Day 6
0800am
Federer won match point against Waiwrinka… I mean the drive to Havana was uneventful. We stopped for lunch as usual. After threatening our own revolution, we won just enough time to dip our feet into the water before getting back on the bus. A long drive but smooth to the Hotel National. Nice room even if it is smoky. For some reason the smoky room is bugging my lungs but not when I tried the cigar. Walt Disney stayed in our room, the sign says so. A walk around town showed basic large city crap: dirty smelly noisy. I started to hold my things closer to my body. Very unlike Cienfuegos. There is a shield wall (or sea wall or something like that name) where apparently prostitutes hang out at night. They are young girls and boys and homosexuals to make some money. Some of them might be people with regular government jobs that need extra money.
The same mediteranian shot. Still beautiful
Lunch time family style
Buncanero with another yummy lunch.
A beautiful strip of beach. People further down behind us were enjoying the water.
A Cocotaxi name because of the coconut shape
Hotel National
Hotel National
A room with a view
The lighthouse and fort in the background. A local taking a walk on the sea wall.
The lounge in the hotel. Lots of famous/prominent people have their pictures up on the walls.
Hi Walt! The sign outside the room.
Dinner was good as usual and afterwards it was a spot decision to hit the afrocuban cabaret at the Parisien. Long and late but good. Unfortunately as usual I woke up before 7 this morning. Today we will be seeing an architect about the restoration of havana and the difficulties getting materials. After lunch will be a visit to an area with artists that took over an area by creating artwork. Then a spanish lesson.
Pretty statue in front of the Parisien at the hotel. She looks like she want to go in herself.
The AfroCuban Cabaret
The AfroCuban Cabaret
The AfroCuban Cabaret
The AfroCuban Cabaret
The AfroCuban Cabaret
The AfroCuban Cabaret. He looks very serious
0933am
Carlos is giving a city historic tour.
Temple – First new classic building in havana
Temple was the first new classical building in havana
The Castle was the first in north central south america and built of limestone
The first presidential palace is now the “oficina del historidor de la Cubad”. Also main historic museum.
The first presidential palace is now the “oficina del historidor de la Cubad”. Also main historic museum.
The street is made of wood because per lore the wife of an official didn’t want to be disturbed.
The street is made of wood because per lore the wife of an official didn’t want to be disturbed.
The street is made of wood because per lore the wife of an official didn’t want to be disturbed. Here they are hand repairing the road.
The first university was catholic. With the renovation they blended the modern with the old structure. The glass on the outside of building helps to reflect the other buildings and ‘hide’ the moderness and minimize the impact of the university.
The first university was catholic. With the renovation they blended the modern with the old structure. The glass on the outside of building helps to reflect the other buildings and ‘hide’ the moderness and minimize the impact of the university.
45% of money in this territory goes to restoration. 25% to social services.
PICS:
-Canons used in the street
Canons used in the street
-Church with bell tower: church square, baroque style built in 1755 by jesuits. Later a neoclassic style was used on the inside. The national ballet company performs in the square
Church with bell tower: church square, baroque style built in 1755 by jesuits. Later a neoclassic style was used on the inside. The national ballet company performs in the square
-the pink hotel is on the first street in havana
This pink hotel is and yellow building a leading the way to the first street in havana
-st francis square is franciscan. 3rd square built. The pigeons fly in a circle. Church and convent there.
st francis square is franciscan. 3rd square built. The pigeons fly in a circle. Church and convent there.
Franciscan church
Buildings that used to be in the sqare
-Now a concert hall for the acoustics. The dome was destroyed in a hurricane. The back is a painted relief to look like a dome. Lots of commerce because of the location near the water.
Now a concert hall for the acoustics. The dome was destroyed in a hurricane. The back is a painted relief to look like a dome.
-the statue of the man with the beard: he was from spain and was working as a servant. He was accused of being loved by the woman in the home and as a thief and was thrown in jail. When he came out he was crazy and wondered the streets. Women touch his beard and men his finger.
he was from spain and was working as a servant. He was accused of being loved by the woman in the home and as a thief and was thrown in jail. When he came out he was crazy and wondered the streets. Women touch his beard and men his finger.
-the stone with the stairs was an aqueduct. Water flowed from the river. There was a separate drainage system.
Old city aqueduct
-the square with the metal flower was restored in 1990 over 15 years. Plaza Viega. It’s an open market now with a primary school, brewery, businesses and government buildings
Plaza Viega. It’s an open market now with a primary school, brewery, businesses and government buildings
Some modern stores in the plaza
Old and new buildings alike
A street artist sketching Pablo without him knowing. What better than to stealth photograph the stealth artist.
-Other photos of a statue, a woman on the cover of national geographic, manga expo, simon bolivar, social art, way of the cross
Carlos Manel de Cespedes, president
The woman in the chair was in National Geographic.
Manga expo, who knew!?
Simon Bolivar
Public art
Public art
Way of the cross
0236pm
Walked around for a short bit on our own and then had lunch at a paella place, Hotel Valencia. I found the place Hemingway liked to go to.
Hemingway hung out here. You can tell by the graffiti
Paella place for luch
On the way to Muraleando hopped off quickly to take pictures of the founder of turkey for Ebru.
Ataturk, found of turkey
Muraleando is the artist community that started with murals 13 years ago. They took a neighborhood filled with dumps and replaced it with art. They do movie making, art, music, textiles and others. They work with children on projects. Their headquarters is at an old watertank that was buried by a garbage heap. 3 years ago they excavated and cleaned the area and used two jackhammers to cut out a door and windows in the concrete tank.
Muraleando
An official Schultz piece. Ramiro gazing out, probably not gazing at snoopy.
Muraleando plaque
One of the founders of muraleando
0343pm
of course bought a few things there. Now on our way to the spanish lesson. For tonight, planning on going to the music show with dancing. It’s the rest of the Buena Vista Club members. Unsure what’s the plan for dinner since we have the night free.
Lesson to help with the r and rr
0659pm
Will be heading to the floridita (hemingway hangout) for dinner then back to the hotel for the music. Another fine day tomorrow but hopefully without rain this time. The days are winding down. ‘real life’ and busy at home is coming up fast.
-SFA