'We all got through it': Canadian family stuck in Cuba recalls ordeal amid massive blackout

Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time at one of Cuba's famously stunning beaches and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero when the situation turned into something like a scary movie.

Ellen Francis says she and her family were having a great time in Cuba – soaking in the sun at the beach with warm, clear waters and exploring the popular tourist town of Varadero.

The Canadian woman, 37, from Newmarket, Ont., arrived at a resort in Varadero, Cuba, on Oct. 12 with her husband Ryan and two children, aged 10 and six.

But starting last Friday, she said their vacation became like a scary movie. It got rainy with heavy winds, and the internet went out early that morning.

While the hotel used its generator so staff could prepare meals, the place suddenly lost power during dinner Friday.

"It was pitch black," Francis said in a video interview with CTVNews.ca on Tuesday. "The kids were a little bit worried ... about what was happening. But it was fine – we all got through it."

Since there was no internet during their last few days at the resort, Francis and her family didn't learn there was a major blackout in Cuba until they returned to Canada on Saturday night. The blackout stoked small protests as Tropical Storm Oscar hit the island, The Associated Press reported.

As Cuba grappled with the power problem, Francis said the resort staff were still pleasant and tried to make guests as comfortable as possible. Her family, including her children, also stayed positive, she said.