26 de Julio: victoria de las ideas 01

  Havana, Cuba
Thursday, July 26, 2007

Today is a day off, all havaneros have gone to the beach, the stores are almost all closed and the speech of Raùl Castro plays on and on through the speakers of TVs.
This year, he's in Camagüey. Cuban flags ornate the streets, as well as red and black flags commemorating the 26th of July, date of the first attack of the rebels lead by Castro and Che Guevarra (a chess, but significant enough to be considered as the kick off of the revolution).




Outside the hotel, on the next corner is the nicest place in Havana, the place of the cathedral: a  large paved area with completely renovated colonial buildings made of stone, blue windows and two cafes and musicians playing "son".

Wandering in the streets of old havana is really easy and nice, almost no car, mainly Cuban people were met. Of course, some guys try to communicate with you, and discussing with them is often a good way to get information on where to go and historical stories, but usually what they want always comes after a little while (20 to 30 minutes talk): change your money or make you visit a special cigar fabric, where they are cheaper, you know, and so on... These people are very kind, but a bit sticky and well after 2 or 3 you're a bit fed up... but anyway, havana is, or should we say, might have been beautiful in its glorious times.




Now some credits and funding have been input by international organisations to renovate the old town, but the work is tremendous. Between few renovated buildings, many former palaces are at a state of ruins. In some cases, the will of rebuilding is clearly visible, but the absence of money to continue the job (mainly after 1990 when the USSR retired) put an end to it.
 








Midday, the streets are almost deserted, its time for us to find a bodeguita for a drink, not a mojito yet (a bit too early!) but the equivalent without rum. Old cars are parked along the pavement and seem abandoned, but as soon as you approach, the owner shows up and tells you proudly that it's his. Quite funny, but they are right: to own a car in Cuba is now quite a privilege, since they can't buy any new car (too expensive, plus they don't have the right to).


The temperature reaches 38°C no cloud at the horizon: the day seems really nice.