Cubana IL96 in C (yes i am serious) to Havanna followed by Machu Pichu, Cuzco & Quito
#31
#34
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Munich
Programs: Miles & More;
Posts: 377
When i booked my flight London (as well as rome) was actually one of the options i could choose on the homepage - but it always ended in an error message.
Thank you very much
actually that plane is not that old - some Lufhansa 747 are older!
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Munich
Programs: Miles & More;
Posts: 377
Aguas Calientes to Cuzco
I arrived early enough back in Aguas Calientes to get something to eat bevore it was time to board my train back to Cuczo.
Actually not all the way to Cusco - but rather to Poroy a little town a few kilometers outside of Cuzco.
Like on the outbound journey i again booked the Vistadome train because it had the best timing.
As i was pretty tired by now i slept most of the trip - slept even through the meal service.
The trip took about two hours longer than planned, as the train broke down in the middle of the journey and it took some time to get the locomotive replaced.
When we arrived in Cuczo i was hoping to catch a Collectivo to get back to Cuzco - but had no luck. Most of the other passengers travelling on the train had arranged transportion back to Cuzco. Finally we found a taxi that would take us to Cuzco.
Actually not all the way to Cusco - but rather to Poroy a little town a few kilometers outside of Cuzco.
Like on the outbound journey i again booked the Vistadome train because it had the best timing.
As i was pretty tired by now i slept most of the trip - slept even through the meal service.
The trip took about two hours longer than planned, as the train broke down in the middle of the journey and it took some time to get the locomotive replaced.
When we arrived in Cuczo i was hoping to catch a Collectivo to get back to Cuzco - but had no luck. Most of the other passengers travelling on the train had arranged transportion back to Cuzco. Finally we found a taxi that would take us to Cuzco.
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Munich
Programs: Miles & More;
Posts: 377
CUZ-LIM with Avianca (C)
Early the next morning it was time to leave Peru for my next stop in Quito. As there are not many routes served directly from Cuzco i had to get to Lima first.
Thanks to our favourite south american frequent flyer programm i got a business class ticket for CUZ-LIM-UIO for a really good price.
Check-in at Cuzco opened about one hour before departure (actually i think the whole airport opened then - i was on the first flight out in the morning) and soon i was at the gate
This time i flew on an Embraer 190. Even on this small plane there were 8 comfortable business class seats (similar to the Airbus a few days earlier - but in 1-2 layout)
The overhead bins matched the seat layout - really big ones on the right side, rather small ones on the left.
There also was a TV and a USB-Port in the seat in front of me.
We got drinks while still on the ground - and even on this short flight some cold cuts as breakfast
Thanks to our favourite south american frequent flyer programm i got a business class ticket for CUZ-LIM-UIO for a really good price.
Check-in at Cuzco opened about one hour before departure (actually i think the whole airport opened then - i was on the first flight out in the morning) and soon i was at the gate
This time i flew on an Embraer 190. Even on this small plane there were 8 comfortable business class seats (similar to the Airbus a few days earlier - but in 1-2 layout)
The overhead bins matched the seat layout - really big ones on the right side, rather small ones on the left.
There also was a TV and a USB-Port in the seat in front of me.
We got drinks while still on the ground - and even on this short flight some cold cuts as breakfast
#37
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
great TR. i have been wanting to get to Havana for some time. it is a rather easy flight from YYZ so i honestly dont know what is stopping me other than just time....
That whole lock thing is Paris is absurd. I do not see why they are not removed. It’s vandalism. No better than graffiti. Just plain stupid!! Why they tolerate it for as long as they have is totally beyond me.
[hmm...loooks like they finally got fed up - http://nolovelocks.com/blog/ ]
That whole lock thing is Paris is absurd. I do not see why they are not removed. It’s vandalism. No better than graffiti. Just plain stupid!! Why they tolerate it for as long as they have is totally beyond me.
[hmm...loooks like they finally got fed up - http://nolovelocks.com/blog/ ]
#38
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Miami
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Iberia Plus Plata, SPG Gold
Posts: 23
Great trip report! Thanks for sharing this. I've been to Cuba twice, once on Cubana from Madrid. What I remember about the flight is that it was very delayed. From your photos though paying €50 more to fly in business would have been the way to go. Your pictures of Havana bring back lots of fond memories of the place. I spent a few weeks in Cuba on the second trip and brought a bike, I made it as far as Camagüey and then by train and bus onto Sancti Spritius and Trinidad. I really liked the smaller provincial capitals, off of the tourist trail. Makes me want to get back to Cuba for another visit...
#40
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Programs: AA, Delta, Singapore Airlines
Posts: 701
On the subject of the cars in Havana, did you manage to get any shots of the engine bays or ask anyone to pop their hood to obtain a shot? The car engines are usually not original but Soviet/Russian engines due to the lack of spare American parts. It's a mind-blower to see a Lada engine in a 1951 Cadillac.
Cuban mechanical ingenuity is one of those amazing stories in the world that you never really imagined until you find out about it.
Cuban mechanical ingenuity is one of those amazing stories in the world that you never really imagined until you find out about it.
#42
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,609
I agree with roastpuff! Goodness.
Onto more important things: I visited Macchu Pichu in 2011. It is truly one of the world's special places.
At that time, there was talk of limiting access in the village at the top to designated paths, preventing you from wandering anywhere in the village. I take it that in all things Latin American, that this has not been finalized and you are still free to wander the village at will?
A terrific report. ^
Onto more important things: I visited Macchu Pichu in 2011. It is truly one of the world's special places.
At that time, there was talk of limiting access in the village at the top to designated paths, preventing you from wandering anywhere in the village. I take it that in all things Latin American, that this has not been finalized and you are still free to wander the village at will?
A terrific report. ^
#43
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington D.C. via Sao Paulo via Houston via Washington D.C. via Boston via New York
Posts: 1,172
Thank you for a different trip report, it's not everyday you see Cubana and Havana, again as an American I really would love to be able to visit one day. Excellent report and wonderful pictures.
#44
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, TK Elite, A3 Gold
Posts: 145