When she jetted off for the holiday of a lifetime in Cuba, Lincolnshire Echo reporter Emma Snedden expected sun, sea and cigars. But Hurricane Michelle changed her plans…

Palm-fringed beaches, plazas dappled with warm sun and lots of time to relax and enjoy Cuba – that’s what I expected to get on my holiday.

But Hurricane Michelle, the strongest storm to hit Cuba for 50 years, had other plans for me and my mother Vicky.

During my seven-day break, Michelle became as familiar as the other members of our touring group, and dominated every part of the holiday.

Echo’s Emma

From when I landed at Havana airport, rumours of the impending hurricane were rife.

We drove two hours to Varadero, a beach resort on the northern coast of the island, and the next morning, heavy cloud and rain finished off any thoughts of languishing on the beach.

English speakers staying in the 1950s palace of the Hotel International rued the bad weather while staring at the two miles of unspoilt beach outside the door.

But though we laughed and joked about the possibility of the hurricane, no-one took it seriously. We still thought it would blow over.

The next day, we drove to Cienfuegos, and later to Trinidad, cities on the southern side of the island.

Both were full of colonial buildings, painted in pastel shades of blue, yellow and green.

Every one seemed to be held up more by the will of the people inside than any structural strength.

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