December 20, 2012
Random Thoughts 10: "Well Good Day to You, Engine Light"
Hello again. Only two thoughts for today. On to the first...
A week ago while I was at school, my engine light decided to show itself from hiding. I'll give you some background. I drive a black Nissan Maxima, and it can be a gentle soul when it wants to be, but it can also be a bastard when it wants to be. Last week, it decided to be a bastard, and on came the engine light. The car has been idling quite rough, and after looking at the engine, I decided to wait until after I finished my exams and left school to get the problem checked out.
Fast forward a few days later, while driving around to do some errands, the rough idling stopped and the engine light magically came off. It was a bit weird how the problems corrected itself. Maybe my car was trying to tell me something, or maybe my car simply has multiple personalities. Who knows. Anyways, I haven't had problems with the car since (fingers crossed).
Also, my car passed the milestone of 150 000 kilometers. Here's to another 150 000 more.
On to my second, and most important thought.
At the time of me writing this post, I only have 1 semester left for my undergraduate degree. After I left my last exam and came home for the holidays, it started to hit me on how much I will miss going to university. More importantly, I am going to miss the great people I have met while I was going to university. When I came home, I wasn't really feeling myself. I will be finished university very soon, and although I should be excited that I will be finally finished, a bit of uneasiness has set in, because all the great people that I have met will all go their separate ways. There is something else that is bothering me, but it is slightly personal, and may be a blog post in the future.
The important thing I should probably take from these feelings in to try to keep in contact with those who have made a positive impact on my time in university. Hopefully this will lessen my fears about leaving university, and leaving those who have had those positive impacts on my university career.
October 18, 2012
News of the Day - Toronto FC + Stephen Hart
If you all haven't heard the news this morning about Toronto FC and their ticket prices today, then let me sum it up for you. Tom Anselmi has announced that season ticket prices for the 2013 season is being rolled back to 2007 prices for all existing season ticket holders. Also, any newcomers looking to buy season tickets will also experience drastic reductions.
First off, I'll say this. This is an incredible gesture of goodwill from MLSE to the season seat holders. I was at a loss for words when I heard the announcement, because MLSE is a sports organization known for gouging its customers with high ticket prices and overall incompetence in managing their sports teams. But when I heard that announcement, I got the feeling that MLSE was at least aware of the supporter unrest at Toronto FC, and felt pressure from those who expressed their concern about high ticket prices.
An issue I had with ticket prices is that (according to the media) 2013 Single Game tickets will still be at 2012 levels. I still think single game tickets are a bit too high and it could have done with a slight reduction at the very least. I think Tom Anselmi and MLSE missed an opportunity to address the supporters who don't have the time or money to go to all the Toronto FC matches. They also missed an opportunity to address the casual crowd who are now apathetic on going to Toronto FC matches, because even though the die-hard supporters will always be there for the club, it is the casual crowd who can help market the club to new fans. If you can reduce the prices for them, some may come back.
While the ticket price reductions have been very good news for the club, MLSE's work is not done. For many supporters, season ticket prices isn't the issue as to why they won't be coming back to BMO Field. These supporters would like to see a new direction for the club, and I would as well. MLSE needs to remove those in the front office and they MUST hire a new club president with relevant experience in North American soccer. Whether MLSE will actually do that can only be decided by time.
With the failure to reduce single game tickets, and the potential lack of addressing the actual direction of Toronto FC, I fear that there will be a continuation of empty seats on match-days at BMO Field and general supporter apathy.
I'll end on a positive note. MLSE are on the right track to winning over the supporters again, but they have a lot more work to do.
Quick Thoughts: Stephen Hart has resigned as Canadian Men's National Team Head Coach. I respect him for all he has done for the men's program, but Hart made the right decision by resigning, which I applaud him for. I can only imagine how he felt after the 8-1 loss to Honduras, and I can only imagine how he feels now. I wish him all the best on his future endeavors.
October 17, 2012
Quick Post-Game Thoughts: Honduras vs. Canada
That could have very well been one of the worst matches I
have ever seen the Canadian National Team play. They didn't even show up in
that 8-1 thumping Honduras put on them.
Where do I start? I start off with the appalling finishing
by Tosaint Ricketts in the early stages of the game. He missed a couple of
great chances to get Canada some early goals in this match, and it very well
could have changed the dynamic of the match. But terrible play in the final
third for Canada wasn't even the biggest issue. The defense, normally pretty
dependable for Canada, completely fell apart. Simple defensive errors and
marking issues really did this team in. Add in the constant loss of possession
in the midfield and you've got a concoction of disappointment. With a spot in
the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, you would expect the Canadian
team to show some sort of fight, right? Instead, the players completely let
themselves, the supporters, and the entire country down with the joke that they
call a performance. It reminded me of when Toronto FC played the New York Red
Bulls on the last match-day of the 2009 MLS Season. TFC played terribly, lost
5-0, and missed out on the playoffs. I was reliving that pain when watching this
Honduras/Canada match.
The players deserve the brunt of the blame, but some of the
blame must be passed to Head Coach Stephen Hart, and the rest of the coaching
staff. In my opinion, Stephen Hart has made some big mistakes in this match. He
failed to motivate the players in the importance of this match and the
implications along with it, and his team selection and formation was a bit
questionable. I think it’s time for him to part ways with the Canadian Soccer
Association. I don’t see how he can keep his job after that debacle. It was
nice knowing you, Stephen Hart.
Canada’s elimination from World Cup Qualifying has some
other effects as well. From a business point of view, there will be no more
games in Canada, missing out on potential revenue for the CSA. Also, the
elimination is a hindrance on the growth of soccer in the Canadian sporting
landscape. It will now be harder to attract fans to soccer in Canada. Having
17000+ fans in BMO Field for Canada matches is very nice, but imagine if Canada
actually made it to the hex? More people will definitely take notice of
Canadian soccer if Canada made a decent run to the World Cup.
I’ll touch on one last point. Does Canada have the talent to
at least make it to the hex? Perhaps, they were one point away from qualifying
for it. But do they have the talent to COMPETE in the hex? My answer is no.
Canada is not as talented as some of the Central American countries, and they
are nowhere near as good as the USA or Mexico.
Maybe it’s time for the Canadian Men’s National Team and CSA
to give a long, hard look at themselves and find out what it takes for them to
get to the Hex, and eventually, the World Cup.
August 29, 2012
Some Tips for College/University First-Year Students
It’s almost that time again. People are enjoying the last of
summer and are getting ready to go back to school. For upcoming first-year
college and university students, this is a major step up from what they were
used to in high school, and the change may be overwhelming for some. I am going
to offer my wisdom by listing some tips and advice for upcoming college and
university students on their first year of their studies. I strongly insist
that you all take this advice and apply it.
One of the most important things you should ever do when in
college or university is to attend all your classes. I have a couple of idiotic
friends who rarely go to class, and they have mostly failed their courses,
which mean that they have to retake them, thus costing more money for them in
tuition. Skipping class isn’t cool, and you only screw yourself. Also, don’t
make excuses for not going to class, such as your schedule or the weather. Go
to class.
Merely showing up in class isn’t enough; you have to listen
in class. I don’t advise taking notes with your computer, because more often
than not, people get distracted on their laptop or tablet by going on Facebook,
Twitter, or some other website. I suggest taking your notes with the classic
pen and a notebook.
If you start having trouble with one of your courses, go
find help. Professors always have office hours, so it doesn’t hurt to go see
the professor for guidance. They also have e-mail addresses, as well as other
ways to contact them, so don’t hesitate to do so. There are other places to
seek help, such as tutors and academic advisors. If you need it, seek help
sooner rather than later.
With all this stuff about the “studying” part of school, I’m
not saying that shouldn’t go out and have fun. In your first couple weeks of
college and university, make as many new friends as possible, and have some
fun. But don’t lose sight of what you actually came to college or university
for, and that is a degree. Moderation is the key, between studying for your
courses, and going out with friends.
Some other minor thoughts:
- For many people, this will be the first time
that they will be living by themselves. Learn to clean up after yourself and take
care of your body.
- Join some clubs in and around the college or
university. It is a great way to make some new friends and explore your
interests.
- Try to participate in some campus events. Once
again, great way to meet new people.
- If you need to sell textbooks, try to sell them
to fellow students instead of the campus store. You may get more money that
way, and it also saves the other person some money by buying it directly from
you instead of buying the textbook from the campus store.
- Don’t procrastinate! Do your readings! And do your work!
- Nobody cares about what you did in high school
or your high school achievements. Use your time in college or university to
change yourself for the better. I thought of my first year of university as a
fresh start at life, and that has certainly helped me.
And there you have it. That is all I can think of when it
comes to going to college and university for the first time. For all the
upcoming first-year students going to college or university, I’ll say this.
Good luck in your studies, and don’t do anything stupid, such as miss class, or
impregnate a girl (use protection!). But most importantly, have fun. College
and university is a learning experience about who you truly are.
August 26, 2012
The Current State of Toronto FC: My Thoughts - Part 2
With all the issues in Part 1 (and more) surrounding the
team, many TFC supporters feel hopeless that anything is going to change for
the better. Other TFC supporters have taken the “hope and pray” approach and
are eager that the team will get some positive results. But there are some TFC
supporters, including myself, who are pressing for drastic change at the club.
I may not agree with some TFC supporters’ way of supporting the team, but you
have every right to support the club whichever way you see fit.
I don’t like how some TFC supporters are constantly blindly
positive about the team and follow the team around like a bunch of sheep. But
if that is the way you want to support your team, then so be it. I also don’t
like how some TFC supporters think that this team will never succeed and are
always pessimistic about them. I admit that I still think this way at times,
but if you want to think this way about the team, then go ahead. I prefer to be realistic about this team.
I have seen Toronto FC go through some half-assed changes
over the 6 years of their existence. Year after year, coaching change after
coaching change. When coaches weren’t the target, general managers were, as was
the case of Mo Johnston in 2010, and the team still performed poorly. Now there
are TFC supporters (including myself) who want the Toronto FC front office
fired and held accountable for Toronto FC’s failures. Tom Anselmi, Earl
Cochrane, and others in the front office have been the only people who have
been a part of Toronto FC since the beginning.
It’s time for a change at the top. Kill the virus at the
source, I say. There needs to be a new, proper long-term vision and strategy at
the club. Tom Anselmi had 6 years to fulfill his vision for the club, and he has
failed at it. Letting Jurgen Klinsmann do the work for you was just weak.
Now don’t let people tell you that you are hopeless in
trying to make a difference in this team, because you certainly can. I wish
there can be more active dissent towards the Toronto FC front office from the
Toronto FC supporters. The banners at BMO Field are a good start, but I wish
there is a way to make Tom Anselmi really feel what we are really going through.
He mentions that he is “fully aware” of the frustrations of the supporters, but
I don’t think he has any idea what we are really going through. There are other
ways of expressing dissent to the Toronto FC front office, such as boycotting
games and protests (these are merely suggestions). My main problem with active
dissent is that I don’t think that enough Toronto FC supporters will be up for
it, because I have heard many varying opinions on the current state of Toronto
FC. They can think whatever they want to think.
As for me, I am tired of seeing this team go through losing
season after losing season. I am tired of Toronto FC being labeled as the
embarrassment of Major League Soccer, and of North America for that matter. I
am tired of the lack of accountability for Toronto FC’s failings in the front
office, and of the lack of leadership. I dream of a time where BMO Field is once again filled to the rafters supporting the team they love. Seriously, it’s time for a change at the
top.
I want to see this team succeed for once, and I will do what
I can to make it happen. Don’t you?
August 25, 2012
The Current State of Toronto FC: My Thoughts - Part 1
Oh Toronto FC, you have existed in the MLS for almost 6
years now. You have had 7 different coaches during that time. None of them have
taken this team to the MLS playoffs.
I know this is an often repeated fact, but it needs to be
repeated some more. This fact needs to be repeated just so that people can
understand the futility that has plagued this club for its entire existence. It
seems that no matter who the coach is, or which players have been brought in to
improve the team, this team has failed to be competitive in the MLS. There are
many issues with this team, obviously.
With the players, it’s always constant issues with the
defense, such as poor marking (especially in set pieces), failure to push high
up the pitch to challenge the opposing team’s midfield, and generally running
around like chickens with their heads cut off. TFC have signed Darren O’Dea to
try to organize the defense, but it will take some time for the defense to be
on the same page. The midfield fails to keep possession most of the time and
spends that time chasing the ball. The forward situation is a bit unfortunate,
with Koevermans’ injury keeping him out for the rest of the season.
The coach, Paul Mariner, also has some blame to share, such
as making questionable substitutions when Toronto FC is leading which leads to
TFC conceding late, and switching around the defense so that defenders would be
playing out of their natural position. Mariner, like the coaches before him at
Toronto FC, is at least trying to sort out the issues on the field, which I
can’t fault him for. With the recent results for Toronto FC, some are asking
for the firing of Mariner, but I think that is a mistake. At least give him a
real chance to try to work things out with the team. Give him until the end of
this season, and probably give him the off-season too.
I don’t think the players or the coach are the real reasons
why this team has been tanking so much. I think the majority of the blame lies
on the Toronto FC front office, MLSE, Tom Anselmi and company. There is no
question that they have spent a lot of money in order to try to make this team
competitive in the long run, such as the new training ground in Downsview. But
more often, they have shown that they are truly incompetent in running a
football team. One can look at the negotiations between them and players such
as Dwayne De Rosario and Joao Plata as black marks in Toronto FC management.
Did I also mention the constant rising of ticket prices at BMO Field since Year
1, while the team keeps getting worse? It has gotten so bad with the rise in
ticket prices that buying season tickets in certain sections now is more than
triple the cost than in Year 1.
Yes, MLSE has spent the money, but I’m not so sure if their
hearts are actually vested in making this team a success, particularly Tom
Anselmi. My evidence of this is the press conference where Paul Mariner was
hired as Toronto FC’s new head coach after Aron Winter was fired. I constantly
saw Anselmi sitting back in his chair, with a smug smile at times, almost like
he didn’t really care about what is happening. I know this might not seem like
much to some TFC supporters, but from a human resources perspective, I think it told a lot
about how Anselmi views this team. I don’t think Toronto FC is an important
priority for him, and if the person at the top shows a lack of interest, then
it reflects poorly on the people working below you, which leads to lower morale
and motivation. Factor in the constant losing, and you’ve hit rock bottom.
It can be argued that there is a serious lack of leadership
in the front office of Toronto FC. Why is it that we have Tom Anselmi trying to
pull the strings from the Toronto FC front office when he has absolutely no
experience running a football team from a business perspective, other than
watching a few games here and there? From the looks of it, Anselmi shouldn’t
have been the COO of Toronto FC, because he simply wasn’t qualified, but I
don’t think MLSE knew that at the time. No point dwelling on that though. It is
what it is for now.
I wouldn’t be writing this article if Toronto FC was at some
point during their existence winning games regularly, because it kept the actual
team, and the front office politics separate. But with Toronto FC’s constant
futility, and the mistakes made by Toronto FC front office, I’m afraid the
actual team operations and the front office politics are inseparable, and I
don’t think they can be separated again for a long time. You can’t have one
without the other.
To be continued in Part 2
August 20, 2012
Everton vs. Man United: Post-Game Thoughts
I really didn't want to do this, but I must. Everton won the match 1-0. Here's my thoughts...
Everton were far and away the better team, especially in the midfield where Neville, Gibson, and Fellaini ran rampant on Man United's midfield and defense. Everton also made David De Gea work, peppering him with shots and free-kicks. Everton definitely exposed United's defensive midfield problems, and there was no question that they deserved to win this match.
Now on to United, and I'll start with the positives. Kagawa looked really good out there with his vision and his passing. I am really excited to see what he can really do in the following games. David De Gea was also very good as well, making some brilliant saves.
Now the negatives, United had a lot of possession but they didn't really do anything with it. It looked like watching Arsenal out there, with trying to walk the ball into the net and stuff. They didn't really test Tim Howard with shots, they just seemed content with knocking the ball around the outside of Everton's 18-yard box with no real tenacity.
Wayne Rooney had a terrible display today, though you can argue that he wasn't very match fit. I think that is a bit of an excuse. I'm sure Rooney will improve as the games happen. He can't be this bad for longer, can't he? Nani was also very poor, with his low point being his crossing, which was abysmal.
Man United's defense was also a bit shaky, but you would have to expect that if you only have two regular defenders starting in the match (Vidic and Evra). It doesn't help that Evans, Ferdinand, Jones and Smalling are all out injured, which left the defense a bit short. That meant that Carrick had to come in as cover as a center-back. He was sorely missed at the midfield. Valencia also had to go at RB as well, and he did an okay job.
I always thought that if United stayed relatively healthy, then they would be winning the league for sure. But with these injuries, especially in the back, I'm not so sure. This is not doom and gloom, but the performance from United today was a bit worrying. This is only the first game of the season though, and the performances will be better. Everton away is always a tough place to go and get points. 37 games left, let's go.
Everton were far and away the better team, especially in the midfield where Neville, Gibson, and Fellaini ran rampant on Man United's midfield and defense. Everton also made David De Gea work, peppering him with shots and free-kicks. Everton definitely exposed United's defensive midfield problems, and there was no question that they deserved to win this match.
Now on to United, and I'll start with the positives. Kagawa looked really good out there with his vision and his passing. I am really excited to see what he can really do in the following games. David De Gea was also very good as well, making some brilliant saves.
Now the negatives, United had a lot of possession but they didn't really do anything with it. It looked like watching Arsenal out there, with trying to walk the ball into the net and stuff. They didn't really test Tim Howard with shots, they just seemed content with knocking the ball around the outside of Everton's 18-yard box with no real tenacity.
Wayne Rooney had a terrible display today, though you can argue that he wasn't very match fit. I think that is a bit of an excuse. I'm sure Rooney will improve as the games happen. He can't be this bad for longer, can't he? Nani was also very poor, with his low point being his crossing, which was abysmal.
Man United's defense was also a bit shaky, but you would have to expect that if you only have two regular defenders starting in the match (Vidic and Evra). It doesn't help that Evans, Ferdinand, Jones and Smalling are all out injured, which left the defense a bit short. That meant that Carrick had to come in as cover as a center-back. He was sorely missed at the midfield. Valencia also had to go at RB as well, and he did an okay job.
I always thought that if United stayed relatively healthy, then they would be winning the league for sure. But with these injuries, especially in the back, I'm not so sure. This is not doom and gloom, but the performance from United today was a bit worrying. This is only the first game of the season though, and the performances will be better. Everton away is always a tough place to go and get points. 37 games left, let's go.
August 14, 2012
Random Thoughts 9: Cuba Stories, and Other Stuff
It has been a while since I actually did a “Random Thoughts”
post. If you’re not familiar with how this works, it is basically thoughts I
have that are too long to be tweeted on Twitter, and too short to be actually
made into a proper blog post. So I collect them into one single blog post. The
“Random Thoughts” blogs tend to be a lot more fun for me to write and tend to
be on the lighter side of things (though there are some occasional serious
thoughts as well).
Well, let’s get into it, and I will start with the Cuba
vacation I had not too long ago. I already talked about the hotel we stayed at,
but now I’ll talk about some of the experiences I had.
The very first time we went to the disco to drink and party,
we met some very interesting people there, including some Brits, and Cuban
locals. But the people who made the biggest impression on me that night were a
lesbian couple who were vigorously making out all over the dance floor.
Security tried to get these two girls to stop, but they kept going at it. One
of the girls wanted to make out with my cousin, but she flatly refused. The
final act the lesbian couple did that managed to get the disco shut down was
when they laid down on the bench and started having sex, right there, in the
view of everyone in the disco. Security came in and kicked out everyone, while
the drunken lesbian couple was arguing with security. Shit was going to go
down, so we left.
There was another time we had at the disco. We were chilling,
drinking and on the dance floor when this random girl took my drink and started
drinking it. Well, she was pretty hot, so we began to chat, while she kept
stealing my drink (drinks were free, by the way). Then when I asked her for a
dance, she blew me off! What a bitch! She has the audacity to steal two of my
drink, but she wouldn’t give me a wine? That’s straight disrespect.
I don’t think I have ever seen an actual ugly girl in Cuba.
All the local young girls (18-30) were amazingly fit, and very sexy. Would love
to take one home, but I don’t think the Cuban government would permit that.
Also, there are a lot of nice classic cars in Cuba as well.
At the resort, there would always be a small dog wandering
around. I resisted every part of my body to want to see how far I could kick
that dog.
Olympic Closing Ceremony Thoughts: I watched Austin Powers
instead. I have no regrets.
Last thought: I come from a family who loves to put pepper
sauce on everything. Not just on the food that would regularly need it, but on
regular food that people would never think of putting pepper sauce on, such as
pasta, and various breakfast items. Now, if you are someone who likes to put
pepper sauce on every food imaginable, then do you really know what good food
is? If you are cooking food, and you have to put loads of pepper sauce on your
already cooked food, then you are simply not a good cook. You can’t appreciate
the food for what it really is.
August 07, 2012
My Thoughts on the Canada-USA Match and Post-Game Reaction
If you all didn’t know by now, the United States pulled out
a 4-3 win in extra time in the semi-final of the Women’s soccer Olympic
Tournament from an Alex Morgan header in the last minute. I’ll spare you a full
tactical analysis because I personally find it boring and you can get that from
many media personalities and analysts. I’ll say this; Canada showed an
astounding amount of heart in that match and Christine Sinclair put in one of
the most memorable performances in recent memory in the women’s game. But all
too often, Canada easily gave away possession to the USA, and didn’t mark very
well, which showed in the USA’s 1st and 4th goals. I
would call the match pretty even between the USA and Canada.
Now on to the controversy, when the match was 3-2 for Canada,
the Canadian goalkeeper got called for the 6-second rule, and the USA got a
free-kick inside the 18-yard box. When that free-kick was taken, the ball
struck a Canadian player in the arm and a penalty was called, which Abby
Wambach scored to tie the game up. A lot of Canadian supporters were incensed
at those calls, as well as at other decisions the ref has made. Also, a lot of
Canadian supporters (and even some players) thought that there was “a fix” for
the Americans to win the match, because of the perceived bad decisions that the
referee has made.
Okay, my thoughts on the post-game reaction…
There was no “fix” in this match. I think that was nothing
more than emotion coming from the angry Canadian supporters. Don’t get me
wrong, the Canadian supporters have every right to feel angry from this match,
but to say that there was a “fix” for the USA to win is a bit rubbish. What exactly
will FIFA profit from this if there was actually a “fix”? TV Ratings? Money? I
really don’t know. To those Canadian supporters who continue to believe there
was a “fix,” I want to see some hard evidence of this. When I actually see it,
I’ll believe it, but until then, this match wasn’t actually a “fix”.
A lot of Canadian supporters are understandably upset at
some of the refereeing decisions made in this match, but it wasn’t like Canada
didn’t get away with tackles that the referee didn’t call, because they
certainly did. It seems like almost every single match, Canadian supporters
(and other fans of clubs and countries) are upset with the referee about
something. The referee isn’t likely to call a perfect match between two teams,
so then why do we demand perfection from the referees? Maybe it is because in
this time we live in, we get more and more access from soccer matches, such as
camera angles, crowd reactions, and interviews. Did the referee in that
Canada-USA match ref a bad game? That is debatable, but it seems like every
time a match is played, supporters get upset over something the ref calls or
hasn’t called.
For the 6-second rule that was called on the Canadian
goalkeeper, I have never seen that rule implemented in a match in all my years
of watching soccer, but no matter how obscure the rule is, it is still a rule
of the game that has to be observed. But there were also instances where the
USA goalkeeper Hope Solo held the ball for more than 6 seconds, but that is the
failure of the referee to spot, not because of some “fix”. As for the handball
call, the Canadian player clearly blocked the ball with her arm. That’s a
penalty, no debate. There are some people who attribute inexperience as to why the referee made those calls, but there has to be a time where a referee makes that step to reffing an important match such as this one, and for that Norwegian referee, that time was this match.
I even saw some tweets from actual Canadian players saying
basically that it “was already decided that the USA was going to win this game”
and that “FIFA should look over this match”. I thought those comments were a
bit classless and rather emotional, but once again; the players have every
right to feel angry about the outcome of the match. Some of the American players,
coaching staff, and supporters weren’t exactly graceful in victory, but I think
that pales in comparison to Canada’s “outrage”. This is merely a minor gripe.
Well, there is no use crying over spilt milk right? We can
talk about a “fix,” or bad refereeing decisions, but the only thing I will
remember from this match is that the Canadian Women’s Team played their hearts
out and gave their absolute everything. That is what I am proud of. Next is the
bronze medal match against France, and we need to give the ladies all our
support and will them on to a medal.
As for the events that happened against the USA, let’s put all
of this behind us, shall we?
August 02, 2012
Cuba - Special Shout-Outs
I want to use this blog post to send out a few shout-outs to those who have made my vacation in Cuba an enjoyable one. First, I would like to thank the resort staff of the RIU Varadero for making our stay at the resort as comfortable as possible. You men and women are a special bunch. Now onto my particular shout-outs...
Special thanks to our maid that cleaned our hotel room and bathroom every day. There are not too many people in this world who can do the job that you did. I hope you enjoy the hat we gave you, as well as all the other stuff too.
Special thanks to our Havana tour guide, who was very knowledgeable about Cuba and the City of Havana. I learned a lot from you about daily life in Cuba and the Cuban government. Also, the places you took us in Havana were really cool. For a history buff like me, being in Havana was an unforgettable experience.
Special thanks to our Varadero cab drivers who showed us around the town of Varadero and took us to the various shops in the town. I hope the lunch you had with us at the restaurant was good for you as it was for me.
Shout-out to the pianist at the piano bar, who played a song I requested, and it was beautiful. That song was "Hello" by Lionel Ritchie.
Shout-out to Waldo, the bartender at the lobby bar. Fun guy to be around, that's for sure.
Shout-out to Adrian, the bartender at the disco, who I'm convinced the only reason why this guy is around is to get me drunk. Haha, I'm kidding. You were top-notch. You also got some nice bartending skills.
Shout-out to the Welsh boys and the sexy British girls we hung out with at the disco, you guys were awesome.
Shout-out to the people we met from Brampton, y'all were fun to hang out with as well, and one of you guys is a Customs officer, who we ran into in Customs while coming back to Canada!
And finally, big shout-out to the people we met from Markham. We all gotta hang out again, that's for sure. Good times at the disco.
That's all I can remember...
August 01, 2012
Hotel RIU Varadero Review - Part 2
Beach
I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the beach was. There
are enough beach chairs and huts for everyone, and the water was a healthy
bluish color. There was also a bar nearby do you can do some drinking right by
the ocean. The beach was a little bit narrow from the ocean to the bushes, but
that is a minor gripe. The beach was very nice.
Rating 7/10
Pools
There’s the main pool, which is the busier of the pools.
There are always different shows going on and live music will play at the pool
sometimes. There is also a swim-up bar to get your drinks. It can get really
busy at the main pool and the swim-up bar sometimes, and if it gets to be a bit
too much for you, you can go to the relaxation pool. Always less people than
the main pool and offers a very tranquil atmosphere. It also has a swim-up bar
and a waterfall. I spent most of my time in the relaxation pool. It is one of
my favorite spots of the entire resort. There was also the Royal Section pool,
but we didn’t go to that. Overall, the pools were pretty good.
Rating: 7.5/10
Theater Shows
I went to see most of the theater shows while at the resort,
and I found myself bored at the majority of the shows. There were a couple
shows where I walked out before the show had even finished. Seriously, the only
show that was any good was the Michael Jackson show, so if there is only one show
you should go see in the theater, make it that one. As for the other shows,
they can be a bit better, and less boring.
Rating: 4.5/10
Disco
After the show ended, the disco would open for dancing. The
place itself is pretty okay, maybe a little bit small, but still okay. There
were some nights where a lot of people were at the disco, and other nights
where there wasn’t as many people. The absolute worst thing about the disco was
the DJ. The DJ played mostly latin music, mixed in with today’s popular club
jams, which was fine. But the music he played couldn’t get people on the dance
floor at all. Thankfully, the DJ was open to requests, so I requested some real
dancing music, and all was good. Oh, and did I mention he played the exact same
song twice, one before the other? Yeah, pretty crazy.
Rating: 5/10
Internet
You can purchase internet cards, 5 pesos for ½ hour, 10
pesos for 1 hour. The internet isn’t fast at all, but it wasn’t terribly slow
either. Also, one of the PCs wasn’t working, which left only two working PCs.
If you’re not stingy about hi-speed internet, then the internet in the resort
shouldn’t give you much trouble.
Rating: 5/10
Games Room
The games room offers billiards, ping pong, and various
board games. The ping pong paddles were half broken and the pool table only had
one cue stick, which was cracked at the tip. The games room is pretty garbage,
but at least it is something.
Rating: 3/10
Lobby Bar/Piano Bar
The lobby bar is the main bar in the resort, where people
can come relax and have a drink. The lobby bar can get really busy at times,
especially in the evening. The chairs to sit in were pretty uncomfortable, as
well. The piano bar always had someone playing in the evening time, but the
pianist always plays the same 2-3 songs. The most common song on the piano is
“Someone Like You” by Adele. I must have heard that song at least 15 times
during my stay. Overall, the lobby bar is a decent spot to chill at.
Rating: 5.5/10
Final Verdict
The newly-opened RIU Varadero has some nice pools, a
relaxing beach, and decent rooms, but the terrible food was the deal-breaker. I
would not come back to this hotel, and if I were to come back to Cuba, I would
look elsewhere. If you have a strong stomach and food is not an issue for you,
then take a chance on this resort. But for everyone else, see if you can find
something better. I also add that this all-inclusive resort was a bit on the
cheap side, and the saying of “you get what you pay for” rings true here. If
you can spend more money on a better all-inclusive resort, then don’t hesitate
to do it. RIU claims that this hotel is a Cuban 5-star resort. I disagree; this
was probably 3 and ½ stars, maybe 4 stars at best.
Final Rating: 5.5/10
July 31, 2012
Hotel RIU Varadero Review - Part 1
We stayed at the Riu Varadero from July 19 to July 26. This was one of the newer-built hotels in Varadero, and it shows. All the buildings were very clean and well taken care of. The hotel staff was very friendly, and they would always greet you every time they pass you by. Check-in was very quick and one of the hotel staff took our luggage to the room. We stayed in Building 24, which was very close to the beach.
Room
The room was very clean and well-kept. The double-sized beds
we had were comfortable, but there was another small mattress in the room that
felt like you were sleeping on a rock. I slept on that mattress one night, and
it was honestly one of the worst nights of sleep I ever had. There was
something wrong with the TV, in which the colors was all messed up and couldn’t
be fixed, but that was only a minor inconvenience. The mini-fridge was pretty
cool, which came stoked with water, soft drinks, and beer. It was replenished
every other day. The balcony was also very nice. Other than that, the room was
pretty standard. The maids came by every day and did a great job in cleaning
the room.
Rating: 7/10
Bathroom
Once again, pretty standard. A major problem is that there
is a very high step to go in the bathtub, so young children, the elderly, or
others who need assistance may find it difficult to step into the bathtub. Be
sure to ask one of the hotel maids for some sort of step ladder if problems
arise.
Rating: 6/10
Towels
From reading previous reviews of this hotel, there were many
people who had issues with exchanging towels, so I brought my own. There were
already beach towels in the room, so I used those first before I used my own.
Indeed, exchanging those hotel-issued towels was a pain. The towel desk had
inconsistent hours, and they always ran out of clean towels. This is something
that needs to be fixed.
Food
Please note that I am
a vegetarian. My review of the food may not reflect on those who are not
vegetarians.
The main buffet restaurant has a wide selection of food for
everyone, including pizza, pasta, stir-fry, and more. For breakfast, there’s an
omelette bar for people to enjoy. Honestly, the food was not very good at all.
You tend to say that when the food you eat in the resort has you running for the
bathroom.
The snack bar by the main pool has your typical fast-food
grub, such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and French fries. They also have a
mini-buffet. The food here is slightly better than the buffet food, but not by
much.
The worst (for vegetarians) is the a la carte restaurants. I
went to the Creole and Oriental restaurants and they didn’t offer any
vegetarian options. The Creole restaurant offered me a spaghetti (which was
horrible), and I walked out of the Oriental restaurant. For a so-called Cuban
5-star resort, Riu really needs to offer vegetarian options for their a la
carte restaurants. Absolutely ridiculous.
Overall, the food was pretty bad, almost terrible and
inedible. Also, the food is left open, so that brings in bugs and insects
toward the food. In the snack bar, I’ve seen birds fly to the open buffet food
and pick at it. That is very unhygienic, if I do say so myself. My stomach was
killing me at the end of the vacation.
Rating: 1/10 (seriously, it is that bad)
If you have the opportunity to eat outside the resort,
please do so. I recommend the Salsa Suarez in Varadero town. Tell them Randy
sent you.
Gift Shop/Vendors
The gift shop and the various vendors outside it sell
various souvenirs and other products. They are a bit expensive though, so I
suggest taking a taxi to the town of Varadero, where there is a lot more choice
on what souvenirs to buy, and at a cheaper price.
Part 2 will come tomorrow, where I will talk about the beach, the pools, the entertainment, and give my final verdict.
July 18, 2012
What's good?
Hey, been a while since I wrote a proper post on here. Just letting you all know that I'm gonna be putting up some new stuff in the coming weeks, after I come back from Cuba. I leave tomorrow, and I am coming back on the following Friday (July 27).
Watch this blog, and I'll be back soon.
Watch this blog, and I'll be back soon.
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