Our flight back to Miami was scheduled for 2:30pm and at the requests of so many of the volunteers, we had enough time to visit 2 of the sites on our way to the airport. Since the group had split up frequently towards the end of the week, some of the volunteers had not seen how the second and third sites looked after completion. We had already seen how the completed park looked at Cotorro and the majority of us had been at Guanabacoa on the final day. However, the other two sites, Parque San Agustin and Parque Santa Amalia, had only been seen by the Finishing Crews who completed the construction at each of these parks.

After checking out of our rooms, we took a couple of group photos in the grand hotel lobby, loaded our luggage in the buses and started our final journey from the hotel. We traveled to Santa Amalia first, saying goodbye to Vedado and Habana as we drove away, not knowing for sure if and when we'd be back again.

At Parque Santa Amalia, the Cuban crew was still constructing a protective fence and wall around the park, and the multi-colored equipment stood in the center, under the shady trees. Since there was still some ground work to be done before the park officially opened, the yellow caution taped that had been wrapped around the equipment was still in place. After a brief visit we said some final farewells to the city officials, workers and neighborhood families. Upon our departure we waved goodbye to all the children, who were waiting eagerly for the park to open.

Our final stop on our way to the airport was at San Agustin, the second site to be completed. The playground equipment here also was taped off, as the surrounding area was still being prepared by the Cuban workers. We stayed long enough to take some final photos and then returned to the bus to continue on our way to the airport.

Departing Havana was a sad event for many of us. We had all arrived as strangers but within a few days we had all become great friends. We had participated in an incredible adventure and shared an amazing opportunity to visit a country that is difficult for U.S. citizens to travel to. It's Just The Kids, Inc will soon be announcing it's dates for the next Playground Project, scheduled for the Spring of 2006.

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