Catch-up: Havana day 2

Interesting point: Well you tell people in Cuba you’re from Australia, the first thing they usually say is, “Skippy?”

For our second day in Cuba, the travel agent we booked through organised a 3-hour guided walking tour through Old Havana for both Kathryn and I. Right on time our guide, Rene, arrived at the hotel. He was a friendly, likeable chap with a good sense of humour. We were quickly out on the streets with Rene talking to us about Cuba and Havana’s rich history and iconic buildings. Our first stop was a hotel with a bar/restaurant on its roof that provided a great view of the city. As we walked through the streets Rene shared his considerable knowledge on a number of topics with us. There was also insight on some great local spots – a great little espresso cafe above the cigar shop on Plaza de Amar and the bar over near the entrance to the harbour, which serves excellent Piña Coladas, even letting you put your own rum in (ie: they bring your drink to the table ¾ full and provide a bottle of Havana Club Rum for you to put your own in). With Rene’s encouragement, both Kathryn and I took full advantage of the situation, filling our glasses to almost full. Rene, with our encouragement, did the same! I think he was appreciative to be showing around two people who didn’t mind a drink on a hot day. And boy, was it hot!

Rene also shared some of his life with us. He is actually a trained teacher with a daughter who is a drama teacher and a son who wants to become either a doctor or a pilot. He’ll have to enter the army to do either. He also speak about society – about how lowly paid workers are (most on about CUC25 a month after paying something like two-thirds of their wage in tax) – and the political system. Although he’s quick to point out that he have specific views on subjects like politics or religion, but he’s happy to discuss where he can. After a tour of the four main “squares” of Old Havana and armed with a recommendation of a good place to get Paella for lunch, we bid farewell to Rene, thanking  him for his great tour.  After lunch and a quick break we were back on the streets of Havana exploring. We saw the former Presidential Palace (now a museum), the Plaza de Marzo, the Malecon where locals were swimming and fishing, walked through a mall which has displays by local artists and then the National Capitol Building (which was fashioned on the US Capitol) and the Great Theatre. 

Strangely, our journey took us back via the Pina Colada bar Rene had taken us to earlier in the day, which was great news as I was thirsty after another good walk in a decent heat. 

The view from Hotel Ambos Mundos

Hotel Ambos Mundos

Havana has such stunning architecture

the ferry terminal

The day after we took this photo they put a fence around this piece of public art in San Francisco Square

the Hotel Santa Isobel - Jimmy Carter stayed here a few years ago

The former American Embassey ... now a museum

The first decent espresso coffee I had in Cuba!

The temple on Plaza de Armas

The Royal Force Castle

Rene and Kathryn

The Governor-General's Palace

The Pina Colada Bar

Live Music at the Bar - there's music in most bars

The Cathedral - Pope Benedict the 16th said mass here recently

Paella!

 

the former Presidential Palace

Apparently Castro used this tank to hold back the Yanks at the Bay of Pigs

The 13th of March Plaza

The lighthouse and fort at the entrance to the Harbour

Up at the Malecon

The Capitol Building

Old cars are everywhere in Havana