May 22, 2019

Cuba 2018 - Part One

Duncan and I spent a week in Havana, Cuba.  What an interesting trip, especially since it had just re-opened the country to tourism in 2015-2016.

 

What you have seen or heard about the cars is true.  The country looks like it is trapped in the 50's and these car owners have to get really creative when t comes to repairs.  This was the car that picked us up at the airport in Havana and he even found a way to install his own air conditioner.

 

There were two door cars, 4 door cars, convertibles and even station wagons.

 Architecture

This is the Grand Theatre located in Central Park.

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An interior view of the Grand Theater.

The most interesting buildings to me were the residential structures.  Havana was devastated by hurricanes Irma and Michael and there are so many structures yet to be repaired.

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These are typical scenes in Havana.

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Looking at the streetscape, you see buildings where one dwelling is pristine and the one next door is virtually non existent and/or covered in mold.

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Statues and sculptures

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An old monastery was converted into a hotel and this is a sculpture of a monk in the courtyard.

A closeup of the rosary around the monk's neck

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Central Park in Havana

 

 

 

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Live music and dancing is everywhere.

 

There were billboards and signs with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara all over Havana which really peaked my interest in the politics and history of Cuba.  Two books I highly recommend are:

The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey

This Is Cuba: An American Journalist Under Castro's Shadow

Hope you liked the tour.  Let me know if you have any questions, Duncan and I love to share our travels.