Cuba 3

Our entrance into to Havana is heralded with our captain blowing his ship horn, his very loud (as he like to announce) ship horn.  It is celebration time!  We are all at the bow of the ship, we are port side, we are ecstatic.  Firsts are special in most realms.  They can be fraught with unexpected events but to be a first towards freedom for the Cuban people (or I hope so) from their perspective was pure delight.

We are each ready to set foot on this 'forbidden' country for most of us.  We line up in our assigned groupings.  We line up to exchange our dollars for CUC's.  The hawkers of tourist trinkets and cigars await our money exchange in hopes that we want to part with them sooner than later.

We are herded to town square to meet our first Cuban guide.  Plaza de San Fransico.  We are greeted with Cuban Ladies who kiss the men and pose for tips.  They are colorful reminding me of Carmen Miranda, a Brazilian film star whose popularity fanned the late 1930's-1955.  At our various tour stops of interest they flock for the photo opportunities. 

We learn history of the island as far back as 500 years.  Our guide tells us we can ask any question we wish.  The guide the next day says the same.  My guess is this Cuba's way of pretending they are 'free'.  I found this ironic for on the ship as we were instructed in what we could or could not do, politics was pretty much a taboo subject.  As my story unfolds in a future blog we found out a great deal of what has happened in the past.  But for now it is all good fun and up beat.

The buildings represent beautiful architecture.  From a distance or if you have poor eyesight you can imagine what once was.  This Caribbean island was once a jewel of architecture, commerce, art and elegance.  At our first glance in the Plaza de San Fransico we see a very nice restaurant, that would rival any I would find her in Chicago.  Elegant, tables with linens outside for Al Fresco dinning.

Most buildings look like this.

Show Cased Buildings

We moved through the main and showcased streets of Havana, we see where once the US embassy was housed. The center of what was once government offices and town square, the famous hotel that Jimmy Carter stayed at Hotel Santa Isabel, they are quick to tell us that fact.

Hotel Santa Isabel

Book sellers surround the central park which is very nice and has beautiful trees.  Don and I visited the area the next night when there were no people and it is indeed very pretty. 

The tour is about a three mile walk, it took all day and we covered only the first few blocks.  At first blush if you went no deeper into the city is was okay.  The beautiful cathedral, modern restaurants all government run would never give to you the feel of the poverty just a block or two away. 

 Our lunch on this day was amazing.  It was called the El Rum Rum a private establishment of 1 1/2 years.  We were told some private enterprises are popping up but the taxes from the government are heavy.  We experienced exquisite Cuban food that was probably the best meal of our week.  I fell in love with Cuban ice cream.  It what they served us is standard fare, I would go back in heart beat.

Course #3 Lobster and Mahi Mahi- El Rum Rum 

In the 3 long hot miles we walked around the Havana streets on this day we learned and saw many things.  I can't give to you a 'sight by sight' account or you would never pull up another blog of mine again.  On this day everything though warn and somewhat 'poor' looked pretty good.  If one never went further into the city they would say, hey this isn't too bad.    These streets were company ready.

All over the city even in the poorest areas musicians shared with us their talent.  This added charm and joy to dreary lives.  

Street Musicians

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I end this blog it is just a tiny scratch on the surface of what we saw, what we experienced.  The Cuban people are resilient.  They long for more but have lived in the communist void for so long that to turn this country around to thrive will be a most interesting study in social economics and change. 

I will blog by blog share tid bits of this trip.  I will also begin to find a way to bring along with me to experience this again.  It is a once in a life time experience as we watch a country kept in prison begin to emerge from their cells.  I cannot predict its future but I am honored to have experienced what was and what is.