
15. More Sol news. The bathroom panoramic windows are now
frosted on the ground floors. Takes all
the fun out of showering. We were over
there for the weekly pig BBQ to which we were invited as long-time return
guests at the Sol. Excellent food, bit of extra party fun for the guests, then
we raided the shop for all their clamato juice and headed to the Melia's lobby
bar and had the bartenders make us a couple of Caesars before we toddled off to
bed.
16. The seafood at the Rancheon great. The HVAC in the
Mediterranean restaurant incredibly noisy and aside from the aforementioned
appetizer the food ok but not great.
17. The cravings have really set in now that we're
halfway through week 2. I dreamt last night of an Indonesian restaurant in
Amsterdam I haven't eaten at in 30 years. On the flip side, the under-the-palms
breakfasts here...
18. Great time
next door at the Sol tonight. Baby pig on a spit.if you're at the Melia talk to
PR about an invite on the off chance that you might visit at some point. They have a roast once a week.
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