Cuba Havana and the Sea

[MM 428]

Cuba Havana and the Sea
For Saturday, May 11, 2024
Michael MacKuen

For our second trip through Cuba, we see a bit more of the mainland before heading out to sea for two vacation islands and then circle back to visit the historic grand capital Havana. We finish at the tourist beaches of Varadero.


Climbing out of Cayo Largo into the glow of the late afternoon sun

We pick up from the western end of the Jardines del Rey at La Brujas on Cayo Santa Maria. We fly over the coastal islands (near the causeway) and then the mainland to land at Santa Clara [MUSC], a primary commercial center to the agricultural interior. Then south 5nm over the city to take a look at the Mausoleum for Che Guevara. By late 1958, Guevara had become a charismatic commander of the rebel army and won the decisive battle at Santa Clara. He went on to become Castro’s most capable and fiercest ally, spearheading efforts to spread the revolution until 1967 when he was killed spurring a revolt in Bolivia. In Cuba he remains a revered national hero. Continuing south we land at Cienfuegos [MUCF]. For many years a city of French and Spanish Europeans, Cienfuegos was a banking center and port for the interior. After the 1959 Revolution, it was transformed into a low-key industrial city while remaining an important port for sugarcane. On departure, we see the colonial-era Castillo de Jagua which was built to protect Cienfuegos Bay against pirates.

We head south over the sea to Cayo Lago Vilo Acuña [MUCL]. Cayo Lago del Sur is a small island with a coral reef, lovely white sand beaches on the southwest, uncrowded rougher beaches on the northeast, and five all-inclusive resort hotels in between. By many accounts, this is a terrific getaway-resort destination for Canadians and Europeans.

Into the air, we fly 70nm over many of the smaller uninhabited cays of the Canarreos Archipelago whose entire length is similar to the Florida Keys. With a pristine coral reef flanked by mangrove islands, it provides a habitat for many fish species and as a result it has become a magnet for saltwater fisherman. Special guided tours allow nature-loving visitors to enjoy the abundant wildlife (heron, hawks, flamingos, dolphins, crocodiles and sharks). We press on to the Isla de la Juventud and its small city Nueva Gerona [MUNG]. The large pine-covered island (called Isla de Pinos for most of its existence) was largely ignored by the colonial Spaniards. For 300 years it served as a supply base for pirates – and perhaps inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. By the twentieth century, there was a modest rise in forestry and tourism. With the Revolution not much changed here. (Except the name which Castro changed to glorify the role of Cuba’s youth in supporting the Revolution.) Today it retains a largely relaxed lifestyle with only small infusions of outside visitors.

We return over the Gulf of Batabanó to the mainland and the country’s primary international airport Havana José Martí [MUHA]. Havana (Spanish La Habana) has for five centuries been the main city of Cuba. It is now the second largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean. While not photogrammetry, the rendition of Havana has lots of POIs which make for an interesting aerial tour.

First north to the prestigious Miramar district which was once home to millionaires and now sites embassies, grand hotels, office towers, and public buildings. (We pass over the now-abandoned Ciudad Libertad airport.) Our first POI is the Iglesia de Jesús de Miramar, a 1948 church with acclaimed murals. And next is the architecturally imposing Russian Embassy (1987). Locals liken it to a sword plunged into the ground. It was jokingly called the “control tower,” a double entendre.[wiki] We head east to the Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva which hosts indoor sporting events. Next is the Plaza de la Revolución which was built in the 1950s as a civic square with a prominent monument to José Martí, the nineteenth century poet, philosopher, and journalist who was a driving force in Cuba’s anti-colonial revolution. Located on the south side of the plaza is the Palace of the Revolution, seat of the national government and Communist Party. To the north side are two government ministries with facades memorializing the 1959 heroes Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos.

Next is the Vedado neighborhood, the modern business district, where we see the commercial-residential FOSCA Building (1956), the tallest structure in Cuba. And then the Hotel Nacional de Cuba (1930) which is a grand hotel of a mixed Spanish colonial architecture. (Previous residents include a list of monarchs, heads-of-state, and an A-list of actors, artists and athletes.) The classic hotel operates today, though some guests suggest it needs refreshing. We swing past the National Capitol (1929) which housed the national legislature until 1959 after which it fell into disuse and deterioration. With the tourist-inspired renewal of Havana, the Capitol restoration was completed in 2019. Just to the east lies Old Havana (Spanish La Habana Vieja) which was the commercial and residential heart of the city well into the 20^th century. Again as part of a tourism strategy, Old Havana has been targeted for renewal efforts which are now seen as a success by local residents. Perhaps ten percent of the city has been renovated and tourists have returned in great numbers. Of course, other parts remain in various stages of urban decay – to be realistic, urban renewal is a challenge everywhere. (For a first-hand view of Old Havana’s different sides, skim through this 2024 walk.)

The next POI is the old Presidential Palace and now the Museum of the Revolution. We cross two fortresses on either side of the entrance to Havana harbor. The first, Castillo San Salvador de la Punta is not portrayed. On the east side we see nice models of the Spanish-built fortress Castillo del Morro and its associated lighthouse. From the 16^th century, Spanish Havana was a target for pirates as well as the British and French because it held a strategic position in the Caribbean. Just south is the marble statue Cristo de La Habana which overlooks the city and bay. The sculptor has said that the statue’s facial features are intended to reflect the racial diversity of Cuba. Locals say that the statue depicts the figure holding an imaginary cigar in his right hand and a mojito in his left, honoring Cuban popular culture. [wiki]

Flying east along the coast, we pass over the Estadio Panamericano, a multipurpose athletic stadium. This was the site for the 1991 Pan American Games. And moments later we pass over the picturesque town Cojímar, the home port of Ernest Hemmingway’s fictional fisherman in The Old Man and the Sea. (In the 1940s and 1950s, Hemmingway docked his customized yacht Pilar in Cojímar and spent many a day there with Gregorio Fuentes who served as her captain.)

We continue along the coast to the internationally popular resort town Varadero on the Hicacos Peninsula. The area was uninhabited until the 1880s when a few rich families built summer homes partway up the peninsula. In the 1920s, the upper half was acquired by American millionaire Irénée Du Pont (who had ascended to lead the family chemical company). Du Pont built a getaway mansion Xanadu (not properly depicted) overlooking the beach and then added a private 9-hole golf course. The house and expanded golf course remain. Two generations later, with the government’s 1990s emphasis on tourism, the old Du Pont lands were transformed into miles of all-inclusive tourist hotels managed by Canadian and European firms. The old town of Varadero, once a quiet summer reserve, now serves a million tourists annually. One charming relic from the 1920s is the Du Pont Water Tower, built in the image of a Spanish castle tower. This is nicely depicted by Asobo...though the accompanying ironwork statue of Don Quixote did not make the cut.

On the western side of the peninsula, the 20-kilometer-long Varadero Beach (also called Playa Azul) is typically ranked internationally among the top 50 in the world. Its strengths lie in its clear turquoise blue waters, palm trees, fine pink and white sands, and rich tropical colors.

We land at Varadero Juan Gualberto Gómez [MUVR] which has replaced the small airport just at the base of town. Built in 1989 for the tourist trade, the airport now handles two-and-a-half million passengers a year with direct flights to the big cities of Canada and Western Europe. Once we finish our flight, we can go into Varadero for refreshments and a beautiful tropical sunset.

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here.

Aircraft
This is a flight of about 390nm. You want something that will “fast cruise” at 185kts. Popular options include among others the Beach Bonanza (the turbo), Beech Baron, Mooney Ovation, Cessna 310, and Cessna 414. Continuing from our earlier Cuba trip, I shall take the Flysimware C414AW in the handsome N110VE Livery by Ryan Butterworth. You should, of course, fly what you like.

Additional Scenery
All the airports and the POIs are in the default simulator. Several addon airports will enhance the scenery appreciably. Thanks to the talented addon creators.

Las Brujas [MUBR]. cuba1962
Santa Clara Abel Santamaria [MUSC]. cuba1962
Cienfuegos Jaime Gonzalez [MUCF]. cuba1962
Nueva Gerona Rafael Abrera [MUNG]. cuba1962
Varadero Juan Gualberto Gomez [MUVR]. Chak991
Havana Plaza de la Revolucion. mv46
Temporarily, you can obtain the package here (46MB).

Microsoft and mv46 have added a number of POIs in Havana. They will come fast and furious as we fly over the city. You might ask MSFS to mark the POIs for quick recognition. (From the options screen, pick Assistance|Points of Interest|Landmarks.)

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 4:00pm local for May 11, 2024.
We typically prefer real weather and will follow form if the weather is good. If not, I recommend Josh’s ”NZ” or the default “High Clouds” preset.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, May 11, 2024. 1800 UTC
RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Please be kind enough to enter the title exactly as it stands in the title=”xxx” line of the aircraft.cfg file. Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!