Near & Far: CL friends visit Cuba

Canyon Lakers Bonnie Dubbs, Dave Campbell, Edna Lazo, Richard Hamilton and Loretta and Edward Dudziak traveled the Royal Caribbean Empress of the Sea Apr. 28 through May 4 with stops in Costa Maya, a stretch of Caribbean coast on Mexico’s eastern Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel and Havana.

“The purpose of the trip was to see Havana. We wanted to visit the real Cuba before it gets really touristy,” said Bonnie. “We hired a driver and a guide for the day and saw where the Cuban people live, ate in a family restaurant and had Mojito’s and cigars where Hemingway used to be by himself in a hotel at the top of the building.” The group also visited the Partegus Cigar Factory where the world-famous Habanos cigars are produced.