Sue's Travels: Cuba - 10 December 2011

After breakfast, we met in the lobby at 9:30 to start our tour. We headed into old Havana, which except for a building here and there is in wretched condition. No maintenance has been done on buildings since the Revolution and when you combine that with the sea air, it is a wonder that any of the buildings are standing. Cuba has received some money from UNESCO for restoration and the buildings that have been restored do look good. In addition certain taxes that are collected are used for restoration projects. Old Havana has very narrow, cobble stone streets, which hurt my feet to walk on. It started to rain, but since we had started we continued. We stopped in a hotel which was a monastery at one time and is now a hotel. I had cup of coffee. We continued walking until we landed at the restaurant where we had lunch. I am perturbed because I am going through money faster than I expected to. The restaurant was privately run which makes it an exception in Havana. The food was good and the service was slightly better than in other places.

Paolo Church built in 1750 now used as concert hall

Note stained glass windows in back of church

Narrow streets in old Havana

Menorah in park - symbol of Jewish presence in old Havana

Narrow Streets

Square with restored buildings

Building under restoration

Restored building - Our guide, Abel, describing

Note stained glass windows

Rankel Hotel - note Muzzah at door

Old elevator in hotel and it is still working

On a wall in street

Aquaduct which brought water from a river to the old city

Description of Aquaduct

Monastery that became a church. When British took city it was used by Anglicans and Catholics refused to use as church

Another view of "church"

Across from church. Mosaic planned to be entered in some competition, but was too heavy to transport

Peacock in garden

The fort on the hill is Largest fort built by Spaniards outside of Spain

Fort where Spanish Governors lived for several centuries

Later governor's palace - note street is made of wood

Note wooden street. Intended to muffle sound of traffic.

Street view with Abel, our guide

Note canons on wall

Restored building

Painting made with different colored sand

Cathedral Square - Cathdral restored for Papal visit

Cathedral used as a concert hall

Our next stop was the tourist market, where I picked up chotkis to bring home. I have something for everyone except Marla!

Tourist market

I was supposed to go to have my flight from Cuba changed because it will arrive in Miami after my Delta flight has left. It would cost me $300 in cash. After thinking things over rationally, it dawned on me that it would be cheaper to pay Delta for a single ticket to New York. In addition, I get charge it on my credit card! Things are up in the air. When our guide went to the charter air line, no one was there to talk to. Steve said that he will call on Monday to try to determine what is going on.

We went to dinner at the Floriditia, which was one of Ernest Hemingways hang-outs. The food was acceptable and since we were not in the bar area, I enjoyed it. Unfortunately everyone down here smokes like chimneys and it is making me uncomfortable.

Me with statue of Ernest Hemingway in La Floridita, restaurant where we had dinner

Musicians entertaining

Bar area of La Floridita

La Floridita

After dinner we went to the 1930 hall in the Hotel National where there was entertainment. It was basically Cuban music with some dancing. I enjoyed the music and dancing, but the cigar and cigarette smoke was driving me crazy!